Sony has released the new PS Plus for PS4 and PS5. On PC and Xbox, the Game Pass dominates. PS Plus or Game Pass – Which is better? MeinMMO explains the differences and similarities.
What subscription models are involved? With the (Xbox) Game Pass and PS Plus, there are two subscription models that you can currently subscribe to on PC, PS4, PS5, or Xbox (as of July 2022).
- PS Plus is a subscription service from Sony for the PS4 and PS5 and was revamped and released in June 2022.
- The (Xbox) Game Pass is a subscription service from Microsoft for Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. Some cloud features can also be utilized on Android and iOS.
You will find this in our article: In the following article, we will introduce both the Game Pass and PS Plus in detail. We will discuss things like price, games, and cancellation. In another step, we explain what you get for your money and which subscription is most worthwhile for whom.
PS Plus and Game Pass – What is it all about?
This is PS Plus: If you want to play online on PS4 or PS5, you need PS Plus for many games. Sony has revamped PS Plus, replacing the unpopular PS Now.
The new PS Plus is still required for online gaming on PS4 and PS5. However, there are now several tiers that you can subscribe to. These offer various benefits at a corresponding price. You can also use PS Plus with the appropriate app on PC and stream certain PS4 games.
This is the Game Pass: The Game Pass is a subscription model that you can use on both PC and Xbox. On Xbox, the service “Xbox Gold” is included, which you need for online games. In addition, you get further benefits depending on whether you are playing on PC or console.
How the Xbox Game Pass came to be and helped change gaming significantly can be read in the following article:
PS Plus vs. Game Pass – Here are the prices
What does PS Plus cost? The new PS Plus model offers you three price tiers:
- PlayStation Plus Essential
- Monthly: €8.99; quarterly: €24.99 or annually: €59.99
- PlayStation Plus Extra
- Monthly: €13.99, quarterly: €39.99, annually: €99.99
- PlayStation Plus Premium
- Monthly: €16.99, quarterly: €49.99, annually: €119.99
What does the Xbox Game Pass cost? Microsoft also offers three different models for the Game Pass that you can subscribe to:
- PC Game Pass
- Monthly €9.99, quarterly €29.99, annually €120
- Xbox Game Pass
- Monthly €9.99, quarterly €29.99, annually €120
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- Monthly €12.99, quarterly €38.99, annually €140
By the way, with a trick you can save a lot of money when purchasing the Xbox Game Pass. You can now also buy the Xbox Series X|S in combination with the Game Pass. Whether and for whom “Xbox All Access” is worthwhile, you can read here on MeinMMO:
PS Plus and Game Pass – Contents and Benefits
This is what PS Plus offers: With PS Plus Essential, you get the same service you used to get with PS Plus. This includes the two free games per month, exclusive discounts in the PS Store, cloud storage space, and online multiplayer.
In the higher tiers like “Extra” and “Premium,” you receive additional benefits like more games or access to cloud functions.
| Benefits | |
|---|---|
| PS Plus Essential | Free games exclusive discounts in the PS Store Cloud storage for saves Online multiplayer |
| PS Plus Extra | Free games exclusive discounts in the PS Store Cloud storage for saves Online multiplayer Access to 400 games |
| PS Plus Premium | Free games exclusive discounts in the PS Store Cloud storage for saves Online multiplayer Access to 740 games |
This is what the Game Pass offers: The Game Pass is clearer than PS Plus. Here you choose either the PC or Xbox Game Pass. If you want to use the Game Pass on both platforms and want to use cloud gaming, then you go for Game Pass Ultimate.
