PS Plus Leans Indie This Month - and PS4's Days are Numbered

Sony has confirmed November's PlayStation Plus Essential titles, and it's a neat mix: a moody cat adventure, serious rallying, and physics chaos. Stray, EA Sports WRC 24, and Totally Accurate Battle Simulator will be claimable from Tuesday, 4 November through Monday, 1 December 2025. That's for all PS Plus tiers in the UAE. Also, one eye on the future: Sony says monthly PS4 games will become rare from January 2026.

Stray headlines November

A short, stylish adventure where you’re a cat in a neon ruin. It was one of 2022’s best-reviewed PC games and picked up multiple awards.

• Platforms in PS Plus: PS5, PS4
• Why it matters: Strong reviews and awards; great if you’ve skipped it so far
• Playtime: ~6–8 hours for the story (easy weekend clear)
• Nice touch: Photo mode and gentle puzzles make it good for casual sessions

Stray isn’t long, but it sticks with you. It was Steam’s second-highest rated game in 2022, won Best Debut at the GDC Awards, plus Best Indie and Best Debut Indie at The Game Awards. If you missed it on Extra back in the day, this is the cleanest way to tick it off your backlog.

EA Sports WRC 24 brings proper rallying to PS5

Codemasters’ official WRC sim lands in the monthly lineup—only on PS5 here. Expect chunky career, dynamic weather, and proper stage design.

• Platform in PS Plus: PS5 only
• Good for: Wheel owners, sim-leaning pad players
• Expect: Tough handling, authentic stages, long events
• Tip: Tweak assists; this can be unforgiving out of the box

It’s not an arcade racer. WRC 24 wants commitment—stages are technical and the handling has weight. If you bounced off Dirt Rally 2.0 years ago, try Story or ramp up assists; there’s a solid game under the gravel.

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator = silly tactics fun

Wobbly soldiers. Daft units. Physics that can betray you. TABS is a perfect palate cleanser.

• Platforms in PS Plus: PS5, PS4
• Loop: Set up armies, hit go, watch chaos
• Why play: Low stress, funny clips, decent couch fun
• Tip: Sandbox mode is where the real giggles are

It’s less “strategy” and more “mess about with a toy box”. Line up Vikings against mammoths, add a Da Vinci tank, and let physics decide. It’s ideal when you’ve had enough rain and mud from WRC.

Dates, tiers, and UAE timing

Here’s the practical bit for your calendar.

• Available: Tue, 4 Nov → Mon, 1 Dec 2025
• Who gets them: All PS Plus tiers (Essential/Extra/Premium)
• Last call for October’s games: Mon, 3 Nov
• Region: Same window applies to the UAE PlayStation Store

Sony’s own blog sets the 4 Nov–1 Dec window. VGC adds that October’s trio—Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3, Cocoon—remains claimable until 3 Nov. As usual, expect the store flip during the day rather than midnight. Don’t cut it fine.

Context: PS4 monthly games are fading in 2026

Sony has said monthly PS4 titles will become the exception from January 2026 as it focuses on PS5.

• What changes: PS4 games won’t be a “key benefit”
• What stays: Previously redeemed PS4 titles remain in your library while subscribed
• Dual-entitlement: Some games may still be playable on PS4 and PS5
• Takeaway: If you’re still on PS4, 2025 is a good time to upgrade

The message is clear: PS5 is the focus next year. If you’re weighing up hardware, our UAE guide to picking a PS5 Pro vs PS5 Slim is worth a look before the holiday sales kick in.

When are the November PS Plus games available in the UAE?

From Tuesday, 4 November until Monday, 1 December 2025. That window applies to our region as well.

Which tiers can claim the monthly games?

All tiers—Essential, Extra, Premium—can redeem the monthly lineup.

What are October’s PS Plus games and when do they expire?

Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3, and Cocoon remain claimable until Monday, 3 November 2025.

Are PS4 owners losing access to games in 2026?

No. You’ll still keep access to PS4 titles you’ve redeemed as long as you’re subscribed. But monthly PS4 additions will be rare from January 2026.