PS Plus Essential July 2026 Free Games Are Rolling Out Now

Tech & Industry News Published: July 7, 2026 Read time: 3 min

Sony's PS Plus Essential lineup for July 2026 is now live, giving subscribers three new titles to claim: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, For the King 2, and CrossCode. The games began appearing in regional PlayStation Stores on Tuesday, July 7, with global availability following as the store updates at noon local time in each region.

What's in the July lineup

  • ✕ Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III PS5, PS4
  • ▲ For the King 2 PS5, PS4
  • ● CrossCode PS5, PS4

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III headlines the month, offering its full campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies modes. The 2023 release continues directly from the previous Modern Warfare entry, following Captain Price and Task Force 141 as they pursue the antagonist Vladimir Makarov. For the King 2 is a turn-based roguelike RPG playable solo or in four-player co-op, casting players against a tyrannical queen who has enslaved her kingdom. CrossCode rounds out the lineup with a 16-bit-inspired action RPG that blends puzzle-heavy dungeon design with fast, physics-driven combat.

Rollout timing

Unlike the Extra and Premium catalog tiers, which have recently seen staggered regional rollouts in some territories, the Essential tier's monthly games arrive for all subscribers on the same date worldwide. Japan and other Asian markets received access first, given the time zone difference, with other regions following as local PlayStation Stores update.

Context: The July games arrived alongside separate news that overshadowed the announcement for some subscribers — Sony's decision to end physical disc production for PS5 games has drawn significant backlash from the gaming community in recent days. June's Essential titles, Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, remain available to claim through July 6 for anyone who hasn't already added them to their library.
When do the July 2026 PS Plus Essential games become available?

The lineup began rolling out on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, starting in Japan and other Asian markets, with other regions gaining access as their local PlayStation Store updates at noon local time.

Which games are included this month?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, For the King 2, and CrossCode, all available on both PS5 and PS4.

Do I need a PS Plus Essential subscription to claim these?

Yes. An active PS Plus Essential (or higher tier) subscription is required to add and play the monthly games.