Do you need PS Plus to play Overwatch 2 on PS4 or PS5?

Playing online games on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 can be a bit of a headache because Sony usually requires players to buy a PS Plus subscription, a paid service that allows players to play online—similar to Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold. Ever since Overwatch 2 came out at the end of 2022, there are players wondering whether or not they can play the hero shooter without PS Plus.

Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play game and these types of titles usually get a pass not only from Sony but from Microsoft and Nintendo as well. Is this the case with Overwatch 2, though?

Is PS Plus required to play Overwatch 2?

Fortunately for you and other PlayStation players, you don’t need an active PS Plus subscription at all to play Overwatch 2 on PS4 and PS5. The reason is that Overwatch 2 would likely not be considered a free-to-play title if players had to sign up for a PS Plus subscription. This would also create a conflict as PC and Xbox players, for example, can play it for free.

Regardless of whether you have a PS Plus subscription activated or not, you should be able to play the game online every time you want. In case you’re having problems connecting to the server, you might want to check if Overwatch 2 is going through a server outage.

Related: How to fix ‘game server connection failed’ or ‘unexpected server error’ in Overwatch 2

If Overwatch 2 is up and running perfectly, the issue might be on your end. Easy steps such as restarting the game or the console and restarting your internet router should fix connection problems most of the time. If the problems persist, however, don’t hesitate to reach out to Sony’s support or your internet provider.