Best Value Gaming Subscription Revealed: Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch?
- Gaming subscriptions offer a cost-effective solution for those who don’t want to shell out on new games constantly
- However, picking the option which provides the best value for money can be difficult
- Members of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk assess which platforms offer the best variety and features
- They also decide which is best for individual gaming styles
New games are always coming out, which is exciting - but also a pain if you can’t afford to keep paying for them. Many of us may be on a budget, which will lead us to decide whether it’s more cost-effective to go for a gaming subscription. The answer will generally be yes - but which one will provide the most variety and entertainment value?
Tom Church, Co-Founder of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘Paying a monthly subscription for a games library can seem like an excellent deal, but if you want to receive the most features and new game releases, it’s worth taking the time to compare products and choose carefully.
‘What’s more, everyone’s gaming styles are different - some will prefer getting access to the newest games, others will like a laid-back session with classic titles and more still will have a preference for specific games they can easily spend hours on.
‘That’s why we’ve highlighted which of the platforms is best for these gamer styles - as well as which one gives the best value in terms of new games and bonus features. Read on to find out which subscription landed in first place - and which one is trailing behind.’
Gaming Style: Accessing New Releases
New Releases And Features: 1st Place
The first plus point about Xbox Game Pass is that you can try out this subscription for just £1 and see how many games you really end up playing. If you are playing multiple titles that would cost more to purchase individually outside of this plan, you’ll definitely be getting more bang for your buck by sticking with it. However, if you only tend to play a game or two after the novelty of downloading as many games as you like wears off, then it may be cheaper, in the long run, to buy the titles separately.
Xbox Game Pass is adored by members of the Latest Deals community: ‘It’s incredible value for money,’ said Kelly Harper. ‘My friend made a spreadsheet detailing the games he either tried or still plays regularly - he would have paid out over £350 to buy them over the course of a year.’ Lloyd Denham-Jones added: ‘I have had the Xbox Game Pass since buying an Xbox 18 months ago and I haven’t bought any physical games for it.’
The value of this subscription is clear to bargain hunters - Sarah Seatree commented: ‘[It’s great value due to] the number of games you get for free - the Forza games come free on there, which are retailed really expensive. Plus it’s brilliant if you have kids as there are loads of different free games for them to play.’ Savings can also be made if more than one person is involved. Billy Thomson said: ‘You can share [the subscription] between two consoles, which is handy if you have more than one kid with a console.’ Steve Ford added: ‘You can share your games with another Xbox account, which means one person pays, but both get to play.’
Gaming Style: Classic & Vintage Titles
New Releases And Features: 2nd Place
Like Xbox Game Pass, PS Now offers access to hundreds of games. The exact figures for both platforms aren’t easy to compare, as the numbers will undoubtedly change due to new arrivals or removals from the respective services. However, you will be able to get a year’s subscription for £49.99, which is the equivalent of just over £4 per month.
Before you take the plunge, though, it’s worth assessing the library. LatestDeals.co.uk members were not as impressed with what was on offer - Em Penver said: ‘I had a PlayStation Now subscription and I still ended up buying games for my console - the quality of games wasn’t amazing.’ Indeed, the platform has been criticised for having many older games from past generations of the console.
If you are a fan of classic games or you already have a PlayStation that you don’t want to sell or trade in, there’s no doubt that PlayStation Now can be great value depending on your circumstances. Abby Green-Coulton said: ‘I’ve got a PlayStation and a Nintendo Switch and I use my PlayStation for far more games.’ It’s a tough one - if you’re comparing the latest Xbox and Playstation models, they’re quite similar (except for the PS5’s radical controller redesign). But in terms of games, you’ll have to decide if you’re likely to actually use the games in the PS Now subscription or whether it’s better to make the occasional purchase of a newer title.
Best For: Fans Of Specific Games
New Releases And Features: 3rd Place
In many ways, the Switch is not the same as the PlayStation or Xbox console - it’s a handheld device and designed for lightweight, on-the-go gaming. However, its subscription, Nintendo Switch Online, offers access to well-known titles such as Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon. Plus, it has multiplayer features, like Xbox Game Pass - in fact, up to 8 people can play at once on compatible games.
Unfortunately, the Switch may not be the best choice if you’re looking for a range of popular new releases. It’s undoubtedly the cheapest of the three, at £3.49 a month. Plus, it offers a 7-day free trial so you can decide if you’ll make use of the library you unlock. However, it’s all relative - the Switch is a lightweight device, so you will arguably be playing lighter games that don’t offer the same substance as top releases from PlayStation and Xbox.
That could actually be a good thing, though - it will depend on your circumstances. If you are a dedicated gamer on one or two titles, this could be the perfect option. Abby Green-Coulton said: ‘I use my Switch mainly just for Pokemon and Animal Crossing.’ Likewise, Lloyd Denham-Jones uses his subscription for a specific title: ‘I have Switch Online as I play Pokemon a lot online.’ With the number of vintage titles available, it’s a close contender with the PlayStation Now service, offering those who used the GameBoy and Atari a trip down memory lane.
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Can't beat the Ultimate GamePass by Xbox.
And that's coming from someone who generally favors PlayStation and Nintendo over Xbox.
You can game on a PC and even a very low end PC will play all the games from about 2-3 years ago and before. It will also emulate many systems and Epic give free games weekly on their shop so you can build up a free game library. You have no subscription to pay its free for online and libraries like Steam, epic etc don't charge subscriptions.
Android has masses of great games many of which are free and a simple android box can play them on a tv and may only cost about £30. Again free for online functionality and no subscription.
Anything with a browser can play browser games.
You don't really have to pay anything to game, you probably have a device that can play lots of great games.