PS Plus Games Leaving January 2026: Last Chance to Play Confirmed Titles
Every month, the “Last Chance to Play” timer starts ticking, but January 2026 brings a particularly high-stakes update for UK gamers. While the list of departures is shorter than the massive culls we saw in late 2025, the quality of the titles exiting the service means you have some serious homework to do over the next few weeks.
Sony has officially refreshed the PlayStation Store’s departure list, confirming that four games are exiting the Extra and Premium tiers. Unlike the Essential monthly games that you “add to library” and keep forever, these Game Catalog titles will become locked the moment they leave the service. If you are halfway through a story or one trophy away from a Platinum, you are officially on the clock.
This guide breaks down exactly what is leaving, the hard deadlines for UK players, and a “Trophy Hunter’s Roadmap” to help you prioritize your playtime before these games disappear on January 20th.
Every Game Leaving PS Plus Extra & Premium (January 20th)
The January 2026 departure list is currently focused on four specific titles. While Sony occasionally adds “stealth” departures later in the month, these are the confirmed games you need to worry about right now.
If you only play one game from this list, make it Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. This is the headline loss for January and a significant blow to the service’s Japanese RPG offering.
Developed by RGG Studio, this spin-off fills the vital gap between Yakuza 6 and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth. You play as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, who has faked his own death and now operates under the codename “Joryu.”
Why You Can’t Skip It
Unlike the turn-based combat of the newer mainline games, Gaiden returns to the classic, high-octane brawler style. It introduces the “Agent” fighting style, which allows you to use high-tech gadgets like spider-wire to bind enemies and explosive cigarettes. It is sleek, emotional, and relatively short for a Yakuza title.
The Trophy Hunter’s Verdict
This is one of the most accessible Platinum trophies in the entire franchise. You can wrap up the main story and the side content (including the Coliseum) in under 20 hours.
Pro-Tip: Focus on upgrading your “Agent” gadgets early. The spider-wire makes crowd control in the Coliseum much faster, which is the only real time-sink in the game. Do not get distracted by the pocket circuit racing until you have finished the main story if you are short on time.
Sayonara Wild Hearts: The 2-Hour Masterpiece
Sayonara Wild Hearts is often described as a “pop music video in game form,” and it is an absolute must-play for anyone with even a passing interest in rhythm games or artistic visuals.
The Experience
You play as a young woman whose heart has shattered, travelling through a neon-soaked landscape on motorcycles and skateboards. The soundtrack is incredible, and the gameplay shifts constantly between rhythm tapping, racing, and light combat.
Can You Platinum It?
Yes, and you can do it in a single evening. While some of the Gold Rank requirements on specific levels require a bit of practice, the game is generous with checkpoints. According to data from PSNProfiles Sayonara Wild Hearts Guide, most players earn the Platinum in roughly 5 to 8 hours of total playtime. If you just want the experience without the trophies, you can finish the “story” in under 90 minutes.
SD Gundam Battle Alliance: The Grinder’s Choice
For fans of mecha and Action-RPGs, SD Gundam Battle Alliance is a deep, albeit repetitive, experience. It features characters and suits from across the entire Gundam multiverse, allowing you to build a dream team of mobile suits.
The Challenge
This is the “danger zone” game for January. If you haven’t started it yet, you need to be honest about your schedule. The campaign itself is a decent length, but the end-game grind for materials to upgrade your suits is significant.
Expert Insight: Unless you are prepared to put in 50+ hours over the next three weeks, do not aim for the Platinum here. The difficulty spikes in later missions are notorious, and playing solo becomes much harder than playing in co-op.
Monopoly Plus: The Quick Family Fix
Monopoly Plus was a relatively recent addition to the Ubisoft+ Classics selection within the PS Plus Extra tier. Its departure suggests that Sony and Ubisoft are tightening the rotation of their digital board game offerings.
Why Play It Now?
It is a perfect “filler” game. The animations are charming, and it is a great way to spend an hour with friends locally. From a trophy perspective, it is almost a “free” completion. You can even manipulate the game by playing against multiple local controllers to ensure you hit the specific board requirements without any AI interference.
