Xbox or PlayStation? If you are stuck choosing between these two popular game consoles in the market, then one of the ways to solve the conundrum is by looking at their individual subscription services. In a bid to let gamers on these consoles get greater exposure to the vast libraries of video games, both Sony and Microsoft devised Netflix-styled monthly subscription plans. The idea behind these subscription plans is to let players experience a lot of games without purchasing any of them.
Sony’s PlayStation Plus arrived first on the scene but the limited plans didn’t bring enough attention to the service until Microsoft announced the Game Pass subscription. While Sony treated the PlayStation Plus service as a way to access high-quality games from the bygone years, Microsoft used the Game Pass subscription to offer access to its first-party exclusives on day one of their release. Coupled with an accessible fee, the Game Pass’ popularity has risen ever since.
That said, Sony went back to work and has revised its offering to tackle the threat from Microsoft and attract more players to the PlayStation universe. For any new gamer seeking to upgrade to the current generation gaming consoles, this could pose a grave dilemma, especially with mid-life updates coming to both platforms.
This is where our Xbox Game Pass vs PlayStation Plus comparison comes to the rescue. We have considered several factors like price, benefits, availability and the collection of games to pick our favourite.
Without any further delay, let’s dive in.
Xbox Game Pass vs PlayStation Plus: An in-depth comparison
Perks and pricing
With Xbox Game Pass, you get to choose from multiple tier plans with varying levels of benefits across PC and Xbox consoles.
For Consoles, you start with the Game Pass Core which offers online multiplayer functionality and access to over 25 AAA video game titles. You also get access to exclusive deals as well as discounts, all at a price of MYR 15 per month.
Players on Windows PCs get the Game Pass PC plan at MYR 15 per month with perks like access to hundreds of new games.
Switching over to the PlayStation camp, the PlayStation Plus Essential package costs MYR 32 per month, offering online multiplayer services, new monthly games, exclusive discounts, Share Play, Cloud Storage and more. The PlayStation Plus Extra plan at MYR 49 per month offers the additional benefit of access to an entire game catalogue and Ubisoft+ Classics membership. The Deluxe plan at MYR 55 per month adds access to the Classic catalogue as well as limited-time Game Trials over the perks of the Extra package.
Unlike Xbox, Sony lets you choose between monthly, tri-monthly and annual subscription models for all the plans.
While both offer great benefits to their respective user base, the Xbox Game Pass with its lower pricing and access to first-party new games on the day of release leaves us impressed.
Winner: Xbox Game Pass
Variety of game titles and exclusives
Although Sony’s PlayStation has made a name for itself with its high-quality exclusive titles over the years, Microsoft’s multiple acquisitions have given Game Pass some of the best video game franchises.
With Game Pass, you get access to popular exclusive franchises like Forza Horizon, Gears of War, Fable, Senua’s Saga, Starfield, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Halo, Sea of Thieves and more. Sony, on the other hand, offers limited access to its exclusive titles as part of the PlayStation Plus subscription. Franchises like Spider-Man and The Last of Us have to be purchased separately.
Beyond exclusives though, it’s a different case. Sony’s PlayStation Plus focuses on providing a collection of award-winning video games that deliver a quality video gaming experience. Microsoft, on the other hand, ends up compromising in the choice of video games, since it prefers to fill as many games as possible in the membership. Some popular titles like GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption aren’t available in the Game Pass collection!
Hence, this ends up in a draw between these categories.
Winner: Tie
Platform availability
Both these services are tied to their respective platforms but only one of them offers a wider accessibility.
The PlayStation Plus subscription is available only to players on the Sony PS4 and PS5 consoles. The Xbox Game Pass, however, is available on the Xbox consoles and the countless number of Windows PCs running the latest Windows 11 OS. Those with the Game Pass Ultimate subscription can also access Xbox Cloud Gaming on their Androids and iPhones.
Hence, those who want to have a shot at casual gaming on their beefy Windows PCs can easily access the benefits of the Game Pass. You need to have a PlayStation console to avail the benefits of Sony’s offering.
Winner: Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass vs PlayStation Plus: Our verdict
Winner: Xbox Game Pass
Although the choice between these two primarily boils down to the console sitting under your TV, a comparison between Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus could help in case your console buying decision depends on the kind of game subscription services.
With that sorted, it is easy to see the Xbox Game Pass checking all the right boxes and coming across as the better choice of the two. Not only is Game Pass easier on the wallet but the variety of new games available from the very first day of their release is a tempting factor. Moreover, the Game Pass benefits can be availed regardless of whether you own an Xbox console or a Windows PC (provided your PC has the necessary specs to run the game).
That said, if you seek a collection of quality video games from your monthly game subscription service and the higher price isn’t a deal breaker, the PlayStation Plus service could make the PS5 console a better choice over the Xbox counterparts.
(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Pragii via Unsplash)
This article first appeared here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Which is better, Xbox or PlayStation?
The choice between Xbox and PlayStation entirely depends on the kind of gaming experience you seek from your console. PlayStation excels with its exclusives whereas Xbox offers a great variety of titles.
– Is the Xbox Game Pass useful?
If you want access to a wide variety of video games without purchasing them all, the Xbox Game Pass subscription is useful.
– Does PlayStation have free games?
Yes, PlayStation has a couple of free-to-play games available to download from the online store.
– Is Xbox more powerful than the PlayStation?
The Xbox Series X is rated to produce 12TFLOPS of computing power against the PS5’s 10.3 TFLOPS. Hence, the Xbox Series X is more powerful than the PlayStation 5 on paper.
Tags
Written by
Amritanshu lives and breathes tech, cars, Formula 1, space stuff and everything that delivers an adrenaline rush. Since 2016, he converted his favorite hobby of going all gaga over iPhones and Lamborghinis into his profession; hence, you aren’t likely to be surprised upon checking his browser history. In his spare time, he loves to drive and explore food joints, but will somehow end up with a plate of Chicken Biryani and a big smile. He has previously written for Hindustan Times, India Today, BGR.in, and Deccan Chronicle.
