PlayStation Plus vs Xbox Game : Price, Games, Benefits, and the Rest Compared 2i5q35

PlayStation Plus is finally taking it to Xbox Game . Starting Thursday, Sony's game subscription service has morphed into a three-headed dragon, one that's designed explicitly to take on Microsoft's behemoth. While PS Plus might count more — 47 million over 25 million — Game has established itself as the premier offering over the past couple of years. That is thanks to Microsoft sinking billions to give Xbox, PC, and mobile gamers access to day-one releases, a terrific back catalogue that's continually updated, and a service that adapts to the way you play. Ultimately, Sony knew it had to respond to Game in one way or another. And now it has. 6t253j

Now that Nintendo operates in its own world, really — has only been further cemented with these subscriptions. Xbox and PlayStation had already carved the hardware world between themselves, and now they are going further.

PlayStation Plus Deluxe vs Extra vs Essential: What's Best in India?

If you want more of that bigger debate, tune into our podcast below. And if you're just here for PlayStation Plus vs Xbox Game , then keep reading.

PS Plus Essential vs Xbox Live Gold: benefits r6x59

The newly-rebranded base tier of PlayStation Plus still doesn't compete with Xbox Game . Instead, its direct competition is Microsoft's other subscription, Xbox Live Gold. Allow me to explain.

For one, you need PS Plus Essential and Xbox Live Gold to be able to play online multiplayer titles on Sony and Microsoft's consoles, respectively.

Additionally, both of them offer two or more free games each month. While Sony offers two Xbox 360 era.

Having the base subscriptions also affords you extra discounts — usually around 10 percent — during PlayStation and Xbox digital sales.

PS Plus Essential has a couple of benefits that Xbox Live Gold cannot match though. You get bonus exclusive content in your PlayStation games. On Xbox, you need Xbox Game for this.

And secondly, you get access to the Battlefield 1 — available only on the PS5.

That said, Sony locks free cloud storage for your PS4 and PS5 game saves behind a subscription. Microsoft isn't stingy with cloud storage, offering it to all — even if you don't subscribe.

While Sony gives you 100GB of PS4 storage and 100GB of PS5 storage, Microsoft's policy is flexible: “Each game is provided storage. As your game library grows, so does your cloud storage.”

Batman: Arkham Knight is part of the PS Plus Collection
Photo Credit: Warner Bros./Rocksteady Studios

PS Plus Essential vs Xbox Live Gold: price in India 5i1m5x

Though it might have a new name, PS Plus Essential keeps the old pricing — Rs. 499 a month, Rs. 1,199 quarterly, and Rs. 2,999 a year.

Meanwhile, Xbox Live Gold comes in at Rs. 349 a month, Rs. 749 quarterly, and Rs. 1,999 a year.

The latter is cheaper, but PS Plus Essential tends to offer better free games. PS Plus Collection (on the PS5) is a bonus.

Also, Sony used to discount PS Plus at least twice a year — usually at 25 percent. We will need to see if that continues with PS Plus Essential.

I'm going to call this round for Sony.

PS Plus Extra vs Xbox Game : benefits 472y4u

The first new PlayStation Plus tier that actually puts up a fight with Xbox Game is Extra, the middle bracket in Sony's three new tiers. Though it's still not an exact one, as you'll see.

Sony's Game Catalogue — as it's called — offers over 300 PS4 and PS5 games, including the likes of Ubisoft+.

Meanwhile, Xbox Game offers over 400 Here are the best ones.

On top of that, Game also offers several day-one releases, including everything made by Xbox Game Studios — from Forza Horizon 5 — in addition to third-party titles.

Forza Horizon 5 was a day-one release on Xbox Game
Photo Credit: Xbox/Playground Games

Sony has said that the new PS Plus will not take this approach with its own games. The latest first-party games on the service are remasters / upgraded editions (Returnal from April 2021.

That said, other game developers will be given this opportunity. For instance, release day one on PS Plus Extra and higher tiers.

