All of the major console makers run game subscription services, including Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. On this page we’ll look at how they compare against each other.

From a manufacturer perspective console-based subscription services are  clearly designed to stimulate loyalty, keep current owners content and well-fed with games, and generally position each one with respect to its competitors.

Each service – Game Pass from Microsoft, Switch Online from Nintendo, and PS Now/PS Plus from Sony – offer varying levels of membership where subscribers get a number of benefits. For details on each one individually you can go to the subscriptions list.

There are regular deals, good value sign up options with either free trials,  heavily discounted first month offers, and/or ways to reduce costs by signing up for longer periods.

In addition, you’ll get a mixture of benefits designed to enhance your console gaming experience. These include exclusive content, early access to new game releases, discounts on merchandise and more.

Subscribing can also help with decisions to upgrade your console, or stay with your current model while still getting access to some great games.

Choosing one over another will clearly depend on which type(s) of console you have, unless you’re basing a decision on which console to buy based on the subscription services available. But as examples –  if it’s high quality AAA games yo want then PS Plus might be best, for Indie games you old consider  Xbox Game Pass and for lower cost access to classic titles then take a look at Nintendo Switch Online.  

Latest News & Developments 

Nov 2020 – New Playdate console-type device announced

We’ll label it under console, but really this looks to be a mini handheld/portable device that’ll fit in your pocket or bag – it’s called a Playdate.  It’s intended to come with a subscription model that provides the device and up to 12 released games throughout a ‘season’ (which we assume to mean the year for which the subscription runs). It should appear some time in early 2021.

November 2020 Nintendo Switch to offer first streamed game

Nintendo have been running a trial in Japan of the Switch streaming solution. That’s about to go worldwide with the first streamed game on the platform to be Control by Remedy Games.

Nov 2020 – Sony games due to appear in PS+ library on launch of PS5

With the PS5 due to launch in the near future, Sony have released the list of games to be included in the PlayStation Plus library. The list includes twenty of the best games seen in recent history, both first-party from PlayStation Studios as well as third-party partners:

PlayStation Studios:

Bloodborne
Days Gone
Detroit: Become Human
God of War
Infamous: Second Son
Ratchet and Clank
The Last Guardian
The Last of Us: Remastered
Until Dawn
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Third-Party:

Batman: Arkham Knight
Battlefield 1
Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Edition
Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy
Fallout 4
Final Fantasy XV: Royal Edition
Monster Hunter World
Mortal Kombat X
Persona 5
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard