After an exhausting but exhilarating 2025—defined by releases like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yōtei, alongside instant classics such as Hollow Knight: Silksong—PlayStation shows no signs of easing up. If anything, early 2026 looks like Sony doubling down.
This is not a quiet start to the year padded with smaller releases. From sprawling RPGs and prestige horror to competitive shooters and cozy narrative experiences, PlayStation’s first few months of 2026 feel deliberately stacked. It’s a statement: the year is starting loud.
Alongside major launches, Sony is also keeping players busy through PlayStation Plus, which opens January with Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper—adding even more variety to an already crowded calendar.
January: RPGs Take the Lead
Arknights: Endfield — Jan 22 (PlayStation 5)
Arknights: Endfield expands the tactical RPG universe into a real-time, base-building experience set across large explorable environments. You’ll manage factories, field squads of up to four characters, and fight through a stylish sci-fi opera—complete with Da Pan, a sunglasses-wearing panda who somehow fits perfectly.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin — Jan 28 (PS5)
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin reimagines the franchise with an original story set across alternate timelines in Britannia. Massive dungeons, colorful combat, and co-op exploration for up to five players make it accessible while still rewarding longtime fans.
Code Vein II — Jan 30 (PS5)
Code Vein II doubles down on its time-bending premise, letting your actions 100 years in the past reshape the present. Expect deep character customization, stylish combat, and the series’ signature blood-powered abilities.
February: Nostalgia Meets Horror
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined — Feb 5 (PS5)
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined brings the PlayStation-era classic back with a diorama-inspired visual style and modernized combat systems, while preserving Akira Toriyama’s iconic character designs.
Nioh 3 — Feb 6 (PS5)
Nioh 3 sends players across multiple eras of Japanese history as Tokugawa Takechiyo, blending brutal action with mythological storytelling and historical figures.
Resident Evil Requiem — Feb 27 (PS5)
Resident Evil Requiem returns players to Raccoon City. Featuring intelligence agent Grace Ashcroft alongside Leon S. Kennedy, the game supports both first- and third-person perspectives—bringing classic survival horror into a modern framework.
March: Shooters, Cozy Games, and Big Worlds
Marathon — March (PS5)
Marathon marks Bungie’s return with a PvPvE extraction shooter set on Tau Ceti. High-risk raids, shifting alliances, and intense survival mechanics define its moment-to-moment tension.
Coffee Talk Tokyo — March 5 (PS5)
Coffee Talk Tokyo leans fully into cozy storytelling. Brew drinks, create latte art, and listen to supernatural patrons unwind in a quiet corner of a chaotic city.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake — March 12 (PS5)
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake revives the PS2 classic with modern visuals and enhanced Camera Obscura mechanics, proving that psychological horror still hits hard.
April and Beyond: Sci-Fi and Prestige Action
Pragmata — April 24 (PS5)
Pragmata finally arrives, pairing environmental puzzles with hacking mechanics on a haunting lunar research station.
Saros — April 30 (PS5)
Saros evolves the studio’s fast-paced shooting formula. Unlike Returnal, deaths here unlock permanent upgrades, pushing players to experiment rather than reset.
007 First Light — May 27 (PS5)
007 First Light explores James Bond’s origins, blending stealth, gadgets, and cinematic action with open-ended mission design.
Why Early 2026 Feels Different
This isn’t a warm-up period. PlayStation is front-loading the year with genre-defining RPGs, marquee horror releases, ambitious shooters, and quieter narrative gems. It signals confidence—and a willingness to compete aggressively from January onward, not just during the holiday rush.
The Big Picture
Whether you’re surviving Raccoon City, unraveling lunar mysteries, serving coffee to ghosts, or pulling off high-stakes extractions, early 2026 offers something for nearly every PlayStation player. If this pace holds, the year may be remembered not just for its blockbusters—but for its sheer range.
