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Sony not impressed by EA Access

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EAunimpressed

EA’s got that fancy new subscription service coming to the Xbox One, that’ll allow gamers on that console discounts on games, free catalogue titles, and pre-release access to game trials up to five days in advance provided they’re active subscribers. It’s in a many ways a little similar to PlayStation Plus. Sony’s not impressed.

“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 GameInformer when quizzed about the service.

“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.”

The service is in beta right now, and the very first games that subscribers will be able to get as an added bonus for their annual $30 subscriptions are FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2, and Battlefield 4. That’s not bad, and coupled with Xbox Live, it means Xbox One gamers will always have plenty to play.

What do you think? Is it sour grapes from Sony, or is EA Access a bad value proposition?

Last Updated: July 30, 2014

31 Comments

  1. Sir Rants A Lot Llew

    July 30, 2014 at 15:32

    I wouldn’t say it’s sour grapes. i just don’t think the 2 systems would gel well.

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      July 30, 2014 at 16:37

      Agreed. I find FIFA’s online performance to be erratic on PSN whereas it’s buttery smooth on XBL.

      Reply

  2. Kromas

    July 30, 2014 at 15:34

    Don’t care. The next article I see with EA in it must have the words “Dragon Age”,”Zero Bugs” and “released early” in it.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      July 30, 2014 at 15:37

      Dragon Age was released early without testing to ensure it has zero bugs?

      Reply

      • Kromas

        July 30, 2014 at 15:38

        Go away … you have no power over me!

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          July 30, 2014 at 15:39

          Reply

          • Kromas

            July 30, 2014 at 15:42

            Ohh yay I win!

      • Rince&pop

        July 30, 2014 at 15:38

        Oh snap.

        Reply

    • Mossel

      July 30, 2014 at 15:48

      Dragon Age not released early and also a small chance of zero bugs.

      Reply

  3. Jaded_Reprobate

    July 30, 2014 at 15:37

    “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”

    Wrong Sony, being forced to have PS plus membership if you want to play multiplayer games online is the real reason PS plus memberships are up 200%… CHOPS

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      July 30, 2014 at 15:49

      Agreed,but the games will come for the PS4 and online is becoming a necessity especially since Destiny is around the corner

      Reply

      • Brian Murphy

        July 30, 2014 at 16:03

        Should’ve just allowed players to rent servers, it’s cheaper on the end-user and gets them to hype games and hardware for you (so they can have more players contributing to server rent).

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          July 30, 2014 at 16:12

          Best idea ever!

          Reply

          • Brian Murphy

            July 30, 2014 at 16:19

            Yep, and it puts the onus (and ability) of policing servers on you and your friends, however, it also provides you with admin control so getting rid of shitty people is easy.

            But you’d also have full server control as well, maps, matches, teams etc, which is the first step towards mods on console. 😉

    • SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI 4

      July 30, 2014 at 15:49

      Very true

      Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      July 30, 2014 at 16:38

      But PS+ and PSN is teh bestest in da world…

      …says every PS Diva.

      Reply

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    July 30, 2014 at 15:38

    Well what’s next? An Xbone Ubisoft subscription service, and then another publisher jumps on the bandwagon?

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      July 30, 2014 at 16:25

      That’s my worry, at least I don’t have to worry about this on ps4.

      Reply

    • CAE9872

      July 30, 2014 at 19:48

      This is my concern – if every publisher now starts cozing up to a console maker! That is potentially dangerous territory for gamers!

      Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    July 30, 2014 at 15:48

    EA can GTFO at the moment. It would have been totally worth it though if it was part of XBOX live and if you didn’t need to pay extra. I mean EA would make money back on the DLC not included. But I guess they need their pound of flesh.

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      July 30, 2014 at 16:23

      Aye, only way to stop these greedy bastards is not to support them. #secondhandonly

      Reply

  6. SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI 4

    July 30, 2014 at 15:49

    Nope, its not sour grapes….When compared to PS+ , EA Access doesn’t do much at all for Sony….Sony after all gives us tons of FREE games

    Reply

  7. Brian Murphy

    July 30, 2014 at 16:00

    Who knows, maybe Sony and Steam drop a megaton at Gamescom and they’re bringing the full-fledged steam app as a console exclusive for the PS4. 😉

    I’m curious as to the specifics of this though, it’s in beta now which means it’ll change over time. But, I want to know in detail the entire setup. There seems to be at least some value here, but you have to expect that EA pitched it to Sony also…anyway, will have to keep my eye as this goes forward. But, all that aside, I still hate Origin.

    Reply

  8. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    July 30, 2014 at 16:21

    Let me be honest, I don’t trust EA. When I read about the subscription plan, I initially thought it would be a decent deal, but then it dawned on me, what if more publishers went this route? I’m glad that sony basically said, no not on my system, and I respect that.

    Also, this is EA…. And Microsoft. Wallets will be bled dry, and Vaseline will be in short supply.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      July 30, 2014 at 16:25

      Hahahaha

      Reply

    • Sith JJ

      July 30, 2014 at 16:38

      I’m surprised EA didn’t try to publish the new THIEF actually. Would’ve made marketing it much easier, seeing as people already know that they are skilled in this particular field.

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        July 31, 2014 at 06:44

        The thing is, all of this has the potential to spiral out of control. Horse armour is the best example of this. It started off as an innocent optional add-on, and now we have games gutted of content, with that very content resold to us as dlc.

        I think this subscription plan actually follows what EA and Microsoft had planned all along through the DRMbox– although this time served in a more appetising and seemingly benign wrapper. There’s more to this though (I want to see the fine print), and it’s purpose is to suck our wallets dry.

        Reply

        • Sith JJ

          July 31, 2014 at 08:20

          They’ve long lost track of where they want to go as a company. They keep saying THIS is the future, but people are kicking against it. That should tell them enough. Just because the big and grand EA thinks something is the future doesn’t mean the consumers think the same. Gamers aren’t complicated people, we want good games that we don’t have to jump through hoops to play and we’re willing to pay what it’s worth.

          Reply

  9. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    July 30, 2014 at 16:31

    Shots have been fired. EA hanging onto its Microsoft money hat.

    Reply

  10. Jack

    August 3, 2014 at 01:17

    So Sony ponies say this is a bad deal… Lol but sony renting you games for $1 an hour is???? Sony is not for the gamer this is hilarious and their subscription percentage is up because they are charging you to play.

    Reply

  11. Tulipdame

    August 5, 2014 at 12:42

    I think its a great offering and I hope Ubisoft and Activision join in on such services. I’d rather pay R50 a month for a bunch of free games, than pay R300+ for each. Since I joined XBLG, my buying tendencies have decreased marginally and I will gladly add such a service as it just feels worth it. Even if thr games are older.

    Reply

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