The short answer: it depends on the game. For most paid games on PS4 and PS5, yes — you need an active PlayStation Plus subscription to access online multiplayer. For free-to-play games, no — PlayStation allows free-to-play titles to run their online modes without a PS Plus requirement. This guide covers the complete rule, the exceptions, and answers every specific game question in one place.
If you are deciding whether PS Plus is worth it for you, see our full breakdown of PS Plus Essential vs Extra vs Premium — all three tiers compared — covering what each tier actually includes and which is worth buying.
The Core Rule: PS Plus and Online Play
| Game Type | PS Plus Required for Online? |
| Free-to-play games (Fortnite, Warzone, Apex, Rocket League) | NO — free-to-play online is always free |
| Paid games (Call of Duty, FIFA, Elden Ring, NBA 2K) | YES — PS Plus Essential required |
| Single-player games (any title) | NO — PS Plus never required for single-player |
| Campaign / story mode (paid games) | NO — no PS Plus needed |
| Local split-screen / couch co-op | NO — PS Plus not required |
| SharePlay (playing together via PS Plus feature) | YES — requires PS Plus |
| Cloud game saves (auto backup) | YES — PS Plus required for cloud saves |
Sony established the free-to-play exemption when it restructured PlayStation Plus in 2022. Free-to-play games — titles that are free to download and play their base version — are not required to lock online behind PS Plus. This is why millions of players can enjoy Fortnite, Warzone, Apex Legends, and Rocket League on PS4 and PS5 without spending a penny on PS Plus.
Free-to-Play Games: No PS Plus Required
Does PS5 Need PS Plus for Fortnite?
No. Fortnite is free-to-play and does not require PlayStation Plus on PS4 or PS5. You can download Fortnite for free from the PlayStation Store and play all Battle Royale, Zero Build, LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival modes online without any PS Plus subscription. The only things you pay for in Fortnite are cosmetic items (skins, emotes, Battle Pass) — none of which are required to play online.
Do You Need PS Plus for Warzone?
No. Call of Duty: Warzone is free-to-play and does not require PS Plus to play online. You can download Warzone from the PlayStation Store at no cost and play all battle royale and multiplayer modes without a PS Plus subscription. This is different from paid CoD titles — Black Ops 6 multiplayer, for example, requires PS Plus Essential to play online even though Warzone does not.
Do You Need PS Plus for Apex Legends?
No. Apex Legends is free-to-play and does not require PS Plus on PS4 or PS5. All battle royale and arena modes are accessible without a subscription. Like Fortnite, Apex earns revenue through cosmetic purchases — Legend skins, weapon skins, Battle Pass — which are optional and not required to access online play.
Do You Need PS Plus for Rocket League?
No. Rocket League went free-to-play in September 2020 and has not required PS Plus for online play since that transition. If you purchased Rocket League before it became free-to-play, you also do not need PS Plus to play online. All online modes are accessible without a subscription.
Do You Need PS Plus for Dead by Daylight (DBD)?
Dead by Daylight is free-to-play on PlayStation as of January 2023, which means it does not require PS Plus to play online. If you purchased Dead by Daylight before it became free-to-play, your ownership continues and online play does not require PS Plus. Post-free-to-play conversion, all PlayStation accounts can download and play DBD online for free.
Do You Need PS Plus for Rainbow Six Siege (R6)?
Rainbow Six Siege transitioned to a free-to-play model in January 2024. Since that transition, R6 Siege does not require PS Plus to play online on PS4 or PS5. Pre-transition owners retain their purchased content. The base game is now free to download and all online multiplayer modes are accessible without PS Plus.
Do You Need PS Plus for Overwatch 2?
No. Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play title in October 2022, replacing the original Overwatch. All competitive and casual multiplayer modes in Overwatch 2 are free to play without PS Plus. Cosmetic purchases and Battle Pass are optional. If you played original Overwatch on PlayStation, your legacy cosmetics carried over to Overwatch 2.
Do You Need PS Plus for Genshin Impact?
No. Genshin Impact is free-to-play with no PS Plus requirement for any of its online features, including co-op multiplayer with other players. The game’s gacha system for characters and weapons is how it generates revenue, but accessing online co-op play does not require PS Plus.
Paid Games That Do NOT Require PS Plus Online
A small number of paid games have received special exemptions from Sony, allowing their online modes to run without PS Plus. The most notable:
- Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV): The MMO Final Fantasy XIV has an exemption that allows online play without PS Plus. This is a rare exception specifically negotiated by Square Enix — most MMOs on PlayStation follow this pattern since their subscription model replaces the PS Plus requirement.
- Destiny 2 (free-to-play content): Destiny 2’s free-to-play content does not require PS Plus. However, paid expansion content that requires a purchase may require PS Plus for online play in those modes — check specific expansion details.
- No Man’s Sky: No Man’s Sky online multiplayer does not require PS Plus. Hello Games specifically negotiated this exemption, positioning the game’s online features as fully free to use.
- Elder Scrolls Online (ESO): ESO’s base game is available as free-to-play and does not require PS Plus for online play.
Quick Reference: Game-by-Game PS Plus Requirements
| Game | PS Plus Needed? | Notes |
| Fortnite | NO | Free-to-play — all modes free |
| Warzone (COD) | NO | Free-to-play — all modes free |
| Apex Legends | NO | Free-to-play |
| Rocket League | NO | Free-to-play since Sept 2020 |
| Dead by Daylight | NO | Free-to-play since Jan 2023 |
| Rainbow Six Siege | NO | Free-to-play since Jan 2024 |
| Overwatch 2 | NO | Free-to-play since Oct 2022 |
| Genshin Impact | NO | Free-to-play |
| No Man’s Sky | NO | Special exemption by Hello Games |
| Final Fantasy XIV | NO | MMO exemption |
| Elder Scrolls Online | NO | Free-to-play base |
| Among Us | NO | Free-to-play on PS |
| Diablo IV | YES | Paid game — PS Plus required for online |
| Elden Ring | YES | Paid game — PS Plus required for multiplayer |
| Red Dead Online | YES | RDR2 is paid — PS Plus required |
| NBA 2K25 | YES | Paid game |
| Madden NFL online | YES | Paid game |
| Battlefield 2042 | YES | Paid game |
| Minecraft (Java/Bedrock) | YES | Paid — PS Plus required for online |
| For Honor | YES | Paid game |
| Dying Light online | YES | Paid game |
| Battlefront 2 | YES | Paid game |
| Sea of Thieves | YES | Paid game on PS |
Do You Need PS Plus on PS4 vs PS5?
The PS Plus requirement for online play works the same way on both PS4 and PS5. Free-to-play games are free to play online on both consoles without PS Plus. Paid game multiplayer requires PS Plus Essential on both PS4 and PS5. There is no difference in the online play requirement between the two console generations.
One important note for households with multiple PlayStation accounts: if one account on a PS5 has PS Plus and that account has the console set as its Primary Console, other accounts on the same console can use online multiplayer for paid games without their own PS Plus subscription. This is the Primary Console benefit — useful for families or households sharing a PS5.
Do You Need PS Plus to Play Online With Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus are separate subscription services for separate platforms. On Xbox, Game Pass Ultimate includes online multiplayer access (replacing Xbox Live Gold). On PlayStation, there is no equivalent bundled offering — you need PS Plus Essential for paid game online multiplayer regardless of any other subscriptions you hold. If you are on Xbox, the rules are different: Microsoft removed the requirement for Xbox Live Gold (now bundled into Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate) for free-to-play games in 2021, and Game Pass Ultimate includes online multiplayer for all game types.
When Did PlayStation Start Charging for Online?
PlayStation began requiring a paid subscription for online multiplayer with the launch of PlayStation 4 in November 2013. On PS3, online multiplayer was entirely free — a significant advantage Sony had over Xbox Live Gold at the time. The decision to introduce PS Plus as a requirement for online multiplayer on PS4 was controversial but commercially successful. Sony expanded and restructured the subscription in June 2022, renaming tiers to Essential, Extra, and Premium and incorporating PlayStation Now cloud streaming into the top tier.
For the full history of PS Plus pricing, tier comparisons, and whether PS Plus is worth it at each tier, see our guide to PS Plus Essential vs Extra vs Premium — full tier breakdown.
For the official list of free-to-play games on PlayStation that do not require PS Plus, see the PlayStation Store free-to-play section. For the official PS Plus page including current pricing and tier benefits, see PlayStation Plus official page.
Specific Game Situations That Often Cause Confusion
Several games sit in grey areas that generate frequent confusion about whether PS Plus is required:
• Minecraft online multiplayer on PS4/PS5: Minecraft is a paid game, so online multiplayer with other PlayStation players requires PS Plus. However, Minecraft Bedrock Edition supports cross-platform play — a PS4/PS5 player with PS Plus can play with a PC, Xbox, or mobile player who does not have PS Plus. The requirement is on the PlayStation side only.
