Ethan Crossfield 
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members are set to lose Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 on November 17. The removal of two of Rockstar Games' largest open-world releases is a major change for the subscription catalogue, particularly with Grand Theft Auto 6 scheduled to arrive two days later.
What happened to GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2
Sony's subscription service is preparing to remove both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 from its Extra and Premium game libraries. Unless the current plans change, November 17 will be the final day subscribers can access either title through those tiers. This is different from PlayStation Plus Essential monthly games: claimed Essential titles remain available while a player maintains an active subscription. Extra and Premium catalogue games, by contrast, can rotate out when their availability period ends. For players midway through either Rockstar adventure, the deadline makes save progress and remaining campaign time especially important.
Why the double departure matters
Losing one enormous Rockstar sandbox would be notable; losing both at once leaves a much larger gap in the service's premium catalogue. GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 are among the most highly regarded games cited by the source, ranking sixth and tenth respectively among the highest-rated games ever. Both also collected major critical acclaim and Game of the Year recognition at launch. Their exits fall just two days before the scheduled November 19 release of GTA 6, making the timing impossible to ignore. There is no confirmation that the removals were coordinated with Rockstar's new launch, however, and the source presents that connection as speculation rather than fact.
What to watch next for PS Plus members
The catalogue is still receiving new additions. Mafia: The Old Country, Horizon Forbidden West and Mycopunk have recently joined PS Plus Extra and Premium. More games are also due on October 27, when Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2, Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition and Monster Energy Supercross 25 are scheduled to arrive. Looking further ahead, October 28 is the likely date for Sony to reveal the November 2026 PlayStation Plus monthly lineup. Rockstar games have appeared on subscription services before, including PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass, but there is no indication that GTA 6 will join PS Plus anytime soon.
What players should do before November 17
- Finish priority GTA 5 or Red Dead Redemption 2 story missions before the catalogue deadline.
- Check which tier you use: the removals affect the rotating Extra and Premium libraries.
- Do not assume access will continue after November 17 simply because your subscription remains active.
- Watch the October 27 catalogue update and the expected October 28 monthly-games announcement for replacement options.
Key PS Plus dates and additions
| Date | Event | Games involved |
|---|---|---|
| October 27 | Scheduled PS Plus additions | Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2; Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition; Monster Energy Supercross 25 |
| October 28 | Likely November 2026 monthly-games announcement | Lineup not yet confirmed |
| November 17 | PS Plus catalogue removals | Grand Theft Auto 5; Red Dead Redemption 2 |
| November 19 | Scheduled GTA 6 release | Grand Theft Auto 6 |
Expert View
This is a sharper loss than a typical catalogue rotation because the two games cover different sides of Rockstar's appeal: GTA 5 remains a modern crime sandbox, while Red Dead Redemption 2 is a sprawling narrative-driven western. New additions can broaden the library, but replacing that combined scale and prestige will be difficult. For PS Plus, the immediate test is whether November's announcements give Extra and Premium members a compelling reason to stay engaged after Rockstar's biggest catalogue draw disappears.
