Here is the answer in one sentence: yes, you need PS Plus to play most online multiplayer games on PS4 and PS5 — but free-to-play games are the exception, and that exception covers some of the most popular games on the planet.
Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, Rocket League, Destiny 2, Genshin Impact, Marvel Rivals, and all other free-to-play games do not require PS Plus for online play. Any game you paid for — whether bought on disc or from the PlayStation Store — requires PS Plus for online multiplayer.
Here is the complete game-by-game breakdown so you know exactly what you need and what you can play for free.
The Simple Rule
| Game Type | PS Plus Required? | Examples |
| Free-to-play games | NO — play online free | Fortnite, Warzone, Apex, Rocket League, Destiny 2 |
| Paid games (bought/downloaded) | YES — PS Plus required | Call of Duty (non-Warzone), FIFA, Elden Ring, Minecraft |
| Single-player games | NO — no subscription needed | Any game played offline or solo |
| PS Plus monthly free games | YES — need active PS Plus | Games you got via PS Plus monthly lineup |
Sony officially confirms: ‘Most free-to-play games such as Fortnite, Apex Legends and Call of Duty Warzone do not require a membership.’ This is stated directly on the PlayStation Plus product page.
Does Fortnite Require PS Plus?
No. Fortnite is free-to-play and does not require PS Plus to play online on PS4 or PS5. You need a free PlayStation Network (PSN) account, but no paid subscription. You can download Fortnite for free, create a free PSN account if you do not have one, and play online immediately with no PS Plus required.
This applies to all Fortnite modes — Battle Royale, Zero Build, and Creative. None require PS Plus.
Does Warzone Require PS Plus?
No. Call of Duty: Warzone is free-to-play and does not require PS Plus for online play on PS4 or PS5. The same applies to the current version of Warzone regardless of which season or update is active. Download it free, create a PSN account, play online — no PS Plus needed.
Important distinction: the paid Call of Duty games (Black Ops 7, Modern Warfare III, and other numbered CoD titles) DO require PS Plus to play their multiplayer modes online. Only Warzone — the free standalone battle royale — is exempt.
Does Apex Legends Require PS Plus?
No. Apex Legends is free-to-play and does not require PS Plus for online multiplayer on PS4 or PS5. This has been the case since Apex launched in 2019 and continues in 2026. Download from the PlayStation Store for free, sign in with a free PSN account, and play.
Does Minecraft Require PS Plus?
Yes — for online multiplayer with other players. Minecraft Bedrock Edition on PS4 or PS5 requires PS Plus for online multiplayer sessions with other players. Single-player survival and creative modes do not require PS Plus.
You can play Minecraft in single-player without any PS Plus subscription. Split-screen couch co-op on the same console also does not require PS Plus. PS Plus is only required when you want to join or host multiplayer sessions with players on other consoles or cross-platform.
Does Rainbow Six Siege Require PS Plus?
Yes. Rainbow Six Siege is a paid game and requires PS Plus for online multiplayer on PS4 and PS5. All online modes — ranked, quick match, Team Deathmatch — require an active PS Plus subscription.
Does Dead by Daylight Require PS Plus?
Yes. Dead by Daylight (DBD) is a paid game and requires PS Plus for online play on PS4 and PS5. DBD is an online-only multiplayer game — there is no offline mode. You need PS Plus to play it at all, as there is no meaningful single-player content to access without online functionality.
Does Destiny 2 Require PS Plus?
No. Destiny 2 is free-to-play on PS4 and PS5 and does not require PS Plus for online play. The base game and free-to-play content can be accessed without a subscription. Paid expansions (The Final Shape and others) require purchase but still do not require PS Plus to play the online content they include.
Does Rocket League Require PS Plus?
No. Rocket League became free-to-play in September 2020 and no longer requires PS Plus to play online on PS4 or PS5. If you play Rocket League today, it is free — download it from the PlayStation Store at no cost and play online without PS Plus.
Does Elden Ring Require PS Plus?
Yes — for online features. Elden Ring can be played completely offline in single-player without PS Plus. The game’s online co-op, invasions, and message system all require PS Plus. If you only want to experience Elden Ring’s story and world in single-player, no PS Plus is needed.
Does Red Dead Online Require PS Plus?
Yes. Red Dead Online requires PS Plus to access on PS4 and PS5. Red Dead Online is an online multiplayer component and follows the same rule as other paid game online modes.
Does Overwatch 2 Require PS Plus?
No. Overwatch 2 went free-to-play in October 2022 and does not require PS Plus for online multiplayer on PS4 or PS5. All competitive modes, arcade modes, and quick play are accessible without a PS Plus subscription.
