The PlayStation 4 is slowly bowing out. After thirteen years of activity, Sony has confirmed that a series of features will be deactivated from spring 2026. An expected step, but which symbolically marks the end of a generation.
Released in November 2013, the PS4 put Sony back on top after the disappointments linked to the PS3. With over 117 million units sold, it remains the fifth most popular console of all time. However, even the greatest classics eventually retire.
PS4 services deactivated from spring 2026
Sony plans to disable several PS4-related web and social features in the coming months. The list is already known:
- Web Activity Feed
- User title storage
- Shared Media Web API
- Word filters
- User profiles
- Mini games library
These deletions are planned for spring 2026. They mainly concern connected and social services, used to share game extracts, track statistics or exchange with other players. Once deactivated, these elements will completely disappear from the interface.
PlayStation Plus: the end of PS4 games as a priority
This is another announcement that marked PlayStation Plus subscribers. From January 2026, Sony will no longer put PS4 games at the heart of its monthly offer. They will become rarer and will only appear as a complement to the main selection. “With the move to PS5, PS4 games will no longer be a major benefit and will only be offered occasionally as part of Monthly Games and the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog starting in January 2026.”
This means that PS4 owners, without PS5, will receive fewer new features, and potentially less added value for their subscription.
Millions of players still affected
Despite the arrival of the PS5 in 2020, the PS4 remains a widely used console. Many players have not yet taken the plunge, for reasons of budget, availability or simple attachment. This transition could therefore affect several million people around the world.
Sony claims to want to support this migration smoothly, but the signal is clear: active support for the PS4 is coming to an end. Other features could still disappear during the year.
A page turns for a historic console
PlayStation 4 was Bloodborne, Uncharted 4, The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima. It was hours of play with friends, shared trophies, familiar interfaces. Sony’s announcement, as logical as it may be, marks the end of an era for millions of gamers.
In fourteen years, the PS4 will have gone through two generations, several hardware versions, and a global pandemic. It will have allowed studios to shine, licenses to be reborn, and a community to be forged. The PS5 takes over, but the nostalgia will remain.