Every first Tuesday of the month, PS Plus subscribers get a fresh batch of games dropped into Sony's service. October 2026's lineup is now live and ready to claim, with three titles spanning sim racing, competitive extraction hunting, and chaotic voxel-based co-op.
Here's the lowdown on what's available right now:
- F1 25 (PS5)
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 (PS5)
- Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 (PS5, PS4)
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What the community actually thinks of this month
The reaction from PS Plus subscribers has been blunt. A community poll found that 58% of respondents described the October selection as "crap," which is a pretty clear signal about where sentiment sits. Of the three games, F1 25 drew the most individual interest at 10%, but even that number is modest. A striking 76% of those polled said they weren't looking forward to any of the titles.
That's a tough response for Sony heading into the final quarter of the year, especially with the holiday release window just around the corner.
Breaking down the three games
F1 25 is EA Sports' latest entry in the long-running Formula 1 sim series, landing exclusively on PS5 this month. If you've been curious about the current-gen version of the franchise but held off on buying it, this is a free look at a polished racing sim with all the official teams, drivers, and circuits.
Hunt: Showdown 1896 is the Crytek extraction shooter that's been building a dedicated following since its original release. Set in a dark, monster-filled version of the American South, it blends PvPvE tension with some genuinely punishing stakes. Losing your hunter permanently is a real possibility, and that pressure makes every match feel different from your average multiplayer shooter.
Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 is the odd one out in the best possible way. D3 Publisher's follow-up to the voxel-art EDF spin-off brings back the blocky, over-the-top giant monster chaos that made the first game a cult hit. It's available on both PS5 and PS4, which is a nice touch for subscribers who haven't upgraded yet.
The clock is already running
You have until November 2 to add these games to your PS Plus catalogue. The key here is that you don't need to download them immediately, you just need to claim them before the deadline. Once they're in your library, they stay there as long as your subscription is active.
With a relatively quiet community response to this month's lineup, it's worth checking out what else is coming down the pipeline. If you're planning storage around upcoming releases, the Saros file size and pre-load guide is worth a look given the PS5 exclusive is landing soon and will need meaningful space cleared.
For players who want to stay ahead on what's worth downloading and what to skip, the game reviews hub has current coverage to help make that call faster.
The November 2026 PS Plus Essential lineup reveal typically lands in the final week of October. Given the lukewarm reception this month, there's real pressure on Sony to come back stronger. Check the gaming guides section for storage prep tips and preload schedules as that announcement approaches.
