Sony finally pulled back the curtain on July’s PS Plus lineup, and it’s a genuinely interesting mix this time around. Instead of the usual one-big-one-small formula, subscribers are getting a AAA shooter, a co-op roguelike, and a beloved indie RPG all in the same month.
- New games: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Cross-Gen Bundle), For the King 2, and CrossCode
- Availability: All three drop July 7 and stay claimable through August 3
- Platforms: Every game is playable on both PS5 and PS4
- Tier: Included in PS Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium
- Reminder: June’s free games, including Grounded, are gone once July 7 hits
Why the Announcement Came a Bit Late This Month
If it feels like this reveal took longer than usual, that’s not just in your head. Sony normally announces new PS Plus games on the last Wednesday of the month, but thanks to how the calendar lined up, the July reveal landed on July 1 instead, pushing the actual release to July 7. Sony’s also been experimenting with staggering the Extra and Premium catalog additions throughout the month rather than dumping them all at once, which added to the slightly delayed feeling around this cycle.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Headlines the Month
There’s no question which game is carrying July’s lineup. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 arrives as the Cross-Gen Bundle, and it’s a loaded package. The campaign continues directly from Modern Warfare 2, with Captain Price and Task Force 141 chasing down Vladimir Makarov across the globe. On the multiplayer side, the game brings back all 16 maps from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2, rebuilt with updated visuals and modernized mechanics. Zombies mode goes even bigger this time too, expanding into an open-world PvE experience where multiple squads can team up together for the first time in the mode’s history.
Worth noting: Modern Warfare 3 wasn’t exactly a fan favorite at launch, with plenty of criticism aimed at its campaign length and multiplayer balance. Still, getting it for free right before Modern Warfare 4 launches later this year makes it an easy way to catch up on the story or just mess around in Zombies without spending a dime.
For the King 2 Brings Roguelike Co-op to the Lineup
For the King 2 picks up in the kingdom of Fahrul, now under the control of the tyrannical Queen Rosomon, who’s enslaved her people and struck alliances with dark forces to hold onto power. Players can tackle the game solo or team up in four-player co-op, gathering allies and gear as they work to take her down. It blends roguelike randomness with tabletop-style turn-based combat, and it’s a direct sequel to the well-liked original For the King, now running on an updated engine with refined systems for both newcomers and returning fans.
CrossCode Rounds Out the Trio
CrossCode is easily the most acclaimed game in July’s lineup, and for good reason. This retro-inspired 2D action RPG mixes 16-bit-style visuals with genuinely fast, physics-driven combat, layered with puzzle-heavy dungeons and a surprisingly deep sci-fi story. It’s been out for a while and has built a loyal following over the years, so if you’ve never gotten around to it, this is about as good a reason as any to finally dive in.
Don’t Forget to Grab June’s Games First
Before July’s lineup takes over, make sure June’s free games are locked into your library. That batch includes the survival hit Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition, along with Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 and Warhammer 40K: Darktide. Once July 7 rolls around, those three rotate out for good, and claiming instead of downloading is all you need to do to keep access to them long-term.
PlayStation’s Bigger Picture Right Now
This lineup didn’t drop in a vacuum. The same announcement window also confirmed that PlayStation is ending physical disc production for new first-party games starting January 2028, giving collectors roughly a year and a half before that era closes out. On top of that, Sony confirmed the PS3 and PS Vita Store will be shutting down within the next year as well. Combined, it’s hard not to read July’s PS Plus reveal as part of a much bigger shift toward an all-digital future for PlayStation.
Should You Be Excited for July’s Lineup?
Reaction has been pretty split so far. Some players are thrilled to finally have an excuse to play Modern Warfare 3’s multiplayer with those refreshed 2009 maps, while others feel like the month leans too heavily on one mediocre AAA shooter propping up two older indie titles. Either way, there’s enough variety here that most PS Plus subscribers should find at least one game worth their time, whether that’s blasting through Zombies, grinding a co-op roguelike, or finally finishing that CrossCode playthrough you never got around to.
All three games go live July 7 and stick around until August 3, so there’s a solid window to claim and dig in. Full details on this month’s lineup are available straight from the PlayStation Blog.
More Gaming News You Might Like
- Still need to claim June’s freebie? Here’s why Grounded is worth grabbing before it rotates out on July 7.
- Another EA title is losing online support. Here’s the news on Madden NFL 23’s servers shutting down July 13.
- Worried about performance on next-gen open worlds? Check out the GTA 6 60 FPS report on PS5 and Xbox.
- Fortnite fans should also check out the Fortnite DC summer skins leak with Batman and Harley Quinn.
