PlayStation Plus Kicks Off 2026 With Need for Speed Unbound, Epic Mickey, and Core Keeper
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Sony has revealed the January 2026 PlayStation Plus Essential games, featuring Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper available for download starting January 6.
Sony is opening the new year with a varied trio of titles for its subscription service. According to an announcement covered by Polygon, PlayStation Plus subscribers can claim Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper starting on January 6. This month's lineup offers a solid mix of arcade racing, nostalgic platforming, and cooperative survival gameplay across both PS4 and PS5.
Criterion Games brings its 2022 street racer, Need for Speed Unbound, to the PS5 lineup. The title earned praise for letting players focus deeply on building up a single ride over time instead of constantly chasing endless vehicle unlocks. Meanwhile, platformer fans can dive into Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, the 2024 remake of the 2010 Wii adventure that sends Mickey into the Wasteland with a paintbrush. Rounding out the trio is Core Keeper, a top-down sandbox adventure from Pugstorm that blends elements of Terraria, Valheim, and Stardew Valley into a compelling multiplayer survival experience available on both PS4 and PS5.
Players have until February 2 to add these three games to their digital libraries. Anyone still looking to grab December's offerings, which included Lego Horizon Adventures, Neon White, The Outlast Trials, Killing Floor 3, and Synduality Echo of Ada, needs to claim them before January 5. As subscription services continue to serve as a primary way for players to discover games without paying full price upfront, this month gives communities plenty of new multiplayer worlds to explore together.
Tags: PlayStation Plus, Sony, Gaming News, Need for Speed, Core Keeper
Original article: Polygon