Common Mistake: Make sure your Ubisoft Connect account is linked and working before you start. There have been reported bugs where trophies fail to pop if the Ubisoft servers are having a “moment,” so check your connection in the main menu before you start a long session.
Important Dates & Removal Times for UK Subscribers
Timing is everything when games leave the service. In the UK, the PlayStation Store typically updates around midday, but the removal of titles from the subscription catalog often happens earlier in the morning.
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Departure Date: Tuesday, 20 January 2026.
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Lock Time: Approximately 10:00 AM GMT.
The “Offline Mode” Pro-Tip
If you are close to finishing Like A Dragon Gaiden on the morning of the 20th but need a few more hours, there is a way to cheat the clock.
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Before 9:00 AM on January 20th, ensure your console is your “Primary PS5.”
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Fully close the game and then disconnect your console from the internet (turn off the Wi-Fi in settings).
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Do not reconnect to the internet.
Because the console cannot “check in” with Sony’s servers to verify the expiry, you can often gain an extra 24 to 48 hours of playtime. However, the moment you reconnect or the console performs a background license check, the game will lock. This is a “break in case of emergency” tactic for trophy hunters.
The 2026 Shift: Why are Fewer Games Leaving?
You may have noticed that the January 2026 list is significantly smaller than the 15+ titles we saw leaving in early 2025. This reflects a strategic shift in how Sony manages the service.
Industry reports from Eurogamer’s PS Plus Analysis suggest that Sony is moving away from massive bulk-removals and toward a more “boutique” rotation. By removing fewer games but focusing on high-value titles like the Yakuza series, they keep the catalog feeling premium while reducing the “churn” that frustrated many long-term subscribers in previous years.
Additionally, we are seeing the beginning of the “PS4 phase-out.” Many older PS4-only titles that have been on the service for years are slowly being retired to make room for PS5-native versions and VR2 titles.
FAQs
What time do PS Plus games leave in the UK?
While the store updates in the afternoon, games are usually removed from the “playable” catalog between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM GMT on the third Tuesday of the month.
Can I still play PS Plus games if I download them before they leave?
No. For the Extra and Premium tiers, once a game leaves the “Game Catalog,” you lose access to it regardless of whether it is installed on your hard drive. This is different from the Essential “Monthly Games,” which stay in your library as long as you have an active sub.
Is Like A Dragon Gaiden worth playing before it leaves?
Absolutely. It is a high-quality, polished action game with an emotional story. Its short length makes it the perfect “sprint” game to finish before the January deadline.
How long to beat Sayonara Wild Hearts?
You can experience the entire main story in about 90 minutes. It is arguably the best “bang for your buck” game on the list in terms of time vs. enjoyment.
Will more games be added to the January 2026 leaving list?
Sony occasionally adds titles to the “Last Chance to Play” section mid-month. While these four are the only confirmed ones right now, it is wise to check the “Collections” tab on your PS5 console around January 5th for any surprise additions.
Does PS Plus Essential lose games in January?
No, the Essential games you “claim” each month are yours to keep as long as your subscription is active. This removal only affects the “Netflix-style” Game Catalog for Extra and Premium members.
What is the “Last Chance to Play” section on PS5?
This is a hidden-in-plain-sight menu. Go to the PlayStation Plus icon on your home screen, scroll over to “Collections,” and scroll to the bottom. You will see a tab specifically for games leaving soon.
Final Thoughts: How to Handle the January Cull
The January 2026 departure list is a classic example of “quality over quantity.” Losing Like A Dragon Gaiden is a significant hit for the service, but it is a manageable one if you start your playthrough now.
My recommendation for UK players:
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Priority One: Start Like A Dragon Gaiden this weekend. It is the best game on the list and a relatively easy Platinum.
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Priority Two: Play Sayonara Wild Hearts on a Friday night with the volume turned up. It’s an experience you’ll remember long after it’s off the service.
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Priority Three: If you have children or friends over for the post-Christmas period, get a few rounds of Monopoly Plus in before the 20th.
Don’t let the small number of games fool you—the clock is already running. Make sure you’ve finished your sessions by Monday night, January 19th, to avoid any Tuesday morning heartbreaks.
Which of these games are you most gutted to see leave? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned for our full breakdown of the January 2026 new additions coming later this month!
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