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Sony has announced the January 2026 lineup of free games for PS Plus Essential, which will become available next week. Confirming an earlier leak, the company revealed that Need for Speed Unbound will be part of the January free releases. These upcoming titles will replace the sizable December 2025 list, which featured five games.
The complete lineup for PS Plus Essential in January includes Need for Speed Unbound for PS5, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed for PS5 and PS4, and Core Keeper for PS5 and PS4.
All titles will be accessible starting Tuesday, January 6. Despite Sony’s promise to focus more on PS5 games in 2026, two of the three titles are cross-generation offerings, and they may not be highly anticipated by many players. Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a remake of a 2010 game, while Core Keeper is a niche title that initially entered early access in early 2022.
Overall, the lineup isn’t seen as the strongest start to the year, and the general sentiment among gamers on forums and social media echoes disappointment.
Players are reminded that they have until Monday night, January 5, to add December’s free games: Lego Horizon Adventures (PS5), Killing Floor 3 (PS5), The Outlast Trials (PS5, PS4), Synduality Echo of Ada (PS5), and Neon White (PS5, PS4).
For PS4 owners who aren’t planning to upgrade to PS5, note that PS Plus Essential will provide fewer benefits for last-generation consoles in 2026. If multiplayer is important, it’s recommended to upgrade to an Extra membership, which offers a larger selection of PS4 games in the catalog beyond the monthly freebies.
What do you think about next month’s free game lineup? Share your opinions in the comments below.
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