PS Now vs Xbox Game Pass: What gaming subscription service will earn you your hard-earned dollars? We're juggling all sorts of subscription services these days: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and Spotify are all competing for your money, but this is becoming more and more the case with gaming. It should be remembered that neither platform fits well into a Netflix-style model, but considering
the popularity of Xbox Game Pass and the earnings that PlayStation Now has in mind, both are a more viable means that you never consume video games. If you can't justify owning both, it's worth knowing the differences between Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now.
So let's take a look at what each service is, how much it costs, and the strength of their respective game libraries.
Introducing Xbox Game Pass vs PS Now
PS Now vs Xbox Game Pass (Image credit: Sony)
Game Pass and PS Now are game subscription services that give you access to a library of hundreds of games for a monthly fee.. However, you only have these games while your subscription is active. But there are differences:
PS Now allows you to stream over 500 games to its library, as well as the option to download them to your PC or PS4 hard drive.. Following Sony's acquisition of cloud gaming company Gaikai in 2012 for €380 million, PS Now members can play titles on a remote server, if their internet speed is strong enough.
Sony recommends at least 5Mbps, but 10+ will be better for uninterrupted gameplay, and this can be higher for the most graphically intense experiences. However, while this saves hard drive space, irritating mid-game disconnections are possible. In all cases, an Ethernet connection is always preferable to wi-fi for a better quality stream. However, PS Now is available on PS4 and PC, making the platform the only way for mouse and keyboard devotees to play Sony exclusives like Bloodborne, The Last of Us, and Uncharted.
Game Pass only has the ability for members to download games to their PC or Xbox One, which requires hard drive space or SDD, and the time to download them. That being said, Microsoft's Quick Launch feature uses machine learning to download the essential parts of a game first. Even though Game Pass isn't a streaming service, Microsoft has you covered with Project xCloud,
there is no limit on the number of game downloads and you have access to it offline for 30 days max. Although Xbox 360 games are included, the service can only be used on an Xbox One, and it's on PC, but it's still in beta and with a smaller library.
PS Now vs Xbox Game Pass Awards
Xbox Game Pass (Image credit: Microsoft)
PlayStation Now can be purchased for longer periods at an increasingly attractive price, but the service is not currently available in Australia.
One month of PS Now is $9.99 / €8.99, recently reduced by $19.99 to match the price of one month of Game Pass in the US, and three months are $24.99 / €22.99 and one year is $59.99 / €49.99 . Now purchased 12 months at a time costs less than $5 per month.
There is also a free 7-day trial that can be canceled at any time., so it's worth stopping for a month if you end up with less time to play. However, Microsoft's service comes with a two-week free trial and often Xbox Game Pass deals, like €1 for the first month. If you need to, here's how to cancel Xbox Game Pass, which you can also do at any time. Xbox Game Pass costs $9.99 / €7.99 / AU$10.95 per month on console, with access to the PC beta at the time of writing costing just $1 / €1 / AU$1 for the first three months, then $4.99 / €3.99 / AU$4.98 per month or $14.99 / €11.99 / AU$14.95 per quarter. Then this
the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is more expensive at $14.99 / €10.99 / AU$15.95 per month, but with it you get Game Pass, Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass for PC. Purchased separately, this is $30 (€23), ideal for PC and Xbox One owners.
Xbox Game Pass vs PS Now games
Xbox Game Pass vs PS Now
Xbox Game Pass exploded in popularity in 2019 with serious triple scalps A. Long-awaited games like The Outer Worlds have launched since day one on the platform, as well as Microsoft exclusives like Gears 5. Expect upcoming exclusives like Halo: Infinite to launch as well. In general,
there are about 200 Game Pass titles available at one time, and a smaller collection of 150 people on Game Pass for PC, with games coming and going every month. Keep an eye on the Game Pass tab on your console to see what games are leaving. You can also buy and keep Game Pass games with a 20% discount and 10% discount for the associated DLC.
There are more games on PS Now, but it's probably quantity rather than quality. Every month new titles from the PS2, PS3 and PS4 generations are added to your
650+ game library and include heavyweights like Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as Sony exclusives The Last of Us and Horizon: Zero Dawn. But unlike Game Pass, they tend not to show up on day one. That said, it's a great way to play older games without booting up an older console.
Xbox Game Pass vs PS Now verdict
In 2020, Xbox Game Pass is the most powerful service, but PS Now is gradually closing the gap. The key factor that evolves in favor of the Microsoft platform is the quality of its library and the speed with which it arrives. Of course, it depends on the company with the exclusives you prefer.
But PS Now is improving fast. Sony has expanded its library with stronger titles, it lowered the price and introduced downloads to complement its streaming options. However, as internet speeds improve, streaming will only become more viable. Either way,
Sony and Microsoft will surely invest heavily in their subscription offers. The green team will be looking to capitalize on their recent success and Sony will likely start rolling out their games on PS Now at launch if they hope to catch up with Google and even Amazon looking to claim their own slice of the video game pie.
the winner of the subscription battlefield may well decide the next-gen console war.