Here’s Everything You Should Know About PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo’s Subscription Services

Subscription services have become the core of the console environment nowadays. Whenever a gamer or someone new to gaming decides to buy a console or even contemplates buying one, they are met with a whole new world of subscription services that they have to decide on. Pretty much all three major platforms, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox nowadays offer a subscription service.

PlayStation has PS Plus, Nintendo Switch has Switch Online, and Microsoft has Xbox Game Pass. It can be confusing which one is the best. There are differences in features, price, and perks on offer here. For those confused about these services and need a crash course, here it is. Every detail on every subscription will make your decision a bit easier.

PlayStation Plus

Prices:

• Essential: $79.99 for 12 Months and $9.99 Per Month
• Extra: $134.99 for 12 months and $14.99 Per Month
• Premium: $159.99 for 12 months and $17.99 Per Month

Yes, it is priced on the heavy side, but it is what it is. If a PlayStation owner decides they want to play a multiplayer game on their console, such as Call of Duty, GTA Online, etc., they would require this service.

If they want just the online service and access to the monthly games that Sony sends out to its PS Plus subscribers, Essential is more than enough. Extra then gives subscribers an ever-evolving library of PlayStation 5 and 4 titles consisting of around 400 games. These titles keep changing; some leave and some are introduced, but it is a decent deal. Premium then adds timed trials of a selective bunch of new games to it alongside the PlayStation, PS2, PS3, and PSP in the classic’s library. And let’s not forget the ability to stream PlayStation 5 games from anywhere you want.

Xbox Game Pass

Prices:

• Game Pass Core: $9.99 per month
• Game Pass Ultimate: $16.99 per month

This is the service that is setting the world on fire. The reason is Microsoft’s promise to bring about the latest and greatest games on Game Pass Day 1. First-party games would be a day-one release to Game Pass, and there would often be third-party titles such as Lies of P and Yakuza: Infinite Wealth that would be available to subscribers of Game Pass on launch day itself.

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Of course, these games are only available for Ultimate subscribers. Core owners get a catalog of over 25 high-quality games on the console. These games are available on a rotational basis and keep changing.

Nintendo Switch Online

Prices:

• Switch Online: $3.99 per month, $7.99 per 3 months, or $19.99 per year
• Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: $49.99 per year

Nintendo Switch Online is a service that does not have much value on the surface. If one subscribes to the lowest tier and gets a $19.99 per year subscription, they are getting online play and cloud-saving access to classic console libraries such as NES, SNES, and Gameboy.

If one goes for the subscription tier that comes with the Expansion Pack, one gets additional classic consoles (N64, Sega Genesis, and Gameboy Advance). They also get expansion passes for games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, and Animal Crossing New Horizons.

These are the differences between the online services offered by the three major console holders in gaming. They are only for their respective consoles; hence, choose wisely.

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