Happy new year, Players on the Station! Sony is wasting no time out of the new year to bring us January's Essential line-up. We're starting the year of with 2024's second biggest live-service crash and burn, a remaster of a fairly well-regarded 2010 racing game, and the re-release of a meta first-person adventure game that greatly expands on the original. All games will become available on February 4th and last until March 3rd. Let's see what's coming!

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This is also your last chance to get last month's free games, as they'll only be available until Januaray 6th

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All game descriptions (in italics) taken from the linked article. Without further ado, let's get into the games!


Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League | PS5 

Take down The Justice League yourself in single-player or team up with friends in multiplayer co-op in this genre-defying, action-adventure third-person shooter from Rocksteady Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series. Featuring an original narrative set within an expansive open-world city of Metropolis, the game puts the four DC Super-Villains on a collision course with an invading alien force and DC Super Heroes who are now laser-focused on destroying the city they once vowed to protect. All the while, the Suicide Squad must be mindful of the lethal explosives implanted in their heads that could go off at the first sign of defiance. Each squad member has their own unique moveset with enhanced traversal abilities to freely explore the dynamic open-world of Metropolis, along with a variety of weapons to customize, and skills to master. 


Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered | PS4 

Feel the thrill of the chase and the rush of escape in Need for Speed Hot Pursuit. Unleash a savage sense of speed both as an outlaw and a cop in the world’s hottest high-performance cars. Outsmart the heat or take down lawbreakers with the tactical weaponry at your disposal in a heart-pumping, socially competitive racing experience. Updated with enhanced visuals, cross-platform multiplayer – including the asynchronous competition powered by Autolog – plus all additional DLC content, this is the ultimate edition of Criterion Games’ critically acclaimed Need for Speed debut. It’s time to reignite the pursuit.


The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe | PS4, PS5 

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is an expanded re-imagining of the critically acclaimed, award winning indie game The Stanley Parable from 2013. Everything that was in the original Stanley Parable is here, preserved just like it was back in 2013. But The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe also dramatically expands the world of the original game with new content, new choices, and new secrets to uncover. The labyrinth has just gotten bigger. In addition, the game has been visually upgraded to reflect modern technology while faithfully preserving the tone of the original game. Accessibility features have also been added to the game, including localization of in-world text, colorblind options, and content warnings. And just as before, the impeccable voicework of Kevan Brighting will accompany you every step of the way.


What do you think of this month's selection of games? What else would you like to see added to the service in the future? Let us know in the comments below!