Playstation Plus and Xbox Game Pass: Which one is better?
Stream services such as Netflix and Spotify are owning a big place in the movie and music sphere, and video games are also moving towards there. In this article, we will compare Playstation Plus and Xbox Game Pass.
Playstation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, which one should you prefer?
Stream services are also becoming common in the video game industry as well. These services allows you to get all content released in that platform with certain amount of money with month or year plan. In the video game industry, both Sony and Microsoft offering subscription services for their users.
And we will compare Playstation Plus and Xbox Game Pass. Explain you which is the best, so you can choose easily.
Sony’s system has gone some changes. Playstation Now, which launched in early 2015, was this change. Playstation Now was a standalone subscription that allowed you to stream hundred of titles in the Playstation, also offering you to download newer games as well.
In June 2022, Playstation Plus expanded their tiers, which ic Essential, Extra and Premium. Essential is the same as the original Playstation Plus plan. Playstation Plus Extra adds access to hundreds of PS4 and PS5 games through the Game Catalog. Ubisoft+ Classics is also included, letting you play some of Ubisoft’s top titles at no extra cost. These are all downloadable content included.
PS Plus Premium includes everything from the lower tiers, plus the game streaming that was part of PlayStation Now (that service is now retired). Sony calls this the Classics Catalog, which features titles from the PS3 and earlier. Most of these are available to download, though you’ll need to stream the PS3 games since the newer PlayStation consoles aren’t compatible with the PS3’s architecture. Premium also allows you to stream some other Catalog games if you’d rather not download them.
All tiers of PlayStation Plus are available for those on PS4 or PS5. In the PS Plus Premium, you can also stream compatible games to your PC.
To stream, you’ll need an internet connection that can handle this, Sony recommends at least 5Mbps. Streaming will often give worse performance compared to downloading games; be prepared for a lower resolution and/or frame rate, input lag, and fewer audio options.
Just like we mentioned before, most games included with PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium are available to download. This lets you enjoy games just like if you’d bought them normally. You can earn trophies, and online multiplayer is available.
When you download a game, it will output at full resolution. You can purchase DLC for the game, use any included PS VR modes, and access similar extra features.
You can download as many games as you have space for, but your system will check in with PSN every seven days to make sure your subscription is still valid. If you go too long without connecting, you can’t use your downloaded games until you’re back online.
PlayStation Plus Premium on PC
PlayStation Plus Premium also works on Windows PCs, regardless of whether you have a PlayStation console. If you play on both PC and console, you can access your saved data on both thanks to cloud storage.
You’ll need a PSN account and the free PS Plus PC app to get started; you can download this on Sony’s PlayStation Plus PC page. Have a look at the bottom of this page for details on system requirements. If you play other games on your PC, you should have no problem meeting these.
While Sony advises that PC play requires a DualShock 4 controller, people have reported that other PC compatible gamepads like the Xbox controller will work too. However, you won’t be able to use DS4 specific functions, such as the touchpad or motion controls.
Keep in mind that you can’t download PS Plus games on your PC. PS Plus Premium also does not currently support streaming PS5 titles, though Sony has done beta tests of this function.
Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass is available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. On Windows 10 and 11 PCs, it’s called PC Game Pass. Game Pass is pretty simple. It offers titles from every generation of Xbox. You can download as many titles as you want.
In addition to downloading games, you can stream many Xbox Game Pass titles to enjoy them without installing files and taking up space on your console.
Your console must check in with Xbox Live every 30 days to make sure that your Game Pass subscription is still valid. Games regularly join and leave Game Pass, but as a subscriber, you get a discount if you choose to buy a game in the catalog (or its DLC) to keep.
Notably, in September 2023, Microsoft retired the long running Xbox Live Gold name and replaced it with Game Pass Core. This baseline tier of the service lets you play paid multiplayer games online, and grants you access to a small library of games that’s much smaller than the main Game Pass list.
Xbox Game Pass for PC
When you sign up for Game Pass, you will need to choose whether you want to subscribe to the console or PC service, or both. Unlike PS Plus, you don’t necessarily get full access to the service on both platforms with one subscription.
The catalog of games differs depending on the platform. Some games are available on both Xbox and PC, while others only support one platform or the other. Otherwise, PC Game Pass works just like Xbox Game Pass, unlimited access to download as much as you can fit on your computer, with streaming supported as well.
You will need to download the Xbox app for Windows to take advantage of Game Pass on PC. Unlike Playstation Plus, you don’t need a controller to play these games. The PC versions are built for PC, not streamed, so they control with a mouse and keyboard. This may not be the optimal method for all games, such as platformers, so many games also offer full controller support.
Xbox Cloud Gaming
If you have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you also have the option to stream much of the Game Pass catalog. This works on iPhone and iPad, Android, PC, and Xbox consoles, allowing you to choose how you want to play.
In most cases, you will need a controller for best results, though some games support touch controls. You will also need a strong network connection, Microsoft recommends a 5Ghz Wi-Fi or mobile data connection that’s at least 10Mbps down.
PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass: Pricing
PlayStation Plus’s three tiers each come at a different cost, with the option to pay for one, three, or 12 months at a time. Note that Sony greatly increased the price of each tier in mid 2023:
- PlayStation Plus Essential: $9.99/month, $24.99/quarter, or $79.99 per year
- PlayStation Plus Extra: $14.99/month, $39.99/quarter, or $134.99 per year
- PlayStation Plus Premium: $17.99/month, $49.99/quarter, or $159.99 per year
Xbox Game Pass prices are like this:
- Game Pass Core: $9.99/month or $59.99/year
- Game Pass for Console: $10.99/month
- PC Game Pass: $9.99/month
- Game Pass Ultimate: $16.99
As mentioned, Ultimate gives you full access to Game Pass on both PC and Xbox. It also includes console online multiplayer for paid games, which would otherwise require Game Pass Core.
You’ll also need Ultimate to stream games on any compatible platform. Both PC Game Pass and Ultimate also include EA Play, adding top titles from the publisher to the existing Game Pass library. If you play games on both Xbox and PC, Ultimate is a great deal.
Conclusion
We looked at both services and explained everything about it. In the end, which service is better for you is totally depends on what do you expect to play. If you are a PC gamer who wants to access PlayStation exclusives without buying a PS4 or PS5, then PS Plus makes the most sense. For someone who plays on both Xbox and PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is better.
We hope you enjoy your gaming experience at best quality.
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