'EA Access' subscription on Xbox One brings all-you-can-eat gaming for $5 per month


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It appears EA and Microsoft have been paying attention to Netflix and PlayStation Now, and are combining to offer a different subscription service for gamers. The EA Access pass is available (currently in beta) for $5 per month or $30 per year and gives subscribers unlimited access to a "Vault" of games. Right now that list covers FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2 and Battlefield 4, with the promise of more titles soon.

Not enticed by the promise of last year's games and 10 percent discounts on EA games, DLC, and in-game currency? They're also adding in early access trials for this year's round of EA sports games (Madden, NHL, NBA Live, FIFA) and Dragon Age: Inquisition that open up five days before the games go on sale and let your progress carry over to the retail version. EA Access passes will be sold in GameStop stores soon, EB Games in Canada, and online for European gamers via GameStop and Amazon. You can hit the website for details, and EA says it will become available for everyone on Xbox One "soon." So, on a scale from Horse Armor DLC to Sim City 4, how excited is everyone about this?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/29/ea-access-subscription-gaming-xbox-one/

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This could be good, if you real lit do get unlimited access and can switch back and forth between games without having to forfeit progress on an old game to gain access to a new game.

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Hopefully such service will hit Steam some day. I'd use it, with the right selection of games.

 

edit: You know what? I'd use it even if it would hit Origin first. There are some good games over there, too.

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In time this will be a killer sub :yes:

Probably hike the price or have tiers: sports only, everything, etc. It is EA. Not hating on them for making money, it's their job, just could see it happening.
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Not EA specific...

 

What will happen to small developers then? Will they get the same share as if they were big ones? How will 1000 copies of $10 game compare to 500 copies of $20 game in this sub model?

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Probably hike the price or have tiers: sports only, everything, etc. It is EA. Not hating on them for making money, it's their job, just could see it happening.

 

If not that I can see them limiting to only games released the current year. That's still pretty good when a lot of their big games are annual releases though.

 

But again, it's like GwG or PS+, you never really own your games anymore.

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I just received an email from Microsoft..

It says because I'm in the preview program I will get early access to check this out...

There should be a message with a redemption code coming to me soon..,

Edit: games by EA haven't been that good in awhile... That's the only drawback...

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I just downloaded the hub now...

There is 3-subscription models to chose from.

12 Month Sub... $29.99

One Month Sub.., $4.99

Use a code (which will more than likely be on retail shelves in the fall/holiday season)

Going to give the One Month a try. I'll be the test subject on this one. :-)

Edit: WARNING!!!! This membership auto renews unless you cancel at Xbox.com/accounts

Once signed up you are brought to what seems like a EA only version of the Xbox Store.

It's very watered down in appearance. Which is to be expected considering this is new and all.

I go to BF4 and Madden NFL25 and sure enough there is no currency price next to the titles only install.

Go look at UFC and sure enough there is 10% off the price (which only equates to $6.00 though)

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I signed up for the year.  $30 bucks and there are 3 games I'd try: Battlefield, FIFA and Madden.  Plus more will come out.  I figure at $30 I'm still ahead.

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Also got in and downloaded it thanks to the Preview Program.

I will probably do the year subscription once I am ready to play one of the games in The Vault. I have been wanting to play Peggle 2 forever now so it is tempting, but really I can just purchase it for the $13 it costs.

Honestly to make it a very good deal they need better games in The Vault itself. If it stays those 4 games, it is not the best of deals unless somehow the end user has never played BF4. I am not a big sports game player so I am not really interested in Fifa or Madden. As it stands right now this is a service that would benefit hardcore EA game players and not much else. That is why I am hesitant and may hold off to see what else comes to The Vault first.

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So after redeeming the code how can I start the sub

The first time you open the hub it asks you to sign up or continue.

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And where is the hub located :)

Oops... I used it once when I downloaded it and now it's in my "last programs" list...  so I'm not sure if it's in games or apps.  

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Oh ok thanks maybe someone else would be able to help. BTW I am in Canada

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Installed and Al the for games queued. Got the subscription for a year. At 29.99 it, IMHO, is a no brainer

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If they start adding games like Dragon Age to the vault, then count me in.  $30 a year is a great deal.

 

I do happen to play sports games, but got tired of paying $60 a year a while ago, so if I can get access to the latest versions of Madden, FIFA, etc, each year, then this is an awesome deal.

 

I wonder if MS is using this partnership as a test case as they work on a more universal system that works with any publisher and not just EA. I also wonder if this is part of the remnants of MS' original plans for the X1.  I kind of doubt they just threw together this plan with EA over the last few weeks. 

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