And as you can tell, Sony is not offering classic games — those from beyond the PS4 era — on PS Plus Extra. This makes Xbox Game a better option for some.

PS Plus Extra vs Xbox Game : price in India 4q4f17

Sony has priced PlayStation Plus Extra at Rs. 749 per month, Rs. 1,999 for three months, and Rs. 4,999 for one year.

That's asking a lot in India, especially given Microsoft opted to cut Game prices earlier in 2022.

Xbox Game now starts at Rs. 349 per month, Rs. 1,049 for three months, and Rs. 2,099 for six months.

There's no annual option, but even stacking two six-month Game subscriptions is cheaper, despite Sony offering 80 percent savings on the annual plan over the monthly variant.

There's no online gaming with Xbox Game , but PS Plus Extra doesn't offer classic games.

PS Plus does have Ubisoft+ Classics, while Game has very few Ubisoft titles such as Assassin's Creed Origins.

But the biggest difference is that Game has many day-one releases.

With a lower price, bigger catalogue, and better benefits, Microsoft easily takes this round.

Unless online gaming is a priority for you, in which case, this round is Sony's.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla available with PS Plus Game Catalogue
Photo Credit: Ubisoft Montréal

PS Plus Deluxe/ vs Xbox Game Ultimate: benefits 3t2u4y

What's left now is the best of the best. PlayStation Plus offers the best level of competition to Xbox Game Ultimate. But the benefits here are not available worldwide.

If you want to stream games over the cloud, then you will need either PS Plus or Game Ultimate.

features all available PS3 games that are only available via cloud streaming.

Fortnite which are open to all. The Xbox Cloud Gaming catalogue is a smaller version of the Game catalogue.

While PS Plus s streaming on PC and PS5, Xbox Cloud Gaming works on PC, Xbox, and mobile.

But cloud gaming is not available in India and elsewhere. Sony has come up with a different name for the service too — it's called PlayStation Plus Deluxe. Xbox Game Ultimate retains the same name.

PS Plus Deluxe/ have two more benefits to offer. A classic catalogue of more than 80 games from the Tiny Tina's Wonderlands.

Meanwhile, over in Game Ultimate, you've access to four more benefits. The biggest of them is access to all of EA Play, which gives you hundreds of more games, 10-hour trials for the newest titles, and 10 percent discount on all EA game purchases.

FIFA 22 available with EA Play, part of Xbox Game Ultimate
Photo Credit: EA Sports

Secondly, Xbox Live Gold is included in Game Ultimate, giving you access to online multiplayer and the rest I mentioned at the start.

Thirdly, Microsoft also includes PC Game in Game Ultimate, which means you get access to hundreds of Game titles on your gaming PC too.

And lastly, Game Ultimate offers free perks and exclusive discounts from time to time, be it limited Discord subscriptions, and bonus game content and add-ons.

PS Plus Deluxe vs Xbox Game Ultimate: price in India 262l23

PlayStation Plus Deluxe — the top tier — comes in at Rs. 849 per month, Rs. 2,299 for three months, and Rs. 5,749 annually.

Xbox Game Ultimate, meanwhile, is at Rs. 499 per month, Rs. 1,499 for three months, Rs. 2,999 for six months, Rs. 5,999 annually, and Rs. 11,999 for two years.

As you can see, while Game Ultimate is a lot cheaper than PS Plus Deluxe on a monthly basis, PS Plus Deluxe is marginally cheaper if you opt in for the full year.

Of course, if you opt for the open secret route — stacking 36 months of Xbox Live Gold, and converting it to Game Ultimate — then Microsoft's subscription is much cheaper.

In of benefits, Sony has nothing to offer to counter EA Play and PC Game . Ubisoft+ Classics — available on PS Plus Extra and Deluxe/ — is no match.

And while Deluxe/ may put Sony on par with Game Ultimate's classic offerings, there's still no beating Microsoft's whole day-one releases thing.

Game Ultimate is the winner for me, especially if you take the open secret route. Even more so if you've both PC and Xbox.