PlayStation Plus is finally bringing it to Xbox Game Pass. Starting Thursday, Sony’s game subscription service has turned into a three-headed dragon, purpose-built to take on giant Microsoft. While PS Plus may have more members — 47 million, up from 25 million — Game Pass has established itself as the leading offering over the past couple of years. That’s thanks to Microsoft dropping billions to give Xbox, PC, and mobile gamers access to early releases, a stunning back catalog that’s constantly updated, and a service that adapts to how you play. Ultimately, Sony realized that it had to respond to Game Pass in one way or another. And now it has.

Now that Sony and Microsoft are on equal footing, which one is doing better with their video game subscriptions? That’s what we’re going to dive into here, comparing all three PS Plus plans (Essential, Extra, and Deluxe) to the three Xbox offerings (Live Gold, Game Pass, and Game Pass Ultimate). Keep in mind that it’s not always apples to apples due to Sony and Microsoft’s approach. But what’s certain is that the Sony-Microsoft gaming duopoly—Nintendo actually operates in its own world—has only been strengthened further by these subscriptions. Xbox and PlayStation have already divided the hardware world between them, and now they’re going one step further.

PlayStation Plus Deluxe vs Extra vs Essential: Which is the best in India?

If you want more from this massive discussion, tune in to our podcast below. And if you’re just here for PlayStation Plus vs. Xbox Game Pass, then keep reading.

PS Plus Essential vs Xbox Live Gold: The pros

The recently rebranded entry-level PlayStation Plus still doesn’t compete with Xbox Game Pass. Instead, its direct competition is another Microsoft subscription, Xbox Live Gold. Let me explain.

First, you need PS Plus Essential and Xbox Live Gold to be able to play online multiplayer games on Sony and Microsoft consoles respectively.

In addition, they both offer two or more free games every month. While Sony offers two PS4 games and one PS5 game, Microsoft sticks to the Xbox One and Xbox 360 eras.

Having a basic subscription also gives you extra discounts — usually around 10 percent — during PlayStation and Xbox digital sales.

Although PS Plus Essential has a few benefits that Xbox Live Gold can’t match. You get bonus exclusive content in your PlayStation games. On Xbox, you need Xbox Game Pass for this.

And second, you get access to the PlayStation Plus Collection, a catalog of two dozen PS4 hits — from Bloodborne to Battlefield 1 — only available on PS5.

However, Sony is blocking free cloud storage for your PS4 and PS5 subscription games. Microsoft doesn’t skimp on cloud storage, offering it to everyone, even if you don’t subscribe.

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

Batman: Arkham Knight is part of the PS Plus collection

Photo: Warner Bros./Rocksteady Studios

PS Plus Essential vs Xbox Live Gold: Price in India

While it may have a new name, PS Plus Essential retains the old price tag of Rs. 499 per month 1199 quarterly and Rs. 2999 per year.

Meanwhile, Xbox Live Gold costs Rs. 349 per month, Rs.749 quarterly and Rs. 1999 per year.

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

Additionally, Sony used to discount PS Plus at least twice a year — usually by 25 percent. We’ll have to see if that continues with PS Plus Essential.

I’m going to announce this round for Sony.

The first new PlayStation Plus tier to really take on Xbox Game Pass is Extra, the middle grid in Sony’s three new tiers. Although, as you will see, it is still not accurate.

Sony’s game catalog – as it’s called – offers more than 300 games for PS4 and PS5, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Control, Marvel’s Spider-Man and Returnal. Some titles are provided by Ubisoft+ Classics, a subset of Ubisoft+.

Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass offers more than 400 games for Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Xbox. Here are the best.

In addition, Game Pass also offers several day one releases, including everything from Xbox Game Studios — from Halo Infinite to Forza Horizon 5 — in addition to third-party games.

Forza Horizon 5 was a day one release on Xbox Game Pass

Photo: Xbox/Playground Games

Sony has said that the new PS Plus will not use this approach in its games. The most recent first-party games on the service are remasters/updated editions (Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Death Stranding Director’s Cut), and the latest new game is Returnal from April 2021.

However, other game developers will be given the option. For example, Stray, an upcoming cyberpunk cat game, will launch on day one on PS Plus Extra and higher.

