While some gamers may hate the idea of paying for multiplayer connectivity, Sony has proven time and time again that PlayStation Plus is worth the monthly subscription fee. There are more than a few incentives to sign up, including a number of free games every month, as well as a number of PlayStation Plus-exclusive discounts.

That being said, most gamers' main reason for purchasing a PS Plus subscription will be multiplayer: with so many games being based around player vs. player interactions these days, being able to play with or against friends is more important than ever — in a lot of ways, owning a PlayStation 4 without a PS Plus subscription is like using only half of the console's capabilities.

If you're still on the fence or just bought a new console and want to test its online functionality, you're in luck: Sony just announced that, for this weekend only, all of PlayStation Plus' multiplayer functionality will be free. No downloads or free trials required: just pop in a game and jump into a match of your choosing.

Obviously, Sony's focus is on two major titles. Call of Duty: Black Ops III is up first, especially considering that the Awakening DLC pack just launched — on the other hand, Capcom's Street Fighter V debuted this past Tuesday. Sure, the two games may be complete opposites, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a better reason for a free multiplayer weekend.

Of course, there are plenty of other options out there: Grand Theft Auto Online is always fun, and a free weekend is the perfect time to try out a co-op session in Bloodborne. Given that the free weekend only lasts for a few days, you may not make it very far in the games' multiplayer progression ... but for anyone who's just trying things out, there are plenty of great choices out there.

To be clear, the only thing that's free this weekend is the multiplayer — there's still no way to access the free games or special discounts if you're not a PS Plus member. That being said, there's also nothing to download, and Sony isn't making anyone sign up for a free trial — all you have to do is hit "play."

PlayStation's Free Multiplayer Weekend starts this Friday, Feb. 19 and will last until Sunday, Feb. 21.