EA Announces Subscription Service for Xbox One ($5/Month or $30/Year)

[ethomaz]

Announcing EA Access for Xbox One: The Best Way to Play EA's Games

Today we're revealing a new way for gamers to play more EA games. This is something we've never done before and we're excited to share it with you.

We have partnered with Microsoft to deliver EA Access, an all-new monthly (or annual) membership for gamers exclusively on Xbox One that starts at just $4.99 a month. The service is being rolled out in beta to a limited number of players today, but it will launch for everyone on Xbox One soon. At EA, we are always looking for new ways to make it easier for gamers to play more EA games across all platforms, and we are excited about what EA Access will offer to players on Xbox One.

EA Access membership unlocks The Vault, a collection of EA's biggest games on Xbox One ready for you to download and play.  During the beta, gamers will have unlimited access to four great EA games: FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2 and Battlefield 4™, with more titles being added soon. That's over $100 worth of games for $4.99 a month. You can play these EA favorites as much as you want with the click of a button.

EA Access is a totally new way for you to play more of the games you love, for less. Here's a rundown of the additional benefits EA Access members will get:

• Awesome Value- Besides the great games in The Vault, EA Access members will save 10% on purchases of EA digital content for Xbox One offered through the Xbox Games Store. From full digital-download titles like the upcoming Dragon Age™ Inquisition or NHL®15, to additional membership services such as Battlefield 4 Premium or even FIFA Ultimate Team points, it's all 10% off for members.*


• Play First - Membership in EA Access lets you experience trials of new EA games up to five days before the release date.*  It starts with Madden NFL 15, NHL 15, FIFA 15, NBA LIVE 15, and Dragon Age: Inquisition, but more are on the way. If you decide to buy the game, your progress will carry over so you can pick up right where you left off.

You can join EA Access for just $4.99 per month, or you can purchase an annual membership for $29.99 per year on Xbox LIVE®.

Soon, fans of GameStop will be able to purchase their EA Access membership in local retail stores. GameStop and Amazon will also carry EA Access memberships for Xbox One gamers across Europe, as well as EB Games in Canada.

Excited to check it out? EA Access will launch on Xbox One soon. You will find more information on the program at the EA Access website. Be sure to follow EA Access on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Stay tuned!

http://www.ea.com/news/ea-announces-ea-access-on-xbox-one

[7H3]

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, i guess...? its like PS+ but with worse games?

[Legend]

The "netflix" of games is right around the corner. I don't like this EA offer though since it's exclusive to ea games. Good price but I don't want to manage multiple subscriptions per console.

[ethomaz]

The "netflix" of games is right around the corner. I don't like this EA offer though since it's exclusive to ea games. Good price but I don't want to manage multiple subscriptions per console.

I guess the "netflix" of games is PS Now?

About the second part I guess that is why it is just for Xbox One... on PS4 you have Plus that give you more than what EA is trying to do (even some EA games are free in Plus).

[Mmm_fish_tacos]

Yeah, this seem like it will DOA.

[darkknightkryta]

Seems like EA planned a whole thing with Microsoft with the DRM and crud.  "Can't buy used or get rid of your used games?  Well fret not!  With this EA subscription you don't have to worry about used games at all!  And look with the 100% market share that the Xbox One has you have to do this, since you LOVE Xbox and always on line!"  I seriously wonder how these execs have million dollar jobs...

[7H3]

Well for those that like sports games it would be great. I so winner I'd you could sub for 5 and save 10 for an ea game though

[ethomaz]

Ohhhhh EA tried to put EA Access on PS4.

Sony's response to EA Access Subscription plan

"We evaluated the EA Access subscription offering and decided that it does not bring the kind of value PlayStation customers have come to expect," a Sony representative told us via email. "PlayStation Plus memberships are up more than 200% since the launch of PlayStation 4, which shows that gamers are looking for memberships that offer a multitude of services, across various devices, for one low price. We don't think asking our fans to pay an additional $5 a month for this EA-specific program represents good value to the PlayStation gamer."

Our Take
While EA Access might not be coming to PS4, I wouldn't necessarily count out the publisher's games in PS Plus. There is still value for EA there, especially as those free-with-membership games have great potential to move the needle for DLC that has long since dropped down the sales chart.

