So Many Game Subscription Services, So Little Time: Here’s How To Choose – CNET [CNET]

April 9, 2022 Shelby Brown technology

Since the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, US video game sales have seen a huge increase as people tried to stay in and stay entertained. As video games are likely to stay relevant for the masses in coming months and years, more people might consider a game streaming service.

The best game streaming services offer options that can enhance your console experience, such as exclusive content, early access to anticipated game releases, and creative indie titles. If you aren’t sure you want to shell out for an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 later this year and you’re getting tired of your Xbox One or PS4, these services give you access to new and interesting games and features to keep you entertained.

Read on for information and advice on how to choose the best game streaming service for you, including which ones have free trial offers. One note: The services included here are those that let you download and play games locally, not in the cloud — so you won’t find Google Stadia or Amazon’s newly announced cloud gaming service Luna on the list.

EA Play

Best for enhancing your console experience

See at EA

PlayStation Now

Best for PlayStation die-hards

See at Playstation Now

Xbox Game Pass

Best for Xbox die-hards

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $14.99 a month, which adds the perks of the gaming social network Xbox Live Gold and the Xbox Game Pass (typically $9.99 a month each). With this package, you get those benefits on the console and PC. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now also supports mobile and tablet gaming from the cloud, though it’s still in beta.

Xbox Game Pass for PC is available on Windows 10 after you download the Xbox beta app from the Microsoft Store. For now, the PC game pass has an introductory price of $1 for the first month, then $10 a month.

In addition, as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, EA Play will be available on Xbox consoles— including the Xbox Series S and Series X. Starting in December, if you have an Ultimate of PC subscription, you can download and play games from the EA Play library on Windows 10 PCs at no additional cost.

See at Xbox

Ubisoft Plus

Best for PC gamers

Ubisoft Plus is Ubisoft’s PC gaming subscription service that includes a library of over 100 games for $15 per month. As well as the catalog of games, you get early access to beta programs, Free Weekends, trials, DLCs, expansions and updates, and a discount on games you buy.

Browse PC games like Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Far Cry: New Dawn. After you find a game you want to play, activate it and it’ll appear in your games library on Ubisoft PC.

The Ubisoft Play desktop app isn’t available for Mac.

See at Ubisoft

Apple Arcade

Best for Apple fans (and Pac-Man fans)

one-month free trial.

The service features exclusive single-player, multiplayer and AR games in various genres from developers such as Square Enix, Bandai Namco, Ubisoft, Capcom and Hipster Whale. Some of the top titles include nostalgic favorites like Pac-Man Party Royale, Rayman Mini and Frogger in Toytown, but there are also new hits including Crossy Road Castle and Ultimate Rivals: The Rink.

Apple Arcade lives in the App Store and the games download to your device so you can play offline. You can play directly on any of your Apple devices, or you can also use Microsoft Xbox One S and PlayStation DualShock 4 controllers for a more traditional console experience.

New games, and game updates, are released almost every week, so there’s always something new to try. Apple Arcade doesn’t have any ads or in-game purchases, and one subscription works for up to six family members. One of the downsides is that some of the more anticipated titles — including Fantasian and The Pathless — have yet to be released.

See at Apple