• Diablo IV: Diablo IV is a paid game. Online co-op and seasonal content require PS Plus Essential. Unlike Diablo Immortal (which is free-to-play), Diablo IV was a full-price release and carries the standard PS Plus requirement for online play.
• Sea of Thieves on PS5: Sea of Thieves launched on PS5 in April 2024. Since it is a paid game on PlayStation (even though it is on Game Pass for free on Xbox), PS Plus is required to play online on PS5.
• Elden Ring multiplayer: Elden Ring is a paid game, so summoning players into your world or being summoned requires PS Plus. The offline single-player campaign does not require PS Plus.
• Monster Hunter Wilds online: Monster Hunter Wilds is a paid title, requiring PS Plus for online co-op hunts. Solo offline play does not require PS Plus.
What Happens to Your Online Access If PS Plus Lapses?
If your PS Plus subscription expires, your online multiplayer access for paid games stops immediately. Free-to-play games continue to work online — the expiry only affects paid game online multiplayer. Your claimed monthly games lock until you renew, but they are not lost. Cloud saves remain accessible.
If you need online access for a single event — a specific weekend, a tournament, or a game launch — Sony periodically offers discounted PS Plus trials and short-term subscriptions that can be stacked onto an existing subscription.
PS4 Primary Console and PS Plus Sharing
One of the most useful and underutilized PS Plus features is the Primary Console benefit. If you set a PS4 or PS5 as your Primary Console for your account, every other user account on that console gets access to your PS Plus benefits — including online multiplayer for paid games — without needing their own PS Plus subscription. This is how families and households with multiple users on a single console avoid paying for multiple PS Plus subscriptions.
• On PS5: Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play — enable this
• On PS4: Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PS4
• Limit: Each account can have only one Primary Console at a time. If you have multiple consoles, only one can be primary.
With the PS Plus requirements, free-to-play exemptions, and primary console benefit all understood, you have everything you need to make the right decision about what subscription tier — if any — fits your PlayStation setup.
Bottom Line
| Free-to-play games (Fortnite, Warzone, Apex, RL) | NO PS Plus needed — always free to play online |
| Paid games (CoD, FIFA, Elden Ring, etc.) | YES — PS Plus Essential required for online |
| Single-player (any game) | NO — never requires PS Plus |
| DBD, R6 Siege, Overwatch 2 | NO — all went free-to-play; no PS Plus needed |
| Minecraft online multiplayer | YES — paid game; PS Plus required |
| Diablo IV online | YES — paid game; PS Plus required |
| Elden Ring online multiplayer | YES — paid game; PS Plus required |
| Primary Console benefit | One PS Plus account covers all users on the same PS5 |
| PS4 vs PS5 | Same rules — no difference between generations |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need PS Plus to play Fortnite online?
No. Fortnite is free-to-play and does not require PlayStation Plus on PS4 or PS5. All Battle Royale, Zero Build, and other Fortnite modes are playable online without any subscription. Only cosmetic items and Battle Pass require payment — the gameplay itself is free.
Do you need PS Plus to play Warzone?
No. Call of Duty: Warzone is free-to-play and does not require PS Plus to access any of its online multiplayer modes. This is different from paid CoD titles — if you want to play Black Ops 6 multiplayer online, for example, you do need PS Plus Essential.
Do you need PS Plus to play Dead by Daylight?
No. Dead by Daylight became free-to-play in January 2023, which removed the PS Plus requirement for online play. All survivor and killer matches are accessible without PS Plus. Players who purchased DBD before it went free-to-play retain their content and do not need PS Plus for online play.
Do you need PS Plus to play Rainbow Six Siege?
No. Rainbow Six Siege went free-to-play in January 2024, removing the PS Plus requirement for online play. All multiplayer modes are accessible without a subscription. Pre-transition owners kept their purchased operators and content.
Why do you need PS Plus to play online on PlayStation?
Sony introduced the PS Plus requirement for paid game online multiplayer with the PS4 in 2013 — a shift from the PS3 era when online play was entirely free. The revenue from PS Plus subscriptions funds PlayStation’s online infrastructure, server maintenance, and the monthly free games benefit. Free-to-play games are exempt because Sony’s policy recognizes that requiring payment to play genuinely free games would contradict the free-to-play model.
Do you have to pay to play online on PS4?
For paid games, yes — PS Plus Essential is required to play online multiplayer on PS4. For free-to-play games (Fortnite, Warzone, Apex Legends, Rocket League, and others), no — these games are free to play online on PS4 without any PS Plus subscription. Single-player games never require PS Plus regardless of whether the game was paid or free.
