PS Plus Essential July 2025 games reveal time, and when you can download them
It's nearly time for a fresh batch of complimentary games for PS Plus subscribers, so make sure to download this month's offerings before they revert to their usual price.
PS Plus continues to have a lot to prove as it oscillates between stellar lineups and disappointing letdowns. The Days of Play event took gamers by surprise when the service unveiled an impressive array of bonus PS Plus games, including new and classic Destiny 2 expansions.
However, since then, the future seems less certain. FBC: Firebreak was a promising addition, but the PS Plus Extra and Premium June 2025 release failed to impress, with Battlefield 2042 landing on the service after being largely abandoned by shooter enthusiasts. The service has plenty in its arsenal for Extra and Premium subscribers either way, so players will be content with their already extensive backlogs, but Essential players could do with more.
This unpredictable pattern has made the service feel like a bit of a gamble. It's even more frustrating for players who feel somewhat trapped, given that they're paying for PlayStation 's online service anyway. But there's always hope. The upcoming PS Plus Essential drop could be a game-changer if we're extremely fortunate.
Our PS Plus Essential July 2025 predictions suggested that we might see some viral classics and indie treasures that fans of high-speed shooters will love. However, we won't know for sure until Sony reveals the games, and subsequently drops them in the laps of players everywhere.
So, when can we expect the PS Plus Essential July 2025 reveal? Here's what you need to know about the forthcoming drop.
PS Plus Essential July 2025 reveal time
The PS Plus Essential July 2025 reveal time is scheduled for 8.30am PDT / 11.30am EDT / 4.30pm BST on Wednesday, June 25. This is because the PS Plus Essential games are always unveiled on the last Wednesday of the month before being made available to players on the following Tuesday, which in this case is Tuesday, July 1.
These new games will replace the current PS Plus Essential games, which include Destiny 2: The Final Shape, NBA 2K25, Alone in the Dark 2024 and Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. Be sure to download them before they return to their full price, which as we all know, can be a real pain.
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Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Must-have tech that'll keep kids entertained this summer WITHOUT an iPad & boredom buster games that won't cost a penny
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. My games console alternative is less than HALF the price of Sony's new PlayStation, says The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach FREE-SY DOES IT Must-have tech that'll keep kids entertained this summer WITHOUT an iPad & boredom buster games that won't cost a penny Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S no secret that a tablet will keep a kid entertained for hours – but there are loads of other tech-y options out there for children and teens. If you want something that isn't just an Apple iPad, try out these brilliant toys, fun free apps and games, and even some gadgets that you'll want to use just as much as your child. You'll even save hundreds versus buying a posh tablet. 12 The Sphero Mini is a robotic ball that you can control (and program) using a phone app Credit: Sphero / Amazon 12 It'll whiz around your floor – great fun, but try not to trip over it! Credit: Sphero / Amazon 12 The Toniebox is another top gadget for kids – and they won't need to touch a screen Credit: Toniebox Sphero Mini – £50 First up is the Sphero Mini, which is a robotic ball. It's currently available on Amazon for about £50 and you can race it around the floor at lightning speed using a phone app as the remote control. Sphero Mini, £51.55 Even if that's all this did, it would be great fun. I've used Sphero balls and they're very easy to control if you just want to roll around – but you can go much deeper. But you can use the robotic ball and the app's Blocks mode to learn to code. So if you have a computer whiz at home, this is a great option. You can give the robot commands (assigned by dragging and dropping from preset code) that it can carry out. You can even go further with Sphero's official education software, which lets you properly program the ball. Toniebox – £77 For younger kids, look no further than the Toniebox. This fun mini-speaker has earned rave reviews for entertaining (and educating) kids without any screens. The idea is that you buy little figurines called Tonies, and place them on top of the box. Different Tonies have their own audio – like unique