There are currently two console-based services giving away free games every month. We often compare them to each other, and most people like to rant about Xbox Live and rave about PS Plus. Are they being unreasonable, or is there really a difference in value offered?
Push Square looked into the value and scoring of every game given away by PlayStation Plus in 2014. Looking at each month and comparing the North American and European games, the conclusion looked good. PS Plus gave away $1,349.29 and £960.64 worth of games in the two regions respectively. That’s a monthly average of $112.44/£81.72. Seeing as the annual subscription to the service costs $49.99/£39.99, it certainly pays for itself. Of course, not all games were stellar; there were some better or worse months. However, with an average Metacritic rating of 79/78 depending on the region, it is still a valuable proposition. The only other reason locally that we might use PS Plus is probably for the ability to play online multiplayer on the PS4. It’s not like we can use Share Play locally, but the games make it more than worth it.
So what about the other offering? Xbox Live’s Games with Gold program also gave away free games in 2014. Polygon decided to compare the two, although they point out an important caveat – PS Plus gives games away on more platforms thanks to the Vita, and Xbox only started to give away games for the Xbox One in June. However, in 2014, Xbox Live’s Games with Gold gave away $584.67 worth of games to consumers for an average of $48.72 worth of games each month. A year’s subscription costs $60, which means that players will make back their subscription fee in less than two months of free games.
This isn’t an exact science – both programs offer added services, many of which we can’t take advantage of in South Africa. However, looking purely at the games, we can see that PlayStation Plus does offer better value. Xbox have consistently said that they’re committed to this program and want to offer us better games, but we will need to keep waiting for that – I’ve yet to be blown away by the Games with Gold offering.
In the end, either program is excellent for people who can’t afford to buy the latest games each month. If you’re patient, most of the excellent games that you want to play will come to PS Plus; you may just need to be exceedingly patient to also get the games you want to play on Xbox as those titles seem to lag behind by a few extra years.
I never used to subscribe to PS Plus, but last year I saw real value in it before I got my PS4. After a couple months of subscription, I had a mini library of games for when I got the new console. It helped to keep the PS4 feeling worthwhile, even when I couldn’t afford to buy all the newest games for it. While I haven’t seen similar giveaways on the Xbox One, it certainly has the potential to add value for those who do the same thing – it’s a nice way to start your console’s life cycle with a much larger collection of games than you could afford to buy otherwise.
Last Updated: December 15, 2014
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 08:39
PS4 1/0 XBone
Admiral Chief BellatorMachina
December 15, 2014 at 08:41
PC………………………………….Fawr….XBone
Skyblue
December 16, 2014 at 12:07
It’s actually rather difficult for me to choose. I have found myself spending more time playing the PS4 releases but they are a timed release and Sony do take the game after a period of time (1 year I think) whereas MS let you keep it forever (not if Eksdom have anything to say about it). This alone makes the Gold offering far more appealing to me as a gamer/hoarder and also means that you are in fact purchasing the title versus renting it.
X360 and PS3 owners have had the better titles by a country mile but this is purely due to their huge libraries available for plundering and the Xbox offering has definitely improved over the last 12 months.
As gamer’s, it’s still win/win for us.
Mandom (Umar)
December 15, 2014 at 08:42
Not feeling my PS4 right now lol Only games REALLY keeping me hooked is FF XIV, Transistor and Mordor. Evil Within was amazeballs but after that most games feels flat now. This is probably due to the immense hype I had for Dragon Age and the game not living up to it in the least (for me in any case) FF XIV : ARR is really fun now though and really enjoying it! Looking forward to RE : reREmake and Dying Light next month.
GooseZA
December 15, 2014 at 09:22
*looks at avatar*
BARAKAMON! What a great little anime. Loved it.
Mandom (Umar)
December 15, 2014 at 09:58
HAHAHA!! Love Barakamon, Naru is my fav character this year.
bluegoon
December 15, 2014 at 08:44
Having picked up Metro Redux for R320, Peggle 2 for R50, and Plants vs Zombies for R100 odd, I feel that locally, Xbox offers the better value, PSN games go on sale with like R10 off it’s already ridiculously bloated prices.
So in terms of actual Value, from an SA perspective, I’d go with Xbox.
CAE9872
December 15, 2014 at 08:47
As a Box owner I disagree with your “R10 off” for PSN. PSN has very, very good sales – with extra 10% usually off is you Plus subscriber. Gold tends to keep its sales to Gold members only.
So as always, you cannot compare them as they just very different.
However all said – they both excellent services.
Mandom (Umar)
December 15, 2014 at 08:48
Look at this fence sitter. You’ve failed at the fanboi wars 😛
CAE9872
December 15, 2014 at 08:51
LOL that is true – I don’t get console wars and the “mine is better (bigger!) than yours.”
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 09:06
I just like to push them to see what will happen 🙂
CAE9872
December 15, 2014 at 08:51
Where were you on Saturday by the way?
Mandom (Umar)
December 15, 2014 at 08:52
Couldn’t make it 🙁 How was it though?
