PS Plus September 2026 Departures Revealed: Persona 5 Tactica and Madden NFL 26 Among the Games Leaving

The currently identified list includes Persona 5 Tactica, EA Sports Madden NFL 26, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! and Toy Story 3. The two Toy Story titles are part of the Premium/Deluxe Classics catalog.

The games are expected to leave the service on September 15, 2026, when the next monthly Extra and Premium lineup is added.

However, subscribers should keep in mind that this is an initial list and more departures could potentially be added later.

Which Games Are Leaving PS Plus in September 2026?

The currently confirmed or identified September departures are:

Persona 5 Tactica
EA Sports Madden NFL 26
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue!
Toy Story 3

The first two are modern PS4/PS5 catalog games, while the Toy Story titles are available through the Premium Classics offering.

This makes the September list interesting because it covers several very different types of games.

Persona 5 Tactica Is Leaving PS Plus

The biggest gaming title among the currently identified departures is arguably Persona 5 Tactica.

The tactical RPG launched in November 2023 as a spin-off of Persona 5.

It takes familiar characters from the Persona universe and puts them into a strategy-focused experience built around grid-based combat.

Persona 5 Tactica joined the PlayStation Plus catalog in September 2025, meaning its expected September 2026 departure comes roughly one year after its addition.

That makes the game's removal less surprising for subscribers who have been tracking the service's licensing cycles.

Why Persona 5 Tactica Is Worth Playing Before It Leaves

Persona 5 Tactica offers something different from Persona 5 Royal.

Instead of the traditional turn-based RPG structure, Tactica focuses on tactical battles.

Players move characters around battlefields, use cover, position their team strategically and exploit enemy weaknesses.

The game also includes familiar Persona characters, making it especially appealing to players who already enjoyed Persona 5.

For subscribers who have had Tactica sitting in their library without starting it, September's departure could be the final push needed to give it a chance.

Madden NFL 26 Is Also Leaving

The second major departure is EA Sports Madden NFL 26.

The sports title joined the PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium catalog in March 2026.

Its removal is therefore much sooner than Persona 5 Tactica's.

Madden NFL 26 gives football fans access to EA's latest annual NFL simulation, including its roster updates, gameplay systems and career-focused features.

For players who regularly use the game through PS Plus, the September departure will be more important than it may initially appear.

Why Madden NFL 26's Departure Matters

Sports games can have a different value proposition from traditional single-player games.

Players often return to them throughout an entire season rather than completing them once.

That means Madden NFL 26 leaving PS Plus can affect subscribers who use the service as their main way of accessing the game.

Anyone who wants to continue playing after the removal date will need to purchase the game separately.

Two Toy Story Classics Are Leaving Premium

The most surprising part of the current list is the removal of two older Disney games.

Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! and Toy Story 3 are both currently available through the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics catalog.

Their inclusion is notable because these are significantly older titles compared with Persona 5 Tactica and Madden NFL 26.

They also represent a different part of the PlayStation Plus subscription.

Why Are the Toy Story Games Leaving?

There is an obvious timing connection.

A new Toy Story collection is scheduled for release in October 2026, and the removal of the older Toy Story titles has led to speculation that licensing arrangements could be changing ahead of that release.

Sony has not publicly confirmed that the upcoming collection is the reason for the PS Plus removals.

Therefore, it is better to treat the connection as a possibility rather than an official explanation.

Still, the timing is certainly interesting.

Toy Story 2 Is a Classic PlayStation Addition

Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! is based on Pixar's Toy Story 2.

The game originally appeared on older PlayStation hardware and was later added to the Premium Classics library.

Its departure means Premium subscribers have a limited window to revisit this older licensed title through the subscription service.

For players who enjoy retro games, it could be worth downloading before the September deadline.

Toy Story 3 Is Also Leaving

Toy Story 3 is another interesting entry in the Classics catalog.

The version currently available through PlayStation Plus is the PSP version, according to the current catalog listing.

That distinction is important because there are different versions of Toy Story 3 across older platforms.

Players shouldn't assume that the PS Plus version is identical to every other Toy Story 3 game.

When Will These Games Leave PS Plus?

The currently reported departure date is:

September 15, 2026

That is the expected date when the next monthly Extra and Premium lineup arrives.

Subscribers therefore have several weeks to play the games.

However, Sony can update the Last Chance to Play list, so players should check the PlayStation Store for the final regional list before planning a long playthrough.

More Games Could Still Be Added to the Departure List

This is one of the most important points for subscribers.

The currently visible list should not necessarily be treated as the final September departure lineup.

The initial information comes from regional PlayStation Store listings, and additional titles can appear later.

That means the current list is best viewed as an early warning.

Players should keep checking the Last Chance to Play section as September approaches.

What Should PS Plus Subscribers Play First?

Not every game on the list requires the same amount of time.

Your priority should depend on what type of player you are.

Persona 5 Fans

Start with Persona 5 Tactica.

It is the most substantial single-player RPG-style experience among the current departures.