stories and songs – that get downloaded to the Toniebox so you can play it through the speaker. So to get more content, you're meant to collect Tonies. There are more than 200, so you won't run out anytime soon. Toniebox, £76.99 The Toniebox itself is £77, and then you'll bag some Tonies separately. For instance, there's a Paddington Bear Tonie loaded with audiobooks that costs £15 – or you could grab The Tiger Who Came To Tea. There's even a Disney collection of Tonies featuring the Lion King, Aladdin, Jungle Book and more. You can also get some free Tonies content. Google Gemini – FREE OK, this one will need a phone or tablet – but it's brilliant fun, is very interactive, and you don't actually need to stare at the screen. 12 Gemini Live is a special Google Gemini feature that lets you have conversations out loud with a chatbot 12 You can download Google Gemini for free on your iPhone or Android Credit: Google / Apple / The Sun And you can do it together, which makes it even better. If your youngster is older than 13, they're allowed to use a feature called Google Gemini. It's Google's official chatbot, which you'd normally type to. But it also has a free feature called Gemini Live for out-loud conversations. Gemini will speak to you just like a real person would, and you can answer back in real time or even interrupt. One great way to use this feature is to create your own choose-your-own-adventure or Dungeons & Dragons-style game. Part of the fun can be setting up the game. You can ask Gemini to run the game, tell it what sort of story you'd like and the character you'd like to play, and that it should be age-appropriate. Then you can start playing, with Gemini setting the scene and you telling the chatbot what you'd like your character to do next. You could play alone or as a family (just ask Gemini to take it in turns with the different characters) for hours. And because it's all being created in the moment, based on your own ideas, every game will be different. And you don't need any gear – just a phone or tablet, and you're good to go. Lego Technic and Lego Powered Up – £55 Obviously, kids love Lego. I'm not here to tell you that. But it's easy to forget that Lego isn't just those eye-catching Harry Potter, Marvel, and Peppa Pig sets. You can grab something that is a little more educational – and potentially create a budding engineer in your own home. Then, when they're older, they'll rake in a giant salary designing bridges on the Moon, remember your thoughtful Lego gift that started it all, and buy you a bungalow near a beach as thanks. Hopefully. There are two great ranges that you want to look at. The first is Lego Technic, which has moving parts and more complicated designs. Several models are rated fine for nine and ten-year-olds. There's even a Ferrari for £55 that'll easily keep car fanatics busy. 12 The Lego Ferrari is made up of nearly 900 pieces, so it'll take a while to put together Credit: Lego Lego Technic Ferrari FXX K, £54.89 If you want to get even fancier, there's the Lego Powered Up series. These are motorised products that let you bring your creations to life: think cars, trains, and cranes. Does that sound like a clutter nightmare? One savvy way around this is to bag something from Lego's non-tech Botanicals range instead. 12 Lego Botanicals are aimed at adults (hence the 18+ branding) but they're simple to build, even for kids, and you can make them together Credit: Sean Keach These are pretty sets of Lego flowers that your child can build, and won't look naff on the windowsill. They're happy and engaged, and you end up with a lovely ornament. Everyone's a winner. The best part? There are loads that won't break the bank. You can buy cherry blossoms from Boots for £13, orchids at The Entertainer for £19, and a wildflower bouquet at Tesco for £15 at current pricing. Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World – £429 Arguably the must-have gadget right now: the Nintendo Switch 2. 12 The Nintendo Switch 2 is this year's big console – and it'll be a hit with the kids over summer Credit: Nintendo It's the new Nintendo console, now just a few months old. The blockbuster launch title is Mario Kart World, an immensely fun racing game that almost needs no introduction. It's brilliant and easy to pick up, even if you're new to gaming. The bundle with the console and game comes to £429. I also recently tried out Super Mario Party Jamboree, which is another great multiplayer option. This is a gadget for the whole family – not just your child. FREE GAMES GALORE! Want to enjoy some games without paying extra? You might find you're already owed some freebies... For a start, your Netflix subscription includes free games. Some of them can be played on the TV with