CAE9872
December 15, 2014 at 08:53
Was great actually – I got meet to meet a few fine folks although difficult to talk to all. I met Rince who is WAY shorter than I expected… 🙂
He will kill me when he reads this.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 15, 2014 at 08:59
What’s he going to do? Bite your shin?
CAE9872
December 15, 2014 at 09:00
Bwhahahahahahahaha…Ankle Biter Extra-Ordinaire…
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 09:00
Sies. You know he’ll reach the knee.
Quo Vadis?
December 15, 2014 at 09:02
Careful, tetanus and rabies and all those ugly bugs can be contracted from an anklebiter ;P
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 09:04
Rince is not going to happy when he arrives.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 15, 2014 at 09:05
Is anybody? 😀
Admiral Chief BellatorMachina
December 15, 2014 at 09:14
He is off for 3 weeks remember?
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 09:15
He always smells a bit off. So wasn’t sure which one he was talking about.
Admiral Chief BellatorMachina
December 15, 2014 at 09:18
Yes, its that 3 weeks decomposition smell, unique to him
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 15, 2014 at 09:19
That’s why we can say whatever we like. You just know he’s going to try rubbing that in.
Quo Vadis?
December 15, 2014 at 09:47
I’ll be wearing my motocross boots. I think I’m safe 😉
Mandom (Umar)
December 15, 2014 at 08:59
Nice! lol Will HOPEFULLY make it to the next one
CAE9872
December 15, 2014 at 09:01
You know we meet in the pub right and not the back alleys!
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 09:02
LOL
I forgot to check the alley.
Mandom (Umar)
December 15, 2014 at 09:03
I was waiting there the whole time for you guys 🙁
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 15, 2014 at 09:05
We know, we had you on the CCTV camera. Although we switched it off during the NSFW moments.
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 09:06
When was it NOT an NSFW moment with OVG near?
Mandom (Umar)
December 15, 2014 at 09:07
Remember when OvG went to the ‘toilet’ …. yeah well, we were out back playing a pink JRPG on our Vitas
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 09:08
I can actually believe that.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 15, 2014 at 09:12
Me too. I wonder if Vita is their secret code for nipples.
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 09:13
I think even OVG’s nipples are more popular than the Vita ;P
Mandom (Umar)
December 15, 2014 at 09:14
I saw the pic….I’m sorry bro
Mandom (Umar)
December 15, 2014 at 09:03
LOL …… Well then I doubt I’ll make it to the next one 🙁
Captain JJ glitterati fantasti
December 15, 2014 at 09:00
He will kill you yes.
Was good to finally meet you and Avo too.
Admiral Chief BellatorMachina
December 15, 2014 at 09:13
XD
bluegoon
December 15, 2014 at 10:29
For the year that I’ve owned a PS4, the prices on local PSN have been nothing but exorbitant. You’re probably thinking about the PS3, if not, some examples would be nice, because I don’t see it.
ReaperOfSquirrels
December 15, 2014 at 08:47
I haven’t had Xbox gold (Xbox 360) for 3 or 4 months now, I really don’t see the point of it at the moment because all I was using it for was GTA Online, I haven’t wanted any of the games either.
Besides that, the only reason my Xbox has been turned on recently is so my nephew can play Lego games.
Pieter Kruger
December 15, 2014 at 09:56
Well, seeing that I can also get access to EA Vault with Xbox Live, I think this should be taken into consideration. Taking the cost of both services as a % of the total value of the games at time of “free” release should show a better comparison? Now someone go do the math…….
FoxOneZA
December 15, 2014 at 11:19
Agreed, That was shockingly left out .
L337J1MB0B
December 15, 2014 at 15:56
Fine I’ll do the math for you: So you get access to EA Vault for an additional fee, effectively doubling the cost of your Xbox Live subscription… oh wait, moot point.
Abhinai Gandu
December 15, 2014 at 11:35
If you want a un interrupted online experience xbox live is the way to go
Even though it costs money it has better service and live will not go down unlike playstion plus.
Jonah Cash
December 15, 2014 at 12:50
I have been a playstation plus member for a year on the 17th…. My service has really not been down once… The hackers tend to take it down when America is awake, us saps who plays when America sleeps don’t get too much of the interruptions!! And I play every night for at least two hours, and I work from home so some days lunch includes a few deaths in Destiny…
Skyblue
December 16, 2014 at 12:11
I can’t agree with this. Sony’s online service was so bad when I purchased my PS4 it took hours just to import our PS3 profiles. The PS Store isn’t too bad and the matchplay seems to work most of the time but accessing your profile etc. is a pain in the ass.
Jonah Cash
December 19, 2014 at 10:01
I have had really no issues at all!! Must just be lucky then!!
Anthea Hercules
December 15, 2014 at 13:48
awesome article. i have a xbox but now i want a ps4
Brady miaau
December 16, 2014 at 20:44
Yip. But then I sometimes want a PS4/3 when I see which games they get for some months.
But very happy with Xbox One, it suits my needs.Media Centre / DVD player / Plays Dragon Age Inquisition. All good
Anthea Hercules
December 17, 2014 at 12:20
do you think the xbone slim will release in 2016?