PlayStation Plus Essential adds F1 25, Hunt: Showdown, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 in October

Sony has announced the three games coming to PlayStation Plus Essential in October 2026. Members will be able to download F1 25, Hunt: Showdown, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 from October 6 through November 2.

F1 25 is the official video game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship. The game includes single-player Career and My Team 2.0 modes, where players can take control of a Formula 1 team and build their own racing experience. F1 25 also features a new multiplayer mode called F1 World, allowing players to team up with friends and compete against AI drivers.

Hunt: Showdown brings an extraction-shooter experience to the lineup. Players enter dangerous environments while hunting monsters and competing against other hunters. The objective involves tracking down bosses, defeating them, collecting their bounty, and successfully extracting. The game supports solo play as well as teams of up to 3 players.

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 is available on both PS5 and PS4. Players create a team of 4 characters from soldiers collected throughout the game, with a roster including characters from the mainline Earth Defense Force series and its spin-offs. The game features redesigned voxel versions of familiar enemies alongside new ones created specifically for this release. It supports 4-player online co-op and 2-player local split-screen on both consoles.

The September PlayStation Plus games will remain available until October 5. Sniper Elite: Resistance, MLB The Show 26, Wobbly Life, and Chained Echoes will no longer be claimable once that window closes.

Sony has also announced additional October benefits for PlayStation Plus members. Limited-edition Spider-Man: Brand New Day avatars will be available at no extra cost through Sony Pictures Core for a limited time. Players can also access several Halloween-themed HorrorFest packs, including the Call of Duty: Warzone Horror Bundle, Hunt: Showdown 1896 Starter Pack, and Overwatch 2 Dragur Reinhardt plus 5 Tier Skips Pack. These packs become available on different dates throughout October.

Sony notes that the monthly games lineup may differ by region, so members should check their local PlayStation Store when the games go live on October 6.