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Xbox Game Pass Vs PlayStation Plus (2023)

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2023 will see in yet another prosperous year for both Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, with a wide selection of games already stowed in the pipeline and ready to plant roots on either of the two. Question is, with both platforms harnessing an equal amount of traction and a booming user base, which of the two is the best value for money? Therein lies a question that many have been pondering ever since the two came to light, and to be honest, it's one that subscribers have yet to answer in full.

Granted, there isn't a bad thing you can say about either Game Pass or PlayStation Plus, mainly down to the fact that each platform provides a service—and an incredibly affordable one, no less. Case in point, with Game Pass coming in at $9.99 a month and PlayStation Plus Essential on an identical wavelength, it's downright impossible to argue the fact that either of the two aren't good value for money. That said, which of the two is better in terms of perks, exclusives, and discounts?

Ultimate or Premium?

There are two top-shelf tiers on both Game Pass and PlayStation Plus: Game Pass Ultimate, and PlayStation Plus Premium. The former, which will set you back $14.99 a month, comes with access to a library of over a hundred games, Xbox Game Studios' day-one exclusives, Xbox Live Gold, EA Play, and major discounts on an entire catalog of games, add-ons, and themes in the Microsoft Store.

PlayStation Plus Premium, a top-notch tier that comes in at $17.99, includes access to over a hundred games, a library of hand-picked PlayStation Classics that span the entirety of Sony's first three consoles, and a nifty selection of timed trials on all the latest games.

So, which one is better? Well, herein lies the problem, as PlayStation Plus' Classics catalog is a boon in itself, and well worth the price of admission on its own accord. That said, for just a few dollars less, Game Pass Ultimate does offer a membership to EA Play—an additional platform that boasts some of the media giant's biggest titles. And, not to mention the fact that Ultimate does also include Xbox Live Gold and exclusive access to most day-one games by Xbox Game Studios. All in all, Game Pass Ultimate does edge forward by leaps and bounds compared to PlayStation Plus Premium.

Acquisitions

It was announced a fair while back that Xbox would be acquiring both Bethesda Softworks and Activision-Blizzard, and as a result, exclusive access to both of their entire portfolios. Since sealing the deal on the former, Game Pass has received an influx of freebies from the studio, and will continue to give Xbox users first dibs on a lot of its future content.

“With the addition of the Bethesda creative teams, gamers should know that Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass will be the best place to experience new Bethesda games, including some new titles in the future that will be exclusive to Xbox and PC players,” Xbox boss Phil Spencer said following the acquisition.

Now, with Xbox finally on the precipice of shaking hands with Activision-Blizzard, the gaming giant will also receive rights to major franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo, which will of course steady its position on the food chain moving forward. But does this mean Xbox will have more games to spread over Game Pass than PlayStation Plus? Eh, not really.

Exclusives

It was addressed last year that, up until Q4 2022, Xbox had 59 exclusive IPs, whereas PlayStation had 286. Going by this fact, and how PlayStation clearly has the wider litter of exclusives overall, it's hard to shoot down PlayStation Plus Premium, simply because it brings a huge portion of these games to its platform. That said, Sony has kept a great deal of its games under wraps, and has often waited a year or so to release its best-selling games—something Xbox has done almost immediately with most, if not all of its exclusives.

There's no denying the fact that PlayStation has the better catalog, and not to mention a stronger pipeline of IPs, in general. However, with Sony being somewhat close-fisted with its games, it does mean a lot of its works are locked out, whereas Xbox adheres to a more generous approach and offers games that would usually cost $70 as perks for returning subscribers.

Which Is Better?

It doesn't matter if you're a die-hard fan of either gaming empire — Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus both share plenty of money-saving perks and discounts that will save you a pretty penny regardless. That said, if we had to answer the question of which is better overall, then we'd have to stick with Xbox Game Pass, mainly down to the fact that it has twice the perks (EA Play, Xbox Live Gold, and its soon-to-be Activision-Blizzard catalog) for the same price of $9.99 a month.

On an additional note, PlayStation Plus' Classics is worth checking out, as it boasts revamped favorites from the PS1, PS2, and PS3 era. To add, Premium boasts a long list of signature exclusives that date back to the golden age of PS4. With that, a striking deal of $17.99 seems like a match made in heaven, and should in no way be glossed over.

So, which is better in 2023? Truthfully? It's Game Pass, and it probably will be for the next few months at the very least, mainly down to the fact that its plans for the future are second to none. Will the outcome change by the end of 2024? Only time will tell on that one.

 

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our final pick? Is there a platform you'd favor over the other? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

Jord is acting Team Leader at gaming.net. If he isn't blabbering on in his daily listicles, then he's probably out writing fantasy novels or scraping Game Pass of all its slept on indies.