Overview
PlayStation users will soon be able to play their owned premium games online without an active PlayStation Plus subscription, but only for a limited time. Titles such as Call of Duty Black Ops 7 and EA Sports FC 26 will support online multiplayer access during the event. Normally, PS4 and PS5 owners must maintain an active PS Plus subscription to access online features for any game that is not free to play. For this weekend only, PlayStation is making the benefit available to everyone, even if their subscription has expired.
Background on PlayStation Plus
PS Plus was introduced in the later years of the PlayStation 3 generation and has remained a core service for the platform. The service currently has three tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. Essential is the base tier at 9.99 USD per month and provides access to online multiplayer, cloud storage, and monthly free games. Extra and Premium include everything in Essential while adding larger benefits such as the Game Catalog, which functions similarly to Xbox Game Pass by offering a library of downloadable games.
Free Online Multiplayer Weekend Details
PlayStation is running a free online multiplayer weekend from Saturday, December 6 through Sunday, December 7. During this period, users without an active PS Plus subscription can play their owned premium games online. Purchasing a premium title does not normally grant online access without PS Plus. This requirement does not apply to PC players, and Xbox users face a similar restriction because online multiplayer remains tied to an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. Free to play games like Apex Legends and Fortnite remain exempt from any subscription requirements.
Recommended Multiplayer Games for the Weekend
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Call of Duty Black Ops 7 (PS4, PS5)
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EA Sports FC 26 (PS4, PS5)
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Grand Theft Auto Online (PS4, PS5)
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ARC Raiders (PS5)
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Elden Ring Nightreign (PS4, PS5)
Why the Weekend Matters
Players who have a backlog of online titles but no active subscription can use this weekend to revisit older multiplayer games or try out recent releases. Black Ops 7 launched on November 14 and has been praised for its fast paced multiplayer. ARC Raiders has also gained attention as a new third person extraction shooter from Embark, the studio behind The Finals. Both newer titles and long running favorites offer plenty of options for co-op and competitive play.
Annual Promotion and Limitations
PlayStation often hosts free online multiplayer weekends around this time each year. While the company has not revealed how successful these events are, they clearly serve to encourage users to subscribe once the event concludes. This promotion does not unlock the full PS Plus service and does not grant access to the Game Catalog, monthly free titles, cloud storage, or other membership perks.
Additional PS Plus Benefits for December
If users decide to subscribe after the free weekend, December offers several bonuses. PlayStation has released five free monthly games instead of the usual three to celebrate the holiday season. From now until January 6, subscribers can claim Killing Floor 3, LEGO Horizon Adventures, Neon White, Synduality Echo of Ada, and The Outlast Trials.
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