PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers are in for a treat this April 2026. The lineup features fan favorites like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, the quirky Squirrel with a Gun, and the eerie spin-off The Casting of Frank Stone from Dead by Daylight.
What’s Coming to PlayStation Plus in April
Sony has unveiled the new games for PS Plus Extra and Premium tiers. These tiers offer a library of games similar to Netflix’s movie access. This month’s selection includes a variety of genres: open-world action, sports, horror, and even a game where you control a gun-toting squirrel.
Here’s the confirmed list of new titles:
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered — The beloved 2017 open-world game, now with upgraded visuals for PS5
- Squirrel with a Gun — A viral sandbox game where you wreak havoc as a squirrel armed with a gun
- The Casting of Frank Stone — A narrative horror experience set in the Dead by Daylight universe
- The Crew Motorfest — Ubisoft’s open-world racing game set in Hawaii
- Football Manager 2024 — The in-depth soccer management simulation series
Why Horizon Remastered Is the Headliner
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered stands out as the most valuable addition in terms of cost. The game debuted at $49.99 for existing owners and $59.99 for newcomers when it launched in late 2024. You play as Aloy, a hunter exploring a post-apocalyptic world filled with robotic dinosaurs. Imagine Jurassic Park meets Mad Max, but with a bow and arrow.
This remastered version offers more than just a resolution upgrade. Sony revamped character models, improved facial animations, added new dialogue, and enhanced visuals to match the 2022 sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. For those who haven’t experienced it yet, getting it through a subscription feels like a fantastic deal.
The Squirrel Situation
Don’t overlook Squirrel with a Gun. It became a meme sensation after its 2024 release, racking up millions of YouTube views for its absurd concept: you’re a squirrel, you grab a gun, and you create chaos with recoil physics. This physics-based fun in a cute furry package turned out to be a crowd favorite, proving that it’s more than just a joke. Adding it to a subscription service is a great way for players to discover something unique without any risk.
Frank Stone and the Horror Corner
The Casting of Frank Stone comes from Supermassive Games, known for their interactive horror titles like Until Dawn and The Quarry. Set in the world of Dead by Daylight, it offers a single-player narrative experience where player choices influence the story. If you’ve ever found yourself yelling at horror movie characters, this game lets you make the decisions.
| Game | Original Price | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered | $49.99–$59.99 | Open-World Action RPG |
| Squirrel with a Gun | $19.99 | Sandbox/Comedy |
| The Casting of Frank Stone | $39.99 | Narrative Horror |
| The Crew Motorfest | $59.99 | Open-World Racing |
| Football Manager 2024 | $54.99 | Sports Simulation |
| Combined Retail Value | ~$235–$245 | — |
What This Means for Everyday PS Plus Subscribers
If you’re subscribed to PS Plus Extra ($14.99/month) or Premium ($17.99/month), you won’t pay anything extra for these games. The April lineup adds around $235 worth of games to your library as long as your subscription is active.
This collection makes a solid case for anyone considering an upgrade from PS Plus Essential, which only provides monthly free games. Just one title, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, is worth more than the price difference for a month of the Extra tier. Remember, though: if you cancel PS Plus, you lose access to catalog titles. They’re rentals, not yours to keep.
Sports fans will enjoy The Crew Motorfest and Football Manager 2024. Motorfest has received praise as a more accessible alternative to the Forza Horizon series on PlayStation.
Community Reactions
“Horizon Remastered is a great get. Squirrel with a Gun is honestly the surprise of the month; I’ve wanted to try that for ages.”
“Frank Stone is underrated. Supermassive excels at horror storytelling. I’m glad more people will get to try it.”
Sources
- CNET: Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and More Coming to PS Plus in April
- Engadget: PlayStation Plus April Catalog Adds Include Horizon Remastered, Squirrel with a Gun and Frank Stone
What To Watch
- Mid-April 2026: The games are set to go live in the PS Plus catalog. Sony usually adds catalog titles around the third Tuesday of the month.
- May 2026: Sony will likely announce the next round of monthly free games for Essential subscribers and additional catalog titles for Extra and Premium members.
- Ongoing: Keep an eye on whether Sony continues adding first-party remasters like Horizon to the catalog. This pattern could hint at more PlayStation exclusives arriving in the subscription library sooner than usual.
Ava Mitchell
Ava Mitchell is a digital culture journalist at Explosion.com covering social media platforms, streaming services, and the creator economy. With 4 years reporting on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and the apps that shape daily life, Ava specializes in explaining platform policy changes and their impact on everyday users. She previously managed social media strategy for a tech startup, giving her firsthand experience with the platforms she now covers.
