PS4 and PS5 Multiplayer Will Be Free for Limited Time Later This Month

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There once was a time when a big selling point PlayStation had over Xbox was free online multiplayer. Whereas the Xbox 360 required an Xbox Live Gold subscription to play online, PlayStation 3 required no such subscription. Unfortunately, PlayStation stopped offering free online multiplayer with its PS4 console, and from that point forward, playing PlayStation games online has required a PlayStation Plus subscription.

Some PS4 and PS5 gamers choose not to sign up for PlayStation Plus, and so those gamers are left unable to play their multiplayer games online. Sometimes PlayStation removes the PS Plus requirement for online multiplayer games, and one such occasion is happening later this month. From August 27 to August 28, PS4 and PS5 gamers can take advantage of the Online Multiplayer Weekend, which will let them play the online multiplayer modes in their games with no need for PS Plus.

It's been nearly a decade since the PlayStation 4 launched, so at this point it's safe to say that most PlayStation gamers are used to needing a PS Plus subscription to play online multiplayer, but there has still been some controversy over it. After all, the vast majority of PC games do not require any kind of subscription to play online, yet that is not the case for PlayStation, Xbox, or even Nintendo at this point.

Of course, PS Plus existed before it was required for PS4 and PS5 online multiplayer. Before PS Plus was tied to online multiplayer, the service was mainly about giving PlayStation gamers exclusive discounts and special offers, along with access to free games every month. Those perks continue to be a major selling point to this day, with many PS4 and PS5 gamers looking forward to the free PS Plus games every month.

Sony has since revamped PlayStation Plus significantly, recently introducing three new tiers for subscribers to choose from. PS Plus Essential is PS Plus as it's been since the PlayStation 4 launched, letting subscribers play online multiplayer games and giving them access to free games every month. PS Plus Extra comes with everything PS Plus Essential offers, but adds access to a huge library of PS4 and PS5 games. And finally, PS Plus Premium adds retro titles to the mix, featuring games pulled from the PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 libraries. This is Sony's way of better-competing with Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass service, and it will be interesting to see if it pulls it off.