Complete Quick Reference: PS Plus Required or Not?
| Game | PS Plus Required? | Notes |
| Fortnite | NO | Free-to-play |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | NO | Free-to-play |
| Apex Legends | NO | Free-to-play |
| Rocket League | NO | Free-to-play since 2020 |
| Destiny 2 | NO | Free-to-play base game |
| Overwatch 2 | NO | Free-to-play since 2022 |
| Genshin Impact | NO | Free-to-play |
| Marvel Rivals | NO | Free-to-play |
| Final Fantasy XIV | NO | Free-to-play starter edition |
| No Man’s Sky | NO | Free-to-play base version |
| Minecraft (online) | YES | Paid game; single-player = no PS Plus |
| Rainbow Six Siege | YES | Paid game |
| Dead by Daylight | YES | Paid game |
| Elden Ring (online) | YES | Paid game; single-player = no PS Plus |
| Red Dead Online | YES | Paid content |
| CoD Black Ops 7 | YES | Paid game (Warzone = no PS Plus) |
| EA FC / FIFA | YES | Paid game |
| 2K25/NBA | YES | Paid game |
| Battlefield 2042 | YES | Paid game |
| Sea of Thieves (PS5) | YES | Paid game on PS5 |
Do You Need PS Plus for Game Sharing?
No — not directly. PS5’s Share Play feature (which lets you share your screen or let a friend play your game remotely) does not require both players to have PS Plus. However, if the game being shared requires PS Plus for online play, the other player will still need PS Plus to participate in the online session. The Share Play connection itself does not require PS Plus.
Do You Need Game Pass to Play Online on Xbox?
On Xbox, the equivalent of PS Plus is Xbox Game Pass Essential (formerly Xbox Live Gold). This is required for most online multiplayer games on Xbox. Free-to-play games follow the same rule on Xbox as on PlayStation — they do not require a subscription.
Xbox Game Pass Essential costs $9.99/month, the same entry price as PS Plus Essential. However, the services have different features above the entry tier. For a full comparison, see our PS Plus vs Game Pass guide.
Deciding between PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass? See our PS Plus vs Game Pass: full 2026 comparison covering prices, library size, day-one games, and which service wins for different types of players.
Can You Play PS Plus Games Offline?
Yes and no. Games in your PS Plus monthly lineup (the free monthly games) can be downloaded and played offline as long as your PS Plus subscription is active. If your PS Plus subscription expires, you lose access to these games until you resubscribe. Your save files for these games are retained.
PS Plus Extra and Premium catalog games work the same way — you can download and play them offline while subscribed, but lose access if you cancel. Online multiplayer obviously requires an internet connection regardless.
PlayStation’s official PS Plus page at playstation.com/en-us/ps-plus has the definitive up-to-date list of features for each tier, monthly free games, and FAQ on what happens when your subscription ends.
Bottom Line
| ✅ Free-to-play games | NO PS Plus needed — Fortnite, Warzone, Apex, Rocket League, Destiny 2, Overwatch 2 |
| ✅ Paid games online | YES PS Plus required — Minecraft, Siege, DBD, Elden Ring, CoD titles |
| ✅ Single-player | NO PS Plus needed — any game, any time |
| ✅ Game Pass (Xbox) | Same rule — free-to-play = no subscription; paid games = subscription |
| ✅ Share Play | No PS Plus needed for the feature itself |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need PS Plus to play online?
Yes for most paid games. No for free-to-play games. If you purchased a game (disc or digital download) and want to play it online, you need PS Plus. If you are playing a free-to-play title like Fortnite, Apex Legends, Warzone, or Rocket League, no PS Plus is required.
What free-to-play games can I play without PS Plus on PS5?
Free-to-play games that do not require PS Plus on PS5 include: Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, Rocket League, Destiny 2, Overwatch 2, Genshin Impact, Marvel Rivals, Final Fantasy XIV (starter edition), No Man’s Sky, KartRider: Drift, Asphalt Legends Unite, and MultiVersus (while it was live).
Does Fortnite need PS Plus?
No. Fortnite is free-to-play and does not require PS Plus on PS4 or PS5. You need a free PlayStation Network account, but no paid subscription. All Battle Royale, Zero Build, and Creative modes are playable online without PS Plus.
Does Warzone need PS Plus?
No. Call of Duty: Warzone is free-to-play and does not require PS Plus. The paid Call of Duty titles (Black Ops 7, etc.) do require PS Plus for their multiplayer modes. Only Warzone — the free standalone game — is exempt.
Do you need PS Plus to play Minecraft online?
Yes for online multiplayer with other players. Minecraft single-player and local split-screen co-op do not require PS Plus. PS Plus is only needed when you want to play multiplayer sessions with other players online.
Do you need PS Plus for Dead by Daylight?
Yes. Dead by Daylight requires PS Plus because it is a paid game and an online-only multiplayer experience. There is no meaningful offline mode — you need PS Plus to access the game’s core gameplay.
