PlayStation Plus games release on the first Tuesday of every month

PlayStation Plus adds new games to your library on the first Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m. Pacific Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time). This timing applies to all three tiers: PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium. The games become available to read when ready after that time if you have an active subscription.

The exact date shifts each month because it is always the first Tuesday. In January it might be the 7th, in February the 4th, and so on. Mark your calendar for the first Tuesday of the month you are interested in, and the new titles will be waiting in your library when you log in after 8 a.m. PT.

Key Takeaways

  • PlayStation Plus games release on the first Tuesday of every month at 8 a.m. Pacific Time, regardless of which tier you subscribe to.
  • Games are added to your library automatically if your subscription is active; you do not need to claim them separately on the console.
  • PlayStation announces the upcoming month's games on their official blog and social media accounts, usually one week before release.
  • Games remain in your library as long as your subscription stays active, but leaving PlayStation Plus removes access to them.
  • The Extra and Premium tiers include hundreds of additional games beyond the monthly releases, available when ready upon subscription.

How to find the release date for next month's games

PlayStation publishes the list of upcoming games on the official PlayStation Blog, usually between the 20th and 25th of the current month. You can also find announcements on the PlayStation social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. These posts include the game titles, brief descriptions, and confirmation of the release date.

You do not need to search multiple sources—the PlayStation Blog is the official source, and it is the fastest way to see what is coming. Bookmark the blog or follow the official PlayStation social accounts so you see the announcement as soon as it posts.

What happens when you add a game to your library

When a game releases on the first Tuesday, it appears in your PlayStation Plus section automatically if your subscription is current. You do not need to claim it or take any action. straightforward open your library, navigate to the PlayStation Plus games section, and the new titles will be there ready to read.

The games stay in your library permanently as long as your subscription remains active. If you cancel your subscription, you lose access to all PlayStation Plus games, including the monthly releases. If you resubscribe later, the games return to your library.

The difference between Essential, Extra, and Premium game libraries

PlayStation Plus Essential is the base tier. It includes the two to three games that release on the first Tuesday each month, plus a rotating catalog of older titles. Essential members get access to online multiplayer and cloud saves.

PlayStation Plus Extra includes everything in Essential, plus a library of several hundred additional games from PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. These games are available when ready when you subscribe—you do not wait for monthly releases to play them. Extra also includes the monthly new releases.

PlayStation Plus Premium includes all Extra games, plus classic PlayStation 1, 2, and 3 titles, game trials that let you play new releases for a limited time before they officially launch, and streaming access to a catalog of games. Premium members also get the monthly releases on the first Tuesday.

If you upgrade from Essential to Extra or Premium mid-month, the monthly games that released earlier that month are already in your library. You do not miss them.

When games leave the PlayStation Plus catalog

The monthly games that release on the first Tuesday stay in your library as long as your subscription is active. However, some of the rotating catalog games (the older titles available in Essential and Extra) are removed periodically to make room for new additions. PlayStation announces which games are leaving about two weeks before they disappear.

If a rotating catalog game is about to leave and you want to keep playing it, you have two options: purchase it permanently from the PlayStation Store, or resubscribe to PlayStation Plus before it is removed. Once a game leaves the catalog, you cannot read it again unless you buy it or it returns to the catalog later.

Time zone differences and when games actually appear

Games release at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on the first Tuesday of the month. If you live in a different time zone, convert that to your local time. Eastern Time is 8 a.m. PT plus 3 hours, so 11 a.m. ET. Mountain Time is 9 a.m. MT. Central Time is 10 a.m. CT.

Games may take a few minutes to appear in your library after the official release time, especially if many people are logging in at once. If you do not see the new games when ready at 8 a.m. PT, wait 10 to 15 minutes and refresh your library. If they still do not appear, sign out and sign back in to your PlayStation account.

How to read games on release day

Once the games appear in your library on the first Tuesday, you can read them to your console. Open your library, find the PlayStation Plus section, select the game you want, and choose read. The game will begin downloading to your console's storage.

You do not need to read a game when ready to own it. The game stays in your library as long as your subscription is active, so you can read it weeks or months later. However, downloading on release day is useful if you want to play right away, since large games can take several hours to read depending on your internet speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to read the games on release day or I lose them?

No. Games stay in your library as long as your subscription is active. You can read them when ready or months later. The only time you lose access is if your subscription expires or you cancel it.

What time do games release if I live outside the US?

Games release at 8 a.m. Pacific Time, which is a fixed moment worldwide. Convert 8 a.m. PT to your time zone. For example, 8 a.m. PT is 4 p.m. in the UK, 5 p.m. in Central Europe, and 1 a.m. the next day in Japan.

Can I see what games are coming next month before they release?

Yes. PlayStation announces next month's games on the PlayStation Blog and social media, usually between the 20th and 25th of the current month. You can plan ahead and know exactly what will be available on the first Tuesday.

If I upgrade to Extra or Premium mid-month, do I get the games that already released?

Yes. The monthly games that released earlier in the month are already in your library when you upgrade. You do not miss them by subscribing late.

What happens to my games if my subscription lapses?

You lose access to all PlayStation Plus games, including the monthly releases. If you resubscribe later, the games return to your library and you can read them again.