If you only want to play online on your Xbox, you can buy “Xbox Gold Live” for €6.99; here you do not have access to Game Pass games.
| Benefits | |
|---|---|
| Xbox Gold Live (Xbox only) | Free games (Games with Gold) Online multiplayer |
| PC Game Pass (PC only) | Access to games “EA Play” subscription service AAA games directly at release |
| Xbox Game Pass (Xbox only) | Access to games “EA Play” subscription service AAA games directly at release |
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (PC and Xbox) | Access to games AAA games directly at release Online multiplayer Free games (Games with Gold) “EA Play” subscription service Cloud gaming |
PS Plus vs. Game Pass – Games
Which games are included in PS Plus? With the new PS Plus subscription model, it depends on which tier you have subscribed to:
- With Plus Essential, you have access to all the games you got through the free games per month. No more games are included here.
- With PS Plus Extra, you primarily get access to PS4 and PS5 games that you can play on your console at no extra cost. You can download these games.
- With PS Plus Premium, you additionally get access to older games from PS1, PS2, and PS3 that you can then stream on your PS4 or PS5. Some can also be downloaded, but many are only available for streaming.
You can find all games from PS Plus Extra and Premium in our comprehensive list, which we constantly keep up to date:
Which games are included in the Game Pass? If you subscribe to the Game Pass, you have access to an extensive library of dozens of games. In addition, you also have access to “EA Play” and all the games included in the EA subscription at no extra cost.
The Game Pass especially advertises that you can play strong titles like Age of Empires: IV or the new Starfield directly at release at no additional cost.
However, you cannot play all games equally on PC and console. Some games, such as older Xbox One or Xbox 360 games, can only be played on an Xbox, and there are also restrictions for some modern games like the MMORPG Elder Scrolls Online.
There is no multi-tier subscription system like with PS Plus. If you only use Xbox Live Gold, you only have access to your games that you snagged with “Games with Gold.”
- All 36 games that will be released in the Xbox Game Pass in 2022 and 2023
- The 9 best MMOs and online games in the Xbox Game Pass
- All games from E3 that will be available in the Xbox Game Pass on Day One
PS Plus and Game Pass – Cancellation
What happens if I cancel PS Plus? If you cancel PS Plus, you cannot use the free games anymore. Unless you purchase a digital license in the PS Store. You will also lose access to the cloud and thus the cloud save function. Your saves will remain stored in the cloud for 6 months and will be deleted after that without a subscription. In general, you should always back up your save games externally.
Once downloaded PS Plus games can be used as long as you have an active PlayStation Plus membership. If you temporarily pause your PS Plus subscription, you can access all collected PS Plus games again once you renew your membership.
All information regarding the cancellation of PS Plus can be found here:
What happens if I cancel the Game Pass? If you cancel the Game Pass, you will lose access to all games from the Game Pass, unless you purchase a digital license. You will also lose access to cloud services and the EA Play membership included in the Game Pass.
All “Games with Gold” titles that you collected as an Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member can be kept, regardless of whether you renew your subscription or not.
PS Plus vs. Game Pass – Which is the better offer for whom?
Who is PS Plus the better offer for? If you want to play online on PS Plus, you definitely need the cheapest subscription “PS Plus Essential.” If you play a lot on your console and want to catch up on older titles because you just purchased your first PS4 or PS5, then the upgrade to PS Plus Extra might be worth it for you.
However, if you hardly play or do not play at all on your PlayStation 4 or 5 and only occasionally buy a game in the PS Store, then the subscription probably isn’t worth it.
Which subscription model is the most worthwhile for you can be read here on MeinMMO:
Who is the Game Pass the better offer for? The Game Pass is a strong offer for anyone who wants to try out many games without spending money. Many games are included in the Game Pass directly from release.
Unlike PS Plus, you do not need an Xbox if you want to use the Game Pass Ultimate. Thanks to cloud gaming, you can even use the Game Pass on your phone.
However, if you just want to play online on your Xbox and are not interested in all the games, then an “Xbox Live Gold” membership would be the better offer for you.
If you are also looking for a PS5 in line with the new PS Plus, check our sales ticker on MeinMMO regularly: Buy PS5 in the ticker – All news and offers
What do you think about it? Do you have PS Plus or the Game Pass, or are you not interested in the subscription model for games at all? Tell us in the comments and discuss with other users about it!
