Sony Removes PS3 Games from PS5 and PS4 in PS Plus Overhaul

Next month, PlayStation Plus subscribers will see a significant reduction in their game library, with 22 titles being removed, including major hits like Grand Theft Auto 5, Payday 2: Crimewave Edition, and the final playable versions of first-party titles Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2. This move marks a notable shift in the service's offerings.

PlayStation Plus is a premium online gaming service for PlayStation platforms. It offers a suite of benefits including free monthly games, exclusive trials, online multiplayer access, and special member discounts. For Extra and Premium members, the service also provides access to a catalog of hundreds of current and classic games, enhancing the gaming experience with a broad selection of titles.

As reported by Push Square, the upcoming removal of these 22 games on May 20 marks a significant event, particularly with the exit of two high-profile first-party Sony PS3 games from the PS Plus Premium library.

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The departure of Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 from the PS Plus Premium library is especially notable. These games are no longer available for purchase on the PS Store, making the PS Plus Premium streaming service the last bastion for playing them without owning a functional PS3 and the games themselves. Both titles were added to the library towards the end of 2024, making their removal less than a year later quite surprising.

The Resistance series, developed by Insomniac Games post their successful Ratchet and Clank franchise, offers an alternate history first-person shooter experience. Following the release of three PS3 titles, Insomniac shifted focus to other projects, including Marvel’s Spider-Man and newer Ratchet and Clank games.

While it's not common for Sony to remove first-party titles from their service, there have been precedents, such as the unexpected removal of both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon: Forbidden West in August 2024. However, unlike the Horizon games, which remained purchasable after their removal, Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 will become inaccessible on modern consoles after May 20, 2025.

Interestingly, Resistance 3 and Resistance: Retribution will continue to be available on the service. Additionally, the more recent PS4 title InFamous: Second Son is also slated for removal from PS Plus.

The Resistance series, once a key player in Insomniac's portfolio, has been quiet for some time. In February, Insomniac's founder and outgoing president, Ted Price, shared that there was significant interest in developing Resistance 4, but unfortunately, the project did not proceed. Like Guerrilla's Killzone series, Resistance has faded into the background.

Games Leaving PS Plus on May 20, 2025

• Grand Theft Auto 5
• MotoGP 24
• The Sims 4: Island Living
• Resistance: Fall of Man
• Resistance 2
• Walkabout Mini Golf
• Synth Riders
• Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord
• Before Your Eyes
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Chapter 2: Retribution
• Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
• Stranded: Alien Dawn
• The Lego Movie 2 Videogame
• Ghostrunner
• Payday 2: Crimewave Edition
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
• Journey to the Savage Planet
• Portal Knights
• Enter the Gungeon
• Batman: Arkham Knight
• InFamous: Second Son