It’s the beginning of the end for one of the best-selling consoles of all time. According to a new report from reliable industry insider Tom Henderson, Sony is preparing to begin the process of sunsetting the PlayStation 4. Starting in Spring 2026, the company will reportedly stop supporting certain PlayStation services for new PS4 titles. This is the first concrete step in winding down the PS4 era and shifting the company’s full focus to the PlayStation 5 and beyond.
While the PS4 has had an incredible, decade-plus run, this move signals that its time in the spotlight is officially coming to a close. Here’s what this means for the millions of PS4 owners out there.
What Exactly is Being ‘Sunsetted’?
It’s important to be very clear about what this news does and does not mean. This is not a complete shutdown of the PlayStation Network for PS4. You won’t wake up one day in 2026 and find your console is a brick. According to the report, the sunsetting process will apply only to new games released for the PS4 from Spring 2026 onward.
The services being phased out for these new titles are said to include:
- Online Multiplayer Servers: New games may not have online multiplayer functionality on the PS4.
- Trophy Support: New titles might not feature the iconic PlayStation Trophy system on the older hardware.
- PSN Integration: Other features that tie into the PlayStation Network could also be limited.
To be clear: all your existing PS4 games, both physical and digital, will continue to function as they do now. This change is forward-looking and is essentially Sony telling developers that they will no longer be required (or perhaps able) to support these network features for new cross-generational releases on the PS4.
Why Now? The Inevitable March of Progress
This move, while sad for the PS4 faithful, is a standard and necessary part of the console life cycle. The PlayStation 5 has been on the market for five years, and its install base is massive and growing. Supporting two generations of consoles simultaneously is a huge drain on resources for both Sony and third-party developers. It requires creating two versions of a game, maintaining separate server infrastructures, and splitting development focus.
By drawing a line in the sand for new releases in 2026, Sony is freeing up those resources and encouraging a full transition to the PS5. It allows developers to create games that take full advantage of the more powerful hardware without being held back by the limitations of the last generation. It’s the same path taken by the PS2 and PS3 before it. It’s simply the PS4’s turn.
What This Means for the 100+ Million PS4 Owners
If you’re still gaming on a PS4, there’s no need to panic. Your vast library of games is safe, and online multiplayer for titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite, and all the other major releases from before Spring 2026 will continue to run for the foreseeable future. This is a slow, gradual phase-out, not a sudden switch-off.
However, it is a clear signal that the time to upgrade is approaching. After this date, you’ll start to see more and more new games launching exclusively on the PS5, and the ones that do come to PS4 may be missing key features. The PS4 is becoming a “legacy” console, a fantastic machine for playing the thousands of amazing games in its catalog, but no longer the place for the latest and greatest experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 1. Will my PS4 stop working in Spring 2026?
- No. Your PS4 and all your existing games will continue to work exactly as they do now. This change only affects new games released after that point.
- 2. Will I lose access to online multiplayer for my current games?
- No. Online services for games you already own are not being shut down. This only applies to new games launching after Spring 2026, which may not have online features on the PS4.
- 3. Is Sony forcing me to buy a PS5?
- Not directly, but this is a strong encouragement to upgrade if you want to play the newest games with all their features intact. It’s a standard business practice to transition players to the new hardware generation.
- 4. Why are they doing this?
- To allow developers to focus their time and money on creating games for the more powerful PS5 hardware, without being constrained by the need to support the older PS4.
- 5. Will new games still be released on PS4 after Spring 2026?
- Possibly, but they will likely be few and far between, and they may be missing online multiplayer and Trophy support. The focus for all major publishers will be on the PS5.
- 6. Is this the end of the PS4?
- This is the beginning of the end. The console will still be supported for years, but it is officially transitioning into a legacy platform.
Conclusion
The report that Sony will begin sunsetting PS4 services in 2026 is the closing of a major chapter in gaming history. The PlayStation 4 has been a monumental success, a dominant force for over a decade, and home to some of the most iconic games ever made. While it’s sad to see its era begin to fade, it’s also an exciting moment. This move allows the industry to look forward, to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and to fully embrace the power of the new generation.
So, pour one out for the mighty PS4. It’s had a legendary run, and it’s not done just yet. But the future is calling, and its name is PlayStation 5.