Xbox Game Pass Vs PlayStation Plus: Which Is The Better Subscription? (2024)

• 

  The Biggest Library of Games

  Xbox Game Pass

  Game Pass offers unlimited gaming with it's vast library.

  Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft's subscription service, offering games of all types. Some new games get added to the service on the day of release.

  Pros

  • Sometimes, new games are added on the day of release.
  • Perks offer some attractive bonuses across the year.

  Cons

  • The games offered are not as good as PlayStation's.

  $40 at Amazon

• 

  Best Rated Games

  PlayStation Plus

  PlayStation Plus offers high quality games with extra benefits.

  PlayStation Plus is Sony's subscription model, having three different tiers; it offers multiple games while highlighting first-party games such as Spider-Man, Miles Morales, and God of War.

  Pros

  • The service offers games with the highest scores for reviews.
  • Multiple tiers make price accessible base on your needs.

  Cons

  • The streaming service for old games is mediocre.

  $73 at Amazon

As subscriptions become the next gaming business model, the comparison between Xbox's Game Pass and Sony's PlayStation Plus is always a topic of debate. Each service offers a wide range of benefits, and while both are similar, key differences can point you to which service fits you the most.

If you want to play many games and enjoy multiple experiences, Game Pass will suit you better. If you'd rather play a few games that are redefining video games as exemplary titles, go with PlayStation Plus. It becomes a question of quantity versus quality.

Updated August 10, 2024, By Ben Jessey: There has recently been another wrinkle in the Xbox Game Pass vs. PlayStation Plus debate, as Microsoft has altered the plans and pricing of their service. As such, we've returned to our comparison of the two to update it.

Gaming Preference

Game Pass is a service that offers many games and new releases on day one. So, if you want to play some of the latest titles on day one without purchasing them, Game Pass is the better choice. It saves you money and allows you to play various types of video games.

It also offers a great selection of games, mainly because Microsoft owns several major studios. For example, the company owns Bethesda, so you can play most of its biggest games through the service.

Also, because Game Pass is connected to EA Play, plenty of EA titles are playable. Yet, they don't typically land on Game Pass on the day of release.

• 	Xbox Game Pass	PlayStation Plus
  Number of Accounts	1 Primary Account Holder	1 Primary Account Holder
  Number of Devices Concurrently	Five, with Friends & Family (in limited countries)	1

On the other hand, PlayStation Plus is more of a premium pick, which makes it your best choice if you want to play a few outstanding games.

After all, Sony has plenty of great exclusives from studios like Insomniac and Naughty Dog. Both of these companies are known for releasing some of the best games that get the highest review scores.

However, the PlayStation Plus isn't just about first-party titles. The service also includes Ubisoft+ Classics, which means you get access to plenty of great Ubisoft titles, too.

Cross-Platform

Regarding cross-platform, Game Pass is great as it allows you to manage your saved files and keep gaming on whichever system you desire, whether PC or Xbox consoles, with Game Pass Ultimate. Game Pass games, in general, also feature cross-play, enabling you to play with friends and players on different platforms.

PlayStation Plus saves are for PlayStation only, as the service is unavailable on PC. While there are no other platforms to play your PlayStation titles on, the console does offer cross-play to the same extent Game Pass does.

Pricing

Here are all the different plans for Xbox Game Pass:

Alternatively, these are the plans for PlayStation Plus:

The prices of the two services are pretty similar. In fact, the basic versions of both are exactly the same. That said, the highest package of PlayStation Plus is slightly cheaper than that of Xbox Game Pass.

Bonuses

Regarding bonuses, Game Pass is beneficial in terms of saving money. The perks included in Game Pass can range from getting a couple of months of Discord Nitro subscription to three months of Crunchyroll premium and a lot of content in multiple games. This makes Game Pass an attractive choice for those with various subscriptions. EA games are also added to the service with EA Play.

In comparison, most perks on PlayStation Plus are small content added to third-platform games and not any other subscription model. The saving grace here is that the added Ubisoft+ Classics add some fun games to the subscription model.

Compatibility And Hardware Requirements

Xbox Game Pass

With its wide-ranging compatibility, the Xbox Game Pass truly shines by enabling its users to engage with their favorite games across devices:

• Xbox Consoles: Game Pass is fully integrated with Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles, so you can pretty much download and play games directly from the console.
• PCs: Another fun fact about the Game Pass is that it also supports Windows PCs. You can either stream games via the cloud or download them directly to your system, depending on the subscription tier you're on.
• Mobile Devices: For mobile users, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes cloud gaming, allowing games to be played on Android and iOS devices via web browsers. However, this is gonna need a stable internet connection and, ideally, a game controller connected via Bluetooth.
• Other Devices: Additionally, Xbox Game Pass supports streaming on select smart TVs and devices like Meta Quest VR headsets as well.

PlayStation Plus

While PlayStation Plus prides itself on compatibility mainly with Sony's gaming consoles, it offers some love for PCs, too:

• PlayStation Consoles: PlayStation Plus is compatible with the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles.
• PC Streaming: PlayStation Plus Premium allows for game streaming on PCs. However, it does not support direct downloads like Xbox Game Pass does, so that's a bit of a downer.
• Other Devices: The service is not available on non-PlayStation devices such as smart TVs or mobile phones, which limits its accessibility compared to Xbox Game Pass.

Bottom Line

Both services are excellent and cater to a specific type of player. If you want to play the latest games while saving money and enjoying an extra subscription, Game Pass is the best choice. On the other hand, if you only have a little time to play video games and focus instead on a selective, critically acclaimed group of games, then PlayStation Plus would suit you nicely.

Microsoft's service will save you money on subscriptions to the newest games and give you a better experience when streaming games and playing them on the device that suits you best, whether it be a TV, PC, or phone.

FAQ

How Do I Get Discounts on Subscriptions?

PlayStation Plus sometimes offers deals that allow you to save money and transition to another tier by paying a slight difference. Game Pass gives value through retailers at times as well.

Can I use Xbox Live Gold as a Game Pass Subscription?

Yes, you can; when you buy Live Gold and redeem it, there will be a deduction of days converted into Game Pass days. The conversion works as 3:2, making it $8 a month; however, Microsoft will be discontinuing Xbox Live Gold in September 2023.

Which is the better tier of PlayStation Plus?

The best tier for PlayStationPlus is Extra, which includes the library of PS4 and PS5 games while adding most bonuses such as store discounts and monthly titles. Premium is mainly for those looking to stream PS1 to PS3 games.