Streaming video games is becoming more of a reality than ever, with internet speeds and bandwidths increasing with every passing day and therefore, related issues becoming less of a concern. The Netflix model of service-subscription is growing in popularity in a very similar vein, and developers and publishers have certainly taken note and are pursuing the model, now more than ever.
However, with more players in the field comes more competition. While such a thing is ultimately best for the end-consumer, it can make siding up with one choice a daunting task, given how similarly priced most alternatives are. The two biggest players in the gaming subscription model right now seem to be Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now, and it'd be particularly interesting to pit them against each other to find out who is the superior of the two.
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While only a part of the equation, a product's face value is what leaves a first, and at times, the longest impression. PlayStation Now has a single-point subscription model, which allows its subscribers access to its library of content at a price point of $9.99 per month. Subscribers get access to over 800 games, spanning across Sony's previous generations of consoles, that are available either via cloud streaming or can be downloaded locally on a PS4 or a PS5.
Xbox Game Pass, on the other hand, has a few more options. Both Xbox Game Pass for PC and console cost $9.99 per month, while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate comes in at $14.99 per month. The base subscriptions give subscribers access to over 100 games on the platform of choice, and the promise of access to Microsoft's first-party content and select AAA releases on launch day. Subscribers of Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass PC get access to a select few perks, with EA Play and access to xCloud being standout highlights.
While a close call, PlayStation Now seems to be a marginally better option when it comes to the sheer number of experiences available.
This might be highly subjective to a player's taste, but Xbox Game Pass clearly has the lead when it comes to the quality of the content included in its catalog. While PlayStation may boast an enormous catalog of over 600 experiences, fans are not likely to find the latest and greatest AAA titles anytime around the release. However, fans who missed out on key exclusives such as Bloodborne and The Last of Us certainly have a lot to love.
Xbox Game Pass might have marginally less content available than its direct competitor, but it more than makes up for it with its quality. Xbox Game Pass includes almost every first-party release, which is always great, plus a select few high-value games such as the recently removed Red Dead Redemption 2. In addition to this, many games like Outriders and the upcoming MLB The Show 21 are debuting on the service at launch. Xbox's recent acquisition of ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company has also provided a much-appreciated boost to the service alongside the addition of EA Play and rumors regarding future Ubisoft+ inclusion.
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PlayStation Now is primarily a streaming service, while Xbox Game Pass is built around playing titles locally. Players on the lookout for a primarily streaming service would find that PlayStation Now might fare a bit better in most regard, as it allows subscribers to stream the full width of its catalog on any supported platform at a marginally lower cost.
As of the time of writing, PlayStation Now is a better choice if players would strictly like to stream their games.
Lastly, there's the element of future support and promise. Siding with a service, preferably for a long time, requires a hard look at what the service is striving for in its future. As it stands, Xbox Game Pass is currently being aggressively marketed as a quintessential part of the Xbox experience to a point where most fans are tempted to buy a console strictly for reaping the benefits of the service.
On the other hand, PlayStation Now receives little fanfare nowadays and doesn't seem to show any signs of radical changes in the future. Many first-party games like Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part 2 are absent from the service and with no option to stream PS5 games using the service, it makes the prospect of currently investing in the service a tough pill to swallow. However, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan has stated that the service might see changes in the future, but there's no firm information of when and exactly what improvements fans can expect.
In conclusion, both services offer incredible value for the asking price and come with their own sets of pros and cons. Fans on the lookout for a subscription service strictly for streaming may be better off with PS Now, while those who wish to play games locally and would like to access as many AAA releases as possible, Xbox Game Pass might be the best bet for now.
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