Sony Interactive Entertainment faces reports regarding a technical fault within the PlayStation Plus system. This issue prevents users from accessing their digital games. Many subscribers encounter locks on titles they previously redeemed. The problem affects the Essential, Extra and Premium tiers of the service. Users find padlock icons on game thumbnails in their libraries. This situation causes the software to become unusable for thousands of players.
The fault appeared during the January 2026 service transition. Sony recently changed the structure of the monthly game offerings. The company now focuses on PlayStation 5 titles. This shift coincides with the removal of guaranteed PlayStation 4 games. Users report that the system fails to verify their active subscriptions. The PlayStation Network cannot confirm the licenses for specific software. This error disrupts gameplay for many Australians using the service.
Licensing System Failures
The licensing system identifies the rights of a user to play a game. A conflict now exists between different subscription levels. Users who upgraded from Essential to Extra face particular difficulties. The system overwrites the original license with a temporary version. When a game leaves the Extra tier, the system removes the access. This occurs even if the user claimed the game through Essential first.
Sony issued an official statement regarding the service evolution. The company stated: “As many of our players are currently playing on PS5 and have shifted toward redeeming and accessing PS5 titles from the Monthly Games and Game Catalogue benefit, PlayStation Plus is also evolving with this trend and will focus on offering PS5 titles through the Monthly Games and Game Catalogue benefit starting January.” This change affects how the backend manages game permissions. The transition period created an unexplained fault in the database.
Licensing system failures
Error Codes and Console Data
Subscribers encounter several specific error codes during this outage. The most frequent code reported is CE-117773-6. This code indicates a problem with the console confirming the license. Another common error is CE-106485-4. This message suggests an issue with the reading system software or application data. Some players see NP-102946-2 during their login attempts. These codes appear on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 hardware.
The console hardware cannot resolve these errors through a standard restart. Users must navigate deep into the system settings. The fault originates from the Sony servers rather than the local storage. Data packets from the PlayStation Network do not reach the console correctly. This prevents the digital rights management from functioning. The issue persists across various internet service providers in Australia.
Impact on Subscription Tiers
The fault impacts the three tiers of the PlayStation Plus programme. Essential tier users lose access to monthly games from previous years. Extra tier members cannot launch titles from the Game Catalogue. Premium members report issues with the Classics Catalogue and cloud streaming. The problem does not discriminate between the subscription price points. Every level of the service experiences these licensing blocks.
The January 2026 lineup included the following titles for Essential members:
- Need for Speed Unbound
- Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
- Core Keeper
Players found they could not redeem these games on the first day. The store interface displayed price tags instead of the download option. This error suggests a failure in the entitlement system. Sony technicians are currently investigating the root cause of these malfunctions.
PS Plus January 2026 lineup
Support Responses and Solutions
The PlayStation Support teams receive a high volume of enquiries. Staff members suggest that users restore their licenses manually. This process requires users to go to the Settings menu. They must select Users and Accounts and then the Other category. The Restore Licenses option attempts to sync the library with the server. However, many users find that this step does not fix the fault.
Digital receipts provide evidence of game ownership for subscribers. Users possess emails confirming their claims of monthly titles. Support agents acknowledge these receipts during troubleshooting sessions. Sony has not yet provided a permanent fix for the database error. Some players wait for days to regain access to their purchases. The company manages millions of accounts globally during this crisis.
Global Statistics and Hardware Context
The PlayStation 4 console reached its end-of-life phase recently. Sony data from 2024 showed an even split in active consoles. Around 40 million users still utilise the PlayStation 4 hardware. These users rely on the PlayStation Plus service for online multiplayer. The current fault disproportionately affects these older systems. The PlayStation 5 handles the licensing handshakes with more efficiency.
Recent figures indicate a shift in user behaviour across the network. More people subscribe to the higher tiers for the catalogue benefits. The Game Catalogue contains hundreds of titles for download. Managing the permissions for these titles requires constant server uptime. Any interruption in the network leads to the padlock icons. Sony aims to move all users to the latest hardware soon.
Technical Analysis of the Fault
The fault involves the synchronisation of the PlayStation Store and the console. When a user logs in, the console requests a token. This token verifies the active status of the membership. The server currently sends incorrect tokens to some accounts. These tokens do not include the permissions for older library items. The console then places a lock on the software files.
A secondary issue involves the CMOS battery and system clocks. Consoles require an accurate time sync to validate digital content. If the network time differs from the server time, access fails. The current fault causes a mismatch in these timestamps. This technical hurdle prevents the software from launching. Players cannot bypass this check by going offline.
Also Read: PlayStation Plus January 2026 Lineup: Three Titles Arrive to Kick Off the New Year
Official Sony Guidance
Sony updated its support website to reflect the ongoing issues. The company advises users to check the PlayStation Network status page. This page monitors the health of the account management services. It also tracks the status of the PlayStation Store. The company uses this platform to communicate with the public. They recommend patience while the engineers work on the servers.
The announcement regarding the 2026 changes remains on the blog. It states: “PS4 games will no longer be a key benefit and will only be occasionally offered for PlayStation Plus Monthly Games and Game Catalogue starting January 2026.” This policy change might contribute to the current technical instability. The backend systems must handle the removal of legacy benefits. This process involves complex updates to the user database.
Community Reports and Feedback
Gaming forums and social media platforms contain many reports from users. Players share screenshots of their locked libraries on Reddit. Some individuals lost access to over 200 titles. The scale of the fault seems to be increasing daily. Users in Melbourne and Sydney report similar experiences. The fault appears to be global rather than regional.
The community created a list of games with the most frequent errors:
- Bloodborne
- God of War
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
- The Last of Us Part I
These titles are staples of the PlayStation Plus collection. The loss of access to these games causes concern among the player base. Subscribers expect a reliable service for their monthly fees. Sony must resolve the licensing fault to maintain consumer trust. The investigation into the server errors continues at the headquarters.
