When is the PlayStation Plus Essential January release date? Find out when you can play

TechGamingPS5 Sony Playstation 5 NewsWe now know which games are free for PlayStation Plus subscribers in January, and that means we know when they can be downloaded and played by PS5 owners this month

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is more fun than you may have heard(Image: Rocksteady Studios)The PS Plus Essential games for January 2024 have been revealed, and they’ll be available even earlier than we’d anticipated.

We previously suggested the games for January would see a delay because of the New Year period, but it appears the lineup, which is certainly eclectic, will be available to download in just a few weeks.

Here’s everything arriving on the service in January, and when you can start playing them.

PlayStation Plus January 2025 Essential games revealedDeathstroke marks the final DLC character (Image: Rocksteady Studios)We’re still waiting for our reveal of the PS Plus Extra and Premium titles, but for the meantime here’s what players can get stuck into, courtesy of the PlayStation Blog.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered is a fantastic racer where you can play as a street racer or a cop, performing slick powerslides and employing gadgets. It has a really unique ‘Autolog’ leaderboard system, too, so you’re always competing against your friends even when playing solo.

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is the latest and greatest version of the 2013 indie that’s so beloved over a decade on. It’s not prettier, but it adds fresh choices and secrets to an adventure that was already unmissable.

Finally, the headline addition is Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. Much maligned at launch, the game now has an offline mode that means it’s a fun third-person shooter set in the DC Comics universe. It undeniably disappointed at launch, but with all of its new characters added before developer Rocksteady moves onto other things, it’s well worth checking out if you’re a fan of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Still not convinced? Read my opinion piece from last month.

Release dateDon’t miss the chance to grab It Takes Two for freeWe expected the games to slip a week, but the new lineup arrives on January 7. Games tend to be available to download at around 10AM GMT, so we really don’t have long to wait at all.

That does, however, mean that December’s games are only available for a few more days. The following will be gone (or at least back up to full price) after January 6, so be sure to get stuck in while you can.

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