PlayStation 4 gamers may need to brace themselves. If the latest reports are to be believed, 2026 could mark a brutal shift in the gaming landscape — one where many live service games abandon the PS4 altogether.
Sony’s PlayStation 4 launched in 2013 and quickly became a console legend, selling over 117 million units and earning a place as the second-best-selling PlayStation of all time. For years, it was the beating heart of online multiplayer, battle royale madness, and massive live service worlds. But time is catching up, and the clock may finally be running out.
According to a new report from GamesIndustry.biz, several major developers operating online or live service games are now closely evaluating when to end PS4 support. This shift comes as more players migrate to the PS5, which has already surpassed the PS4 in active user base this year. With more powerful hardware and growing install bases, developers are starting to view the PS4 as a limitation — not a platform.
HoyoVerse has already made the first move. The studio recently announced it would no longer support Genshin Impact on PS4, citing technical issues such as the console’s outdated hard drive, which struggles to handle the game’s growing file size and demands. This decision could be the first domino in what may soon become a mass exodus.
Although popular titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty remain playable on PS4 for now, they might not stay that way for long. The writing is on the wall. Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch exclusively on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, leaving PS4 players locked out of one of the most anticipated games of the decade. The future of GTA Online on PS4 also hangs in the balance as Rockstar looks to shift focus to its new generation of players.
Battlefield 6 is another high-profile example of this trend. With a massive release planned in 2025, EA has already confirmed the title will not be coming to PS4. That decision speaks volumes about where big publishers are heading.
The PS4 may have been a juggernaut in its time, but by 2026, it could become a relic for live service fans. If enough developers follow through, millions could lose access to their favorite online titles, competitive communities, and in-game progress. For a console that carried gaming through an entire decade, the goodbye might be colder than anyone expected.
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