Danny Weber
21:47 31-12-2025
© E. Vartanyan
PS Plus Essential kicks off January 2026 with Need for Speed Unbound on PS5. Get the release date, included tiers, and Sony's shift from PS4 titles in lineups.
PS Plus Essential subscribers now have a clear view of their first major release of 2026. According to sources, January’s headliner will be Need for Speed Unbound, and it will be offered exclusively in its PlayStation 5 version.
Overall, 2025 treated PlayStation Plus well: Sony noticeably raised the bar for its monthly offerings across Essential and the higher Extra and Premium tiers. Starting in January 2026, however, the strategy shifts — PS4 titles will no longer appear regularly in the monthly lineups and the catalog, showing up only occasionally. That puts extra weight on the year’s opening pick.
Need for Speed Unbound is expected to be available to add to your library starting January 6, 2026. It will be accessible to all Essential members, as well as subscribers on Extra and Premium. The names of the other two titles for the month have not been disclosed.
Need for Speed Unbound is the most recent entry in the storied racing series from Criterion Games and Electronic Arts. Released in December 2022, it stood out with a distinctive visual style inspired by street art and graffiti, paired with the series’ staples: illicit street races, police chases, and the fight to earn a spot in the marquee event, The Grand.
Age rating: 12+.