Football Fans

Start Madden NFL 26 if you regularly play sports games.

Because sports titles can become long-term games rather than one-time campaigns, you may want to decide whether you want to continue playing it after it leaves.

Retro Gaming Fans

Try Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.

They are much easier to sample during shorter gaming sessions.

Persona 5 Tactica Should Be the Main Priority

For most subscribers, Persona 5 Tactica is probably the game that deserves the most attention.

It combines:

Tactical combat
Persona characters
RPG progression
Story-driven missions
Familiar Persona mechanics
Strategic positioning

It also doesn't demand the enormous time commitment associated with Persona 5 Royal.

That makes it a relatively practical game to complete before the September deadline.

The September Departures Arrive After a Strong August

The timing is interesting because PlayStation Plus is adding several notable games during August.

Sony's August Game Catalog includes Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Vampire Survivors, Hell is Us, Two Point Museum, Metro Exodus and Dying Light 2, alongside other additions.

That means subscribers are simultaneously receiving new games while preparing to lose older ones.

This is normal for subscription services, but August's lineup makes the transition particularly noticeable.

August 2026 Is a Busy Month for PS Plus

The August catalog is one of the more varied recent lineups.

Players can jump between:

Medieval RPGs
Survival games
Horror adventures
Management games
Shooters
Open-world action
Classic games

With so much new content arriving, it can be easy for older games to disappear from a subscriber's attention.

That's why the September departure list is worth checking now rather than waiting until the last few days.

The Removal Doesn't Delete Your Save Data

If you are currently playing a game through PS Plus and it leaves the service, your save data isn't simply erased because the game leaves.

Your progress can remain associated with your account and console storage.

However, you will need access to the game through a separate purchase or another valid license if you want to continue playing after its PS Plus availability ends.

Can You Still Buy These Games After They Leave?

In most cases, a PS Plus catalog departure does not automatically mean a game disappears from the PlayStation Store.

The subscription license and the game's retail availability are separate matters.

However, licensed games can sometimes have additional complications.

That makes the Toy Story titles particularly interesting to watch because of the upcoming Toy Story collection and the possibility of changing licensing arrangements.

What This Means for PS Plus Extra Subscribers

Extra subscribers should pay particular attention to:

Persona 5 Tactica

and

EA Sports Madden NFL 26

These are the two major modern catalog games currently listed for removal.

If either has been sitting in your backlog, September is the time to start.

What This Means for PS Plus Premium Subscribers

Premium subscribers have the same two modern departures plus the two Classics titles:

Persona 5 Tactica
Madden NFL 26
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3

The Classics removals are especially notable because Premium's retro catalog generally receives fewer major additions than the modern Game Catalog.

Should You Download Them Now?

If you have enough storage, downloading the games you're interested in now is sensible.

This avoids having to wait for downloads closer to the deadline.

It also lets you start playing immediately instead of allowing the games to remain untouched in your library.

For larger games such as Madden NFL 26, downloading earlier can be particularly useful if your internet connection is slow.

How to Check the Last Chance to Play Section

PlayStation Plus subscribers can check the PlayStation Store's Last Chance to Play section.

This is where Sony lists games approaching the end of their subscription availability.

The list can change as new regional information becomes available, so checking it periodically is a good way to keep track of upcoming departures.

Could More Big Games Leave in September?

It's possible.

The current list is explicitly an initial list, and additional titles may appear as Sony updates its store listings.

That means players shouldn't assume the four currently identified games are the entire September schedule.

The final list could be larger.

Why Subscription Game Departures Matter

Game subscription services have changed how players discover games.

A player may try something they would never have purchased at full price simply because it is included in a subscription.

That makes departures important.

A game leaving PS Plus can mean a player loses access just as they are beginning to appreciate it.

The best strategy is to treat the service like a rotating library rather than a permanent collection.

The Best Strategy for Your PS Plus Backlog

The simplest approach is to divide games into three groups.

Play Immediately

Games that are leaving within the next month and that you genuinely want to finish.

Sample Before Leaving

Games you aren't sure about but can test for an hour or two.

Ignore

Games you have no interest in playing.

This prevents your backlog from becoming overwhelming.

The first PS Plus September 2026 departures are now appearing, giving subscribers an early warning about games that won't remain available indefinitely.

The current list includes Persona 5 Tactica, EA Sports Madden NFL 26, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! and Toy Story 3.

Among them, Persona 5 Tactica is probably the most important game for RPG fans, while Madden NFL 26 is the obvious priority for football players.

The two Toy Story titles are more interesting from a preservation and licensing perspective, especially with a new Toy Story collection scheduled for October. However, the relationship between that collection and the PS Plus removals has not been officially confirmed.

The expected removal date is September 15, 2026, giving players several weeks to work through their backlog.

And because this is still an early list, subscribers should keep checking the PlayStation Store for additional departures.

If you've been waiting to play Persona 5 Tactica or revisit one of the Toy Story classics, now is a better time than later.