This also doesn't mean that Sony can't change its mind later. If demand is great enough and value increases, EA Access could migrate over down the road. For now though, this is a clear statement that PS4 players shouldn't hold their breath for the program.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/07/30/sony-ea-access-doesn_2700_t-represent-good-value-to-the-playstation-gamer.aspx

[7H3]

Ohhhhh EA tried to put EA Access on PS4.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/07/30/sony-ea-access-doesn_2700_t-represent-good-value-to-the-playstation-gamer.aspx

the way the information was first presented it seemed to imply that the deal was always intended to be exclusive to xbox one.... guess that sounds a lot better than Sony turned us down.
I do wonder who would buy EA access on ps4 instead of ps+ if it allowed them to play ea games online...
I don't know of any upcoming EA games I'm currently interested in right now... new mass effect I will probably buy though

[Raven]

For someone like me, EA Access isn't even worth it. About half of EA's games are sports titles which don't interest me in the slightest. The only games coming out that I'm aware of within the next two years that I would want from them are Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mass Effect 4, Star Wars Battlefront, and a non-cops and robbers Battlefield title. So going with the discount if I bought those digitally... I would be spending $60 to save $24. I seriously doubt the 10% savings on DLC would be enough to make up the other $36 in that timeframe. Even if it did, hurray. I spent 60 dollars to save 60 dollars.

I'm not so hard up to play EA titles that I would essentially pay extra to get a few days early access which I then lose when the game releases unless I buy it. The EA Vault thing is also something that I'm not impressed with. If I don't own a game within the time it takes for it to go from new to a freebie, 9 times out of 10 it means I wasn't that interested in it in the first place. Not to mention, PS+ gives us EA titles from time to time anyways. I'm not paying 80 dollars a year to see what old games they give us. Because that's something a lot of people seem to be missing. You have to pay for EA Access on top of your current subscription service. No thanks.

[Dr. Pezus]

^This man needs FIFA

[Raven]

^This man needs FIFA

fudge that sport.

[7H3]

forbes "Sony was right to turn down EA subscription"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/07/30/sony-was-right-to-turn-down-eas-video-game-subscription-plan/

[ethomaz]

forbes "Sony was right to turn down EA subscription"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/07/30/sony-was-right-to-turn-down-eas-video-game-subscription-plan/

He pointed that all the plan issues and management is made by MS (or Sony) and not EA... Sony already have Plus so why they will have more trouble with another plan from a third-party.

I agree with the article.

PS. I shared the article on GAF

[ethomaz]

http://www.reddit.com/r/xboxone/comments/2c8kbk/number_crunching_xbl_gold_ea_access/

Pricing:
----======----
XBL Gold 1-year: $59.99
EA Access 1-year: $29.99
Total Cost: $89.98 before taxes (lets just round to 90 bucks)

----======----
Benefits:
----======----

Xbox Live Gold:

48 Free Games per year (24 for X360, 24 for XB1), with possibilities of additional freebies periodically. (note: 48 may not be entirely accurate, as the 2 game per month trend on XB1 isn't set in stone as far as I can tell. Let's run with this assumption anyway.)
Access to Online Multiplayer
Exclusive Discounts with Deals with Gold (percentages vary)
Parties and Party Chat
Smart Match
Home Gold
Game DVR Cloud Storage
Upload Studio
Xbox Fitness

Perceived Value: Varies based on retail price of free games and services at time of availability. Let's assume that every game given out free averages to around $10.00 if purchased individually via the XBL Digital Market (seems about right looking at recent freebies). $10.00 x 48 = $480.00

----======----
EA Access:

Access to "Vault" Games For free as long as subscription is current. (prices listed reflect current XBL digital marketplace prices)
Battlefield 4: $59.99
Madden 25: $59.99
Fifa 14: $59.99
Peggle 2: $11.99
Additional benefits:
10% Discount to new games and DLC via digital download
Early Access to EA Releases by 1 Week
Try-it Before you Buy-It Service for EA Releases
Additional perks as ecosystem evolves

Perceived Value: Based purely on Vault games due to listed price being constant, and assuming all four games are utilized by the subscriber: ($60 x 3) + $12 = $192.00

----======----
Totals, provided the subscriber utilizes all features/freebies:
----======----

Overall Price: $90
Overall Value $192.00 + $480.00 = $672.00

They used full prices for the estimate... that is the bad part.