The free PlayStation Plus Essential games for October 2023 have now been officially confirmed, and as previously leaked, subscribers can look forward to supernatural Wild West action, the high-pressure world of agriculture, and for something slightly less nerve-wracking, cosmic carnage. The Callisto Protocol headlines PlayStation Plus Essential in October alongside Farming Simulator 22, and these games will be available starting October 3. As usual, these games will be available for PS Plus members across the Essential, Extra, and Premium tiers of the service.
The Callisto Protocol’s arrival is well-timed, as it lands just in time for the spooky season. A spiritual successor to Dead Space–that arrived months before its excellent remake in early 2023–The Callisto Protocol’s development was led by the creator of EA’s sci-fi horror franchise, Glen Schofield. Unfortunately, the game didn’t live up to expectations when it first launched, although recent updates have seen several tweaks, improvements, and new content added to The Callisto Protocol, which was developed by Schofield’s Striking Distance studio.
Sadly, the missed sales goals led to layoffs of more than 30 developers at Striking Distance in August and Schofield voluntarily resigned as CEO of the studio. “Though it starts off on a strong note, The Callisto Protocol’s focus on action-heavy spectacles fails to adequately explore its horror and overcrowds its weak combat mechanics,” Jordan Ramee wrote in GameSpot’s The Callisto Protocol review.