your phone working as the controller. And others can be downloaded for free on your mobile phone or tablet. Sky TV also includes loads of child-friendly free games. Just look for the Games by app and you'll be able to unlock hours of fun. Third, Amazon Prime subscribers can get free games in two ways. The first is through Prime Gaming, which gives you a rolling monthly roster of free games to unlock and keep. And the second is Amazon Luna, which is a cloud gaming service. This lets you stream top-tier games to your TV without a console – a bit like Netflix, but for gaming. Normally it would cost you £8.99 a month for Luna+, but Prime members get access to a rolling selection of games for free – including Fortnite. Just download the Luna app on your Fire TV or Fire Stick, or LG or Samsung telly. Then you can connect a Bluetooth gaming controller and away you go. Picture Credit: Netflix / The Sun The Nintendo Switch 2 is a brilliant pick because it's so versatile. You can plug it into your TV, sure, but you can also undock it and carry it around as a portable gaming machine. And it also has a kickstand. 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Meta Quest 3S, £289 Meta offers guidance for parents on how to manage play sessions, so it's worth following the safety advice on the Meta Quest 3S website. All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
PlayStation owners have 24 hours left to claim FREE Xbox game & top title will work on your PS4 and PS5
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Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Starfield on PS5 rumoured for 2026 but risks coming out alongside GTA 6
Sales for Starfield's first DLC were apparently so bad that Microsoft is holding back the PS5 port until 2026. There is something sadly tragic about Microsoft buying Bethesda to secure its then upcoming sci-fi epic Starfield as an Xbox exclusive (something Xbox boss Phil Spencer admitted to), only for the game to be far less well received than The Elder Scrolls or Fallout. Since Starfield's launch, Microsoft has pivoted to porting its exclusives to other platforms and while it's not been formally confirmed, it's widely rumoured that Starfield will follow suit and come to PlayStation 5 eventually. It feels like a safe assumption when even established Xbox franchises like Gears Of War are announced for PlayStation formats and the newest rumour claims Starfield was meant to appear on Sony's console this year, but has since been delayed. According to MP1st, part of the reason for the delay was because of how poorly Starfield's first DLC expansion, Shattered Space, sold when it launched last October. While there are no official sales figures for the expansion, it reviewed even worse than the base game and user reviews on Steam remain mostly negative. Apparently, the plan now is to release Starfield on PlayStation 5 in spring 2026, alongside the game's second expansion (as a reminder, Bethesda has promised new DLC every year) and new quality-of-life updates. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. This would be a sensible move. While Starfield's middling reputation has no doubt decreased PlayStation 5 owners' excitement for the game, a higher quality expansion and updates could make it more appealing and potentially give it a second wind. However, a spring 2026 window is worryingly close to GTA 6, the most anticipated game of the year that's scheduled to launch on May 26. If Microsoft doesn't want Starfield's PlayStation 5 port to be overshadowed, it'll need to get it out as early as possible in March. After all, GTA 6 is such a huge release that other publishers are actively trying to avoid launching their games around the same time. More Trending Just last year, Xbox's president of gaming content Matt Booty admitted the looming presence of GTA 6 was a factor for why several Xbox exclusives, like Perfect Dark, lacked firm release dates. 'I think many across the industry are of course going to plan around GTA 6,' he said, adding it was also to make sure 'we don't step on ourselves,' noting Microsoft has a 'big portfolio.' Although those comments haven't aged well, as several games, including Perfect Dark, were cancelled as part of Microsoft's last wave of layoffs. It is entirely possible GTA 6 will be delayed again (something publishers are worried could happen), but that's not something you'd want to bet on if you were a rival publisher. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Xbox games for Switch 2 'expected' soon ahead of rumoured Nintendo Direct MORE: Halo remake rumour says it's single-player only as insider talks of 'a lot of tension' at developer MORE: GTA Online will add age verification to comply with UK laws claims insider
