PlayStation Reveals Free New Bonus For All PS5 Users, No PS Plus Needed

Published Sep 1, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings) and the interactive storytelling medium. Jared's first console was the PS1, wherein he fell for Spider-Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot. Sign in to your ScreenRant account For the foreseeable future, PlayStation isn’t going to be free from fans’ pitchforks and torches, as nothing has changed since PlayStation announced on July 1 that it would be ending the production of physical discs for its video games by January 2028. That said, it’s true that fans can be simultaneously frustrated with PlayStation and excited about new features or games that it has in the oven (many fans wouldn’t be as upset as they are if they weren’t loyal PlayStation consumers, anyway). The last few instances of PlayStation making announcements or reveals haven’t gone too well for it, whether it was shedding some light on a highly anticipated game or piece of hardware. Now, PlayStation’s latest announcement, aside from the September 2026 PlayStation State of Play, is one that many fans believe is a blast from Xbox’s past. According to the official PlayStation Blog, PS5’s Live TV has officially launched in the US. Touted as a “free ad-supported experience,” Live TV on PS5 already boasts over 100 live channels and on-demand content, including: Movies TV Shows Anime Sports News & Weather Creator & Specialty Programming Additional Programming According to PlayStation, “Creator & Specialty Programming” and “Additional Programming” features programming related to “gaming and esports, creator-led entertainment, documentaries, podcasts and other specialty programming, including eCLUTCH (exclusive) and more.” Found in the PS5’s Media tab, all users need to do to access Live TV is select the icon and sign in with their PlayStation account. If nothing else, this free, ad-supported TV experience will hopefully be a balm that fans can indulge in if they’re concerned about other purchased movies and such being confiscated. Not every piece of TV content will be available, and some content is likely to be swapped in or out intermittently (as is the case with streaming service subscriptions), but not having to make a purchase and be subject to the woes of digital entitlements may be preferable. Of course, Live TV is only available in the US. Sony Interactive Entertainment Sony obviously isn’t a video games-only company, and this goes to show that there is a sustained effort to blend all entertainment for users into a single package. For some fans, this could be a wonderful excuse to buy a PlayStation 5 if they haven’t already, or if they haven’t already been enticed enough by the fact that Grand Theft Auto 6 is exclusive to consoles when it launches this holiday season. Overall, it’s one more way for fans to consume the same media. Live TV on PS5 follows the release of PlayStation’s gaming monitor with a DualSense charging hook, and it’s anyone’s guess what PlayStation’s next endeavors will entail. PlayStation Founded October 3, 1994 Owner Sony Interactive Entertainment Known For Uncharted, God of War, Horizon, The Last of Us, PlayStation is a video game console brand developed and owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a division of the Japanese company Sony. Introduced in 1994, the brand includes home consoles along with handheld systems and online gaming services. It is one of the most commercially successful gaming brands worldwide.