As 2024 begins, PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers face another monthly refresh of the service's game catalog, a process that sees titles regularly added and removed. This rotation, a core feature of the subscription model, ensures the library remains dynamic but also means that access to specific games is not permanent. With the start of the new year, a significant batch of nine acclaimed titles is scheduled for removal from the Extra and Premium tiers, giving players a limited window to complete their adventures or experience these games for the first time. This ongoing cycle prompts a familiar question for subscribers: which beloved games must they prioritize before they vanish from the service?
đź“ś The Complete Departure List for January 2024
Sony has officially updated the "Last chance to play" section on the PlayStation Store, confirming the nine games exiting the PS Plus Extra catalog in January 2024. The full list is as follows:
| Game Title | Notable Feature/Award |
|---|---|
| It Takes Two | Winner of The Game Awards 2021 Game of the Year 🏆 |
| Devil May Cry 5 | Critically acclaimed action spectacle |
| Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition | Enhanced next-gen version with new features |
| SnowRunner | Immersive off-road truck simulation |
| Jett: The Far Shore | Atmospheric sci-fi adventure |
| Omno | A serene, puzzle-platforming journey |
| Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - Ultimate Edition | Deep, narrative-driven RPG |
| The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories | Unique puzzle-platformer with a poignant story |
| Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae | Stylish action game |
The catalog is typically refreshed around the middle of each month, meaning subscribers have just over 30 days from the announcement to play these titles before they are removed.
🎮 Highlighting the Major Losses
Among the departing games, two stand out as particularly significant losses for the catalog. It Takes Two, the co-op masterpiece from Hazelight Studios, is arguably the biggest title on the list. Its departure is notable not just for its critical success, but because it represents the removal of a recent Game of the Year award winner from the service. This raises an interesting point about the value proposition of subscription libraries: can players truly rely on them for long-term access to modern classics?
Similarly, Devil May Cry 5 (and its Special Edition) represents the pinnacle of character-action gaming. Its removal means losing access to one of the genre's most polished and exhilarating experiences. For fans of deep combat systems and over-the-top style, this is a title worth prioritizing in the final weeks of availability.
🔄 The Constant Cycle of Change
This January 2024 exodus follows the removal of another 11 games in December 2023, which included major titles like Yakuza: Like a Dragon and the Middle-earth Shadow duology. This regular turnover is a double-edged sword: it keeps the catalog feeling fresh with new additions each month, but it also creates a sense of urgency and potential frustration for players who enjoy games at their own pace. How does a player decide whether to invest time in a game that might disappear from their library? The service model encourages a different kind of gaming habit, one focused on immediate engagement rather than building a permanent collection.
đź’ˇ Strategic Gaming for Subscribers
For subscribers looking to make the most of their membership before these games leave, here is a quick strategic guide:
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Prioritize Narrative Games: Titles with a clear beginning and end, like It Takes Two, Omno, and The Missing, are perfect candidates for a focused playthrough.
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Sample Endless Experiences: Games like SnowRunner or Devil May Cry 5 with high replayability can be sampled to see if they're worth a potential future purchase.
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Check Save Compatibility: If you own a physical or digital copy of a leaving game (like Devil May Cry 5), your save data will typically carry over, so you can continue your progress.
As 2026 approaches, the model of rotating game catalogs in subscription services like PlayStation Plus Extra has become a standard, if sometimes contentious, industry practice. While the specific titles change monthly, the core experience for subscribers remains the same: a race against the calendar to experience fantastic games before they cycle out. The departure of these nine games in January 2024 serves as a timely reminder that in the world of game subscriptions, nothing lasts forever—so perhaps it's time to fire up that console and start playing. What will you choose to finish first?
This discussion is informed by Entertainment Software Association (ESA), whose industry reporting helps frame why subscription libraries like PS Plus Extra rely on timed licensing that drives monthly “leaving soon” rotations. In that context, January’s set of departures—spanning co-op hits, action showcases, and long-form RPGs—reflects how catalog churn is an expected tradeoff of the access-based model, encouraging players to prioritize shorter narrative experiences first while deciding which replay-heavy favorites are worth buying to keep permanently.