And as you can see, Sony doesn’t offer classic games—those from beyond the PS4 era—on PS Plus Extra. This makes Xbox Game Pass a better option for some.

Sony has priced PlayStation Plus Extra at Rs. 749 per month, Rs.1999 for three months and Rs. 4999 in one year.

It’s in high demand in India, especially considering that Microsoft has decided to drop Game Pass prices in early 2022.

Xbox Game Pass now starts at Rs. 349 per month, Rs.1049 for three months and Rs. 2099 for six months.

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

There are no online games with Xbox Game Pass, but PS Plus Extra doesn’t offer classic games.

PS Plus has Ubisoft+ Classics, while Game Pass has very few Ubisoft games like Far Cry 5 and Assassin’s Creed Origins.

But the biggest difference is that Game Pass has a lot of day one releases.

With a lower price, a larger catalog, and better benefits, Microsoft easily takes this round.

If online gaming isn’t your priority, then this round belongs to Sony.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is available in the PS Plus game catalog

Photo: Ubisoft Montreal

PS Plus Deluxe/Premium vs Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: The Benefits

Now the best of the best remains. PlayStation Plus Premium offers the best level of competition with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. But the advantages here are not available all over the world.

If you want to stream games over the cloud, you’ll need PS Plus Premium or Game Pass Ultimate.

Premium includes all games available for PlayStation Now — this separate subscription is now bundled with PS Plus — including PS3 games that are only available via cloud streaming.

Xbox Cloud Gaming—that’s what it’s called—is only available with Game Pass Ultimate, unless you’re into free-to-play games like Fortnite that are available to everyone. The Xbox Cloud Gaming catalog is a smaller version of the Game Pass catalog.

While PS Plus Premium supports streaming on PC and PS5, Xbox Cloud Gaming works on PC, Xbox and mobile devices.

But cloud gaming is not available in India and other countries. Sony has also come up with another name for the service — it’s called PlayStation Plus Deluxe. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate keeps the same name.

PS Plus Deluxe/Premium has two more advantages. A classic catalog of over 80 games from the PS1, PS2 and PSP eras. As well as a selection of trial versions of games – lasting from 1 to 3 hours – for the likes of Horizon Forbidden West, Cyberpunk 2077 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderland.

Meanwhile, Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to four additional benefits. The biggest of these is access to all of EA Play, which gives you hundreds more games, a 10-hour trial of the latest games, and a 10 percent discount on all EA game purchases.

FIFA 22 is available with EA Play, part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Photo: EA Sports

Second, Xbox Live Gold is included with Game Pass Ultimate, which gives you access to online multiplayer and more that I mentioned at the beginning.

Third, Microsoft also includes PC Game Pass with Game Pass Ultimate, which means you also get access to hundreds of Game Pass games on your gaming PC.

And finally, Game Pass Ultimate offers freebies and exclusive discounts from time to time, whether it’s limited Disney+ / Discord subscriptions or bonus game content and add-ons.

PS Plus Deluxe vs Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: Price in India

PlayStation Plus Deluxe — the highest tier — costs Rs. 849 per month, Rs.2,299 for three months and Rs. 5,749 annually.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate meanwhile costs Rs. 499 per month, Rs.1499 for three months, Rs.2999 for six months, Rs.5999 annually and Rs. 11,999 for two years.

As you can see, while Game Pass Ultimate is much cheaper than PS Plus Deluxe on a monthly basis, PS Plus Deluxe is slightly cheaper if you opt for a full year subscription.

Of course, if you go the open secret route — accumulating 36 months of Xbox Live Gold and converting it to Game Pass Ultimate — then Microsoft’s subscription will be much cheaper.

In terms of benefits, Sony has nothing to offer against EA Play and PC Game Pass. Ubisoft+ Classics – available on PS Plus Extra and Deluxe/Premium – is unmatched.

And while Deluxe/Premium might put Sony on par with the classic Game Pass Ultimate offerings, nothing beats Microsoft’s all-day releases.

Game Pass Ultimate is the winner for me, especially if you go the open secret route. Especially if you have a PC and an Xbox.