PlayStation Plus First Free Game of 2026 Revealed, Leaks Early

PlayStation Plus officially had a great 2025, offering players some pretty spectacular games each month at no additional cost to their subscriptions.

The PS Plus catalog has expanded significantly to include everything from major AAA releases to smaller indie titles from across the genre spectrum, presumably offering a little something for everyone in the process.

That said, the rise of Game Pass has certainly given Sony pause for thought as they continue to refine their monthly subscription offerings and they'll want to carry their existing momentum into 2026.

With the new year nearly upon us, it's almost time to find out the monthly games for January and it now seems the first game in that selection has just leaked. Fortunately, it's an encouraging start, particularly if you're a fan of high octane racing.

Need for Speed ​​Unbound is the First PS Plus Game for January

Criterion Software

As first confirmed by well-known leaker Billbil-Kun on Twitter, in conjunction with the french language website DEALabs, the first game revealed in January’s monthly offering is Need for Speed Unbound, which will be available to those on the Essential tier, as well as everyone on tiers above.

The Need for Speed series almost certainly won't need introducing to any of you, but if you have somehow managed to avoid it over the last couple of decades, it still serves as one of the most fun and exciting racing series out there.

While you won't get the intense realism of a game like Gran Turismo, Need for Speed Unbound chooses to go in the direction of arcade-style goodness that's much more similar to something you might have played in a cabinet during your youth.

Unbound still serves as the latest release in the series, despite dropping in 2022, and it's a solid effort that should give racing fans plenty of enjoyment, particularly given that they don't have to spend any more of their hard-earned cash to access it.

As has often been the case, the developer particularly leaned into street racing culture with plenty of graffiti daubed set pieces for you to zoom past in your ridiculously overpowered car.

If you're looking to download it and give it a go for yourself, it should be available from 6 January at 9:00 a.m. GMT, releasing simultaneously across the world, so just alter your time zone accordingly if you're located somewhere else.

The full line-up will be revealed later today, and we'll bring that news to you.

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