PS4 owners can play online for free this weekend

Sony is giving PlayStation 4 owners the chance to try out the console's online multiplayer for free this weekend, the company announced on the PlayStation Blog. Starting at 12:01 a.m. PT on Friday, Feb. 19, players with and without PlayStation Plus memberships can access any game's multiplayer features at no cost. The period ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on Feb. 21.

Sony cited yesterday's launch of multiplayer-heavy Street Fighter 5 as the cause for the weekend promotion. The company also acknowledged the recent release of the first Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 multiplayer DLC pack, Awakening, as a factor in the giveaway. That expansion launched on Feb. 2, hitting the PlayStation 4 before other consoles.

A free weekend was most recently offered to PS4 players in December. That campaign launched in honor of new Destiny and Star Wars Battlefront add-on content. This was the first time Sony had run the promotion since last March.

A PlayStation Plus subscription is typically required to access the console's online functionality. The annual fee for the service is $49.99.