Updated July 28, 2026
Big Walk is confirmed as a day-one PS Plus Essential game on August 4, 2026. The full Essential lineup drops July 29, and nine games leave PS Plus Extra and Premium on August 18.
Sony usually saves its brand-new releases for the pricier Extra and Premium tiers. This month, that pattern breaks. Here’s everything confirmed so far for PS Plus in August 2026, and what’s on the way out.
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What’s Confirmed for PS Plus Essential in August 2026
Big Walk launches day one on PS Plus Essential on August 4, 2026, at no extra cost.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Game | Big Walk |
| Developer | House House (Untitled Goose Game) |
| Release date | August 4, 2026 |
| PS Plus tier | Essential (day-one, included free) |
| Platforms | PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Players | 2 to 12, full crossplay |
Sony usually reserves day-one releases for Extra and Premium subscribers, so this is a rare move for the entry-level Essential plan. It makes sense once you consider how the game works: a co-op title lives or dies by how many people are actually online playing it.
What Is Big Walk?
It’s a co-op adventure where up to 12 players explore an open world using voice and gestures.
Big Walk drops two to twelve players into an open world full of puzzles to solve together. The standout feature is how communication works. Voice chat changes based on distance and environment, so your voice echoes in caves and fades out over long distances. Walkie-talkies help bridge bigger gaps, and if voice comms fail entirely, you’re left with gestures, flares, megaphones, and whiteboards to get your point across.
Crossplay is fully supported between PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 from day one, so your friend group doesn’t need matching consoles to play together.
Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels
When Will the Rest of the Lineup Be Announced?
The full Essential lineup drops July 29, with Extra and Premium additions revealed August 12.
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| July 29, 2026 | Full PS Plus Essential lineup revealed |
| August 3, 2026 | Current July Essential games become unavailable to claim |
| August 4, 2026 | New Essential games go live, including Big Walk |
| August 12, 2026 | PS Plus Extra and Premium additions revealed |
| August 18, 2026 | Extra and Premium additions go live, 9 games removed |
Games Leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium on August 18
Dead Island 2 and Unicorn Overlord headline nine games leaving the Extra and Premium catalog.
| Game | Why It’s Worth Playing Before It Leaves |
|---|---|
| Dead Island 2 | Zombie action with a huge weapon mod system |
| Unicorn Overlord | 86 Metacritic tactical RPG from Vanillaware and Atlus |
| Earth Defense Force 6 | Over-the-top alien invasion shooter |
| Harold Halibut | Quirky, handcrafted narrative adventure |
| Roki | Fairy-tale puzzle adventure from Polygon Treehouse |
| Clash: Artifacts of Chaos | Stylish martial arts brawler |
| Onee Chanbara Origin | Action remaster with a cult following |
| Bomber Crew | Cooperative WWII bomber management sim |
| Space Crew: Legendary Edition | Spaceship crew management, spin-off of Bomber Crew |
Five of these were originally supposed to leave back in July, so Sony gave them an extra month before pulling them for good on August 18.
Still Available: The Current July 2026 Free Games
You have until August 3 to claim Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, For the King II, and CrossCode.
These are the current PS Plus Essential games, and once claimed to your library, they’re yours to keep as long as your membership stays active. If you haven’t downloaded them yet, don’t wait until the last minute.
What’s Exciting
- A rare day-one release lands in the cheapest PS Plus tier
- Big Walk supports full crossplay across three platforms
- Sony’s monthly picks have generally improved through 2026
What’s Disappointing
- Dead Island 2 and Unicorn Overlord both exit the catalog
- Nine total removals is a heavier month than usual
- The full Essential lineup isn’t confirmed until July 29
Want more gaming news and release date updates as they drop?
See More Trending Tech NewsFrequently Asked Questions
Is Big Walk really free with PS Plus Essential?
Yes. It launches August 4, 2026, directly in the Essential tier at no extra cost, unlike most day-one releases which normally go to Extra or Premium first.
When is the full August 2026 Essential lineup revealed?
Sony is set to reveal the complete list on July 29, 2026, with the games going live on August 4.
What happens to my save data for games leaving PS Plus?
If you own the game outright or keep an active subscription tier that still includes it, your save data typically stays intact. Games removed from the catalog just become unplayable through PS Plus access specifically.
Does Big Walk support solo play?
Big Walk is built around cooperative play with 2 to 12 people. It’s designed as a group experience, so it’s best enjoyed with friends rather than alone.
Bottom Line
August 2026 is shaping up to be a mixed month for PS Plus. Subscribers get a genuinely exciting day-one co-op release in Big Walk, but the Extra and Premium catalog takes a real hit with Dead Island 2 and Unicorn Overlord both heading out the door. The full Essential reveal on July 29 will fill in the rest of the picture.
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Sources: PlayStation Blog, Push Square, Polygon, PlayFront, and PS Plus catalog tracking as of July 27-28, 2026.
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