The video game industry is changing. It’s becoming more affordable now to pay subscriptions to your favorite publishers and play their entire library of games. In this article, we take a look at the best Windows 10 video game subscription services and compare them against each other.
We’ll start with Xbox Games Pass, then look at other options, including EA Access and Origin Access, later in the article.
Table of Contents
Xbox Games Pass
Application fee: $9.99/month
Free trial period: $1 for the first month
Synchronize with console?: Yes, Xbox One only
Xbox has been pushing to make Windows 10 part of their gaming ecosystem, and that means great things for Xbox players. Each month, Xbox adds new games to their Xbox Games Pass, many of which are available on PC.
And, if a game is an Xbox One and Windows 10 exclusive, it’s likely to be included in the Games Pass on day one of release. For example, Sea of Thieves has been available since day one, Crackdown 3 and Halo Infinite will also be available.
The game selection isn’t as large as some other subscription services, but you get the added bonus of being able to play all the games between your Xbox One and your PC for the same price. And, with Xbox Play Anywhere, you can easily sync your progress in games between both platforms.
There is no free trial, but you can get the first month for as little as $1. Subsequent months will cost $9.99. Currently, some of the biggest titles include ARK: Survival Evolved, Sea of Thieves, Gears of War 4, and Halo Wars 2.
Discord Nitro
Application fee: $9.99/month
Free trial period: There is no free trial
Synchronize with console?: No
In an attempt to branch out and compete with game launchers like Steam and the Epic Games Store, Discord now allows players to purchase games from within their own chat app. Discord Nitro, a monthly subscription service, now also gives you access to a variety of games for free.
The game listing doesn’t include major blockbuster titles, like the other options in this article, but you’ll get a larger selection of games from smaller indie companies and some older titles as well. . If spoofs, 8-bit games, strategy games, and older action titles like Darksiders excite you, Discord Nitro might be the best choice for you.
As Discord Nitro continues to grow, I’m sure we’ll see more support for more game genres. There’s no free trial with Discord Nitro, but their $9.99 monthly subscription or $99.99 annual plan is competitive.
Discord Nitro is also PC-exclusive, which means you can’t play any of the games offered here on Xbox or PS4 for free.
EA Access and Origin Access
Application fee: $4.99/month or $19.99/month
Free trial period: No
Synchronize with console?: No
EA Access is the subscription service for Xbox One and Origin Access is the PC version. Unlike Xbox Game Pass, you’re essentially forced to pay for both subscription services to access games on both platforms. EA Access has a $4.99/month or $29.99/year subscription that lets you play older games like Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2 for free.
You can also play EA Sports games and try new games like Anthem for 10 hours. 10% off EA games and add-ons are also available.
Origin Access is for EA’s PC-only client, which means it has more features for those on the platform. Basically, there’s a two-tier subscription system, one of which is similar to EA Access and the other offers full game access.
First, let’s start with the cheaper price. For $4.99/month or $29.99/year, you can get the same 10-hour trial on all new games. You also get 10% off any purchases you make on games, add-ons, or microtransactions. You also get early access to upcoming games and still have full access to older titles.
If you pay for the second tier, called Origin Access Premier, you get all of these features, as well as full unlimited access on all new releases, including games. like Anthem. This also includes early access. The 10% discount on Origin purchases still applies, and you can often get exclusive extras, such as free cosmetics and small DLC packs.
Origin Access Premier costs more at $14.99 per month, but at $99.99 per year it essentially works as cheap as Discord Nitro and Xbox Games Pass. There is no free trial for either of the available Origins Access classes or for the EA Access ticket on Xbox One.
Summary
Thank you for reading our guide to the best Windows 10 video game subscription services. Was this article helpful? Want to know anything else about these services? Leave your questions below and I will respond as soon as I can.
