PlayStation Plus October 2026 Lineup Features F1 25 and Hunt: Showdown 1896

PlayStation Plus subscribers can claim three free games for October 2026 starting October 6: F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2. The titles are available until November 2 for all subscription tiers. Additionally, horror-themed in-game item bundles for games like Call of Duty: Warzone and Overwatch 2 will be released throughout the month to coincide with the Halloween season. Users must claim September's titles by October 5.
Key points
- The October 2026 PlayStation Plus monthly games are F1 25 (PS5), Hunt: Showdown 1896 (PS5), and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 (PS4/PS5).
- These titles are available to claim from October 6 through November 2 for all PlayStation Plus tiers (Essential, Extra, and Premium).
- F1 25 includes the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship, featuring new teams Audi and Cadillac, and introduces lighter car mechanics.
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 is an extraction shooter set in an alternate 19th century where players hunt demons or compete against other players.
- Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 features voxel-style enemies and allows players to assemble teams from various EDF franchise characters.
- PlayStation Plus members can claim horror-themed in-game item bundles for titles like Call of Duty: Warzone and Overwatch 2 throughout October.
Background
This October lineup follows the September 2026 batch, which included Sniper Elite: Resistance, MLB The Show 26, Wobbly Life, and Chained Echoes. The September titles were available from September 1 to October 5. Additionally, eight titles, including Silent Hill 2 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon, are scheduled to leave the PlayStation Plus catalog in October 2026 as part of the Last Chance to Play rotation.
How outlets are covering it
GameSpot and PlayStation.Blog provide detailed overviews of the gameplay mechanics for the three main titles, highlighting F1 25's career mode and Hunt: Showdown 1896's competitive extraction shooter elements. CNET emphasizes the Halloween connection, noting that Hunt: Showdown 1896's monster-hunting theme fits the spooky season, while also detailing the new F1 teams and car mechanics. Kotaku criticizes the lineup for lacking a dedicated horror game, expressing disappointment that only Hunt: Showdown 1896 has 'spooky-adjacent' vibes, and notes that the other two titles are not horror-themed. All sources agree on the release dates and the titles included in the lineup.
Why it matters
The monthly free games are a key benefit for PlayStation Plus subscribers, offering access to new and established titles without additional cost. The inclusion of F1 25 and Hunt: Showdown 1896 provides variety for racing and shooter fans, while the horror-themed in-game bundles cater to the Halloween season. Timely claiming of these games is essential for subscribers to retain access to the titles in their library.
What to watch
Subscribers should claim the October 2026 games by November 2. They should also ensure they have claimed September's titles by October 5. Horror-themed in-game item bundles for various games will be released throughout October. In the future, new monthly games will be announced for November 2026.
- PlayStation Plus Free Games For October 2026 Revealed GameSpot
- PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October: F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 PlayStation.Blog
- PlayStation Plus First Free Game For October 2026 Officially Confirmed IMDb
- PlayStation’s Free PS Plus Games For October Aren’t Really Scary At All kotaku.com
- Gotta Go Fast and Hunt Demons This October in These Free PlayStation Plus Games cnet.com
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