2 Big PS5 Games Releasing in January 2026 Are Free-to-Play

by

PlayStation 5 owners can look forward to two new free-to-play games in January: 2XKO and Highguard. The PS5 already offers a wide variety of free games, including popular titles like Fortnite and Marvel Rivals. Plus, PlayStation Plus members receive even more free games each month as part of their Essential subscription.

PlayStation 5 owners are aware of the free games coming with their January 2026 PS Plus subscription and are likely wondering what other new games are on the way. January is typically a quiet month for game releases, and this year is no different. Despite this, a couple of significant new games are coming to PS5 in January, and conveniently, two of them will be available for free.

New Free PS5 Games Releasing in January 2026

  • 2XKO – January 20
  • Highguard – January 26

PS5 players have two new free-to-play games to look forward to this January. 2XKO from Riot Games launches on January 20th, and Highguard, the first game from new studio Wildlight Entertainment (formed by former Respawn developers), arrives on January 26th. While the games are free to download and play, they will offer optional in-game purchases and premium content. Details on what that premium content will be aren’t available yet, so players will have to wait until the games officially launch to find out.

If you haven’t heard of it, 2XKO is a fighting game based in the world of League of Legends. It has a bright, cartoonish look and features characters from the popular animated series Arcane, such as Jinx and Vi. Currently available on PC in early access, 2XKO has been well-received by players and was even nominated for Best Fighting Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025, before it’s even fully launched! The full release is scheduled for January 20th, and while details are still coming, we know it will bring the game to consoles, including the PlayStation 5.

Highguard is Coming to PS5 This Month

Just a few days after the release of 2XKO on PlayStation 5, Highguard will be available on January 26th. Highguard is a player-versus-player raid shooter that combines elements from popular hero shooter games. Players will choose characters with unique abilities, similar to Overwatch, and can even ride into combat on horseback, reminiscent of Paladins. The game features a unique objective: players fight for control of an item that unlocks access to the enemy base, adding a fresh twist to the hero shooter genre.

The game Highguard will be available roughly a month after its initial announcement. While it received a largely negative response when revealed at The Game Awards 2025, the gameplay itself appeared promising, and it will be free to play. Launching on PS5 on January 26th, Highguard is worth checking out, especially for fans of the genre, as there’s no risk in giving it a try.

January 2026 will be a busy month for PS5 owners, with two major free games, 2XKO and Highguard, leading the charge. Alongside these, several other exciting titles are set to launch: the visually striking Metroidvania, Mio: Memories in Orbit, arrives on January 20, followed by the rock-climbing adventure Cairn on January 29. Rounding out the month is Code Vein 2, an anime-inspired Soulslike game, releasing on January 30. With all these releases, PS5 gamers will have a lot to choose from in the weeks ahead.

Read More

2026-01-03 19:34