What began as a novel idea withXbox Game Passhas evolved into a necessity for any serious game developer. Microsoft changed the gaming landscape as it has continued to enhance the offerings onXbox Game Passwith more exclusive and premium titles. Other developers have sensed the shifting tides and tried to adapt, but it has led to a flooded marketplace with too many options to grasp.
WithSony recently launching its Game Pass Ultimate competitor in PS Plus Premium, there are even more games available for a low monthly cost. The needs of each individual gamer are unique, so there’s never one best subscription service, but it’s important to evaluate the options available before getting locked in. For every gaming subscription available, gamers need to consider what it offers, and most importantly, the cost.
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Console Subscriptions
Xbox Game Pass is the original gaming subscription that everyone is trying to keep up with.Game Pass has a plethora of gamesacross genres that give players a full gaming experience, from small indie games to AAA moneymakers. However, there are a few different tiers that Xbox offers.
On the Sony side, PlayStation just released its new PS Plus tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. For $10 a month (or $60 for a year), PS Plus Essential allows users to play online multiplayer and gives users two free games per month. PS5 owners also get access to the PS Plus collection which adds 20 of the best PS4 games at no additional charge. The next tier up is PS Plus Extra, which provides all the benefits of Essential and a catalog of over 400 of the best PS4 and PS5 games for $15 per month or $100 for a year. Finally, there’s PS Plus Premium at $18 per month or $120 per year. Premium provides the features of Extra, Essential, and over 340 additional games from PS3, PS2, PSP, and the original PlayStation. These titles are available via cloud streaming or downloading on a PS5, PS5, or PC. Mostgames from the PS Now service have also been added to PS Plus Premiumvia cloud streaming.
Developer Subscriptions
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Cloud Gaming Subscriptions
Mobile Subscriptions
Mobile gaming has come a long way since the days ofFlappy Bird. iPhone and iPad users can get access to Apple Arcade for $5 per month or $50 per year. Apple’s mobile gaming subscription gives users access to over 200 exclusive titles and strips games of any ads or in-app purchases. Players can also use Apple’s family sharing feature to provide access to Apple Arcade to five family members. While it’s not known as a game developer,Apple has quickly established itself as a gaming leader.
For those that own Android or Google phones and tablets, Google Play Pass costs $5 per month or $30 per year. Google Play Pass provides access to over 800 games and, like Apple Arcade, is free of ads or in-app purchases and can be shared with up to five family members. Unlike Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass does not have any exclusives on its platform; it just offers access to games that users typically have to pay for individually.
