Electronic Arts Announces "EA Access" for XBOX One

Published on 07-29-2014 12:41 PM

242 Comments

A new program was announced by Electronic Arts for the XBOX One system called EA Access. This will be a subscription based system that allows you to play EA's games in a whole new way. Part of the subscription will include what is called The Vault where you can play a certain selection of games unlimited anytime. Also, similiar to the EA Sports Season Ticket program, there will also be DLC discounts, but not just DLC, but full retail purchase discounts. Also similar to Season Ticket, the EA Access will allow you to play a new retail game five days early. For full details of this new program, please hit the jump to read the rest.

Today we’re revealing a new way for gamers to play more EA games. This is something we’ve never done before and we’re excited to share it with you.

We have partnered with Microsoft to deliver EA Access, an all-new monthly (or annual) membership for gamers exclusively on Xbox One that starts at just $4.99 a month. The service is being rolled out in beta to a limited number of players today, but it will launch for everyone on Xbox One soon. At EA, we are always looking for new ways to make it easier for gamers to play more EA games across all platforms, and we are excited about what EA Access will offer to players on Xbox One.

EA Access membership unlocks The Vault, a collection of EA’s biggest games on Xbox One ready for you to download and play. During the beta, gamers will have unlimited access to four great EA games: FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2 and Battlefield 4™, with more titles being added soon. That’s over $100 worth of games for $4.99 a month. You can play these EA favorites as much as you want with the click of a button.

EA Access is a totally new way for you to play more of the games you love, for less. Here’s a rundown of the additional benefits EA Access members will get:

•Awesome Value– Besides the great games in The Vault, EA Access members will save 10% on purchases of EA digital content for Xbox One offered through the Xbox Games Store. From full digital-download titles like the upcoming Dragon Age™ Inquisition or NHL®15, to additional membership services such as Battlefield 4 Premium or even FIFA Ultimate Team points, it’s all 10% off for members.*
•Play First – Membership in EA Access lets you experience trials of new EA games up to five days before the release date.* It starts with Madden NFL 15, NHL 15, FIFA 15, NBA LIVE 15, and Dragon Age: Inquisition, but more are on the way. If you decide to buy the game, your progress will carry over so you can pick up right where you left off.

You can join EA Access for just $4.99 per month, or you can purchase an annual membership for $29.99 per year on Xbox LIVE®.

Soon, fans of GameStop will be able to purchase their EA Access membership in local retail stores. GameStop and Amazon will also carry EA Access memberships for Xbox One gamers across Europe, as well as EB Games in Canada.

Excited to check it out? EA Access will launch on Xbox One soon. You will find more information on the program at the EA Access website. Be sure to follow EA Access on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Stay tuned!

*Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See www.ea.com/eaaccess for details.

Categories:
EA SPORTS

242 Comments

skipwondah33 - 07-30-2014, 08:18 AM
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lol I mean I have one but still I don't understand the multitude of services for one price statement he made.

I got it so I could continue to play my friends online...duh. Didn't get it for any "discounts" for games purchased through the Store or even for the freebies (although that is an accepted perk don't get me wrong).

Why they passed on it is fine with me, but the reasoning behind doing so atleast publicly makes no sense

I OU a Beatn - 07-30-2014, 11:47 AM
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So because Sony doesn't see "value" in it, they're just going to assume that no one else does either and that the program shouldn't even be launched on their platform? Makes perfect sense.

Meanwhile, Sony is trying to charge outrageous prices with PS Now to stream old games. Value.

Keep on keeping on, Sony.

CLW - 07-30-2014, 11:48 AM
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Personally, I'd be surprised if Sony really refused to allow EA access. I could see EA asking for $X and Sony not willing to pay the price but I'd be surprised if they just barred it from their console.

I agree with the idea that consumers should be allowed to make dumb choices.

From what I have seen/read about EA Access the devil is in the UNDISCLOSED details about whether this is a good value or not.

#1 if you only get 2-5 hours to Play Madden/FIFA/Live then its not worth it. You really cannot get a good feel for a game in that short of a time frame.

#2 if you get 5 days then it probably is worth it (especially if you are potentially interested in multiple EA products)

I don't see much value in the Vault b/c its not like they are ever going to put their newest Madden in it and the only EA games I'm potentially interested in buying are its sports titles so any of the year old+ FPS stuff is worthless to me.

I would say that unless you are getting 5 full days its definitely not as good a deal as Season Ticket even was b/c you are only getting 1/2 the discount you used to get (10% v. 20% on DLC).

jaymo76 - 07-30-2014, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by I OU a Beatn

So because Sony doesn't see "value" in it, they're just going to assume that no one else does either and that the program shouldn't even be launched on their platform? Makes perfect sense.

Meanwhile, Sony is trying to charge outrageous prices with PS Now to stream old games. Value.

Keep on keeping on, Sony.

I agree fully IOU. Let me make the decision whether I want the offer or not. I chose season ticket because I considered it good value. Let individual consumers make the decision as to what works best for them.

souljahbill - 07-30-2014, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by CLW

I don't see much value in the Vault b/c its not like they are ever going to put their newest Madden in it and the only EA games I'm potentially interested in buying are its sports titles so any of the year old+ FPS stuff is worthless to me.

The Vault is what I'd be most interested in. I'd gladly play the year old games while everyone was playing the latest and greatest.

I OU a Beatn - 07-30-2014, 01:04 PM
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I personally just find it ridiculous. I had no intentions on purchasing the service based on how I believe it's structured, but that's irrelevant. It should be the consumer's CHOICE if they want to purchase a service. Everyone ripped on Sony for the high prices they were planning on charging for PS Now rentals, so in theory they should have just yanked the service since it wasn't in the consumer's best interest.

Microsoft got ripped for trying to force an online/digital only console on people and it wasn't because they were trying to implement those features - it's because they didn't give consumers a choice. If they would have added those features optionally alongside the ability to play off a disc and not have to be online, there would never have been a problem. They essentially made the choice that consumers didn't need discs and didn't need to play offline.

That's exactly what Sony is doing here. Whether or not they see the value does NOT mean that potentially hundreds of thousands of their consumers couldn't find some value in EA's subscription services.

Personally, I think it's just some smoke to cover up the fact that they don't want ANY competition whatsoever against PS Now.

JBHuskers - 07-30-2014, 01:12 PM
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The way PS Now sits, there will be no competition because no one will be using PS Now.

cdj - 07-30-2014, 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by I OU a Beatn

So because Sony doesn't see "value" in it, they're just going to assume that no one else does either and that the program shouldn't even be launched on their platform? Makes perfect sense.

Meanwhile, Sony is trying to charge outrageous prices with PS Now to stream old games. Value.

Initially I thought the decision was made more to protect PS Plus, but perhaps it was done so for PS Plus and PS Now. (PS Now is so off my radar, I had forgotten about it.)

The "reason" given should be taken with a boulder of salt since it was off the record and anonymous, but I can't help think they may have passed on EA Access to help protect + & Now. Sony cannot afford to have each and every developer/publisher with their own console app to rent/purchase old games. I would assume EA's participation in Plus and Now would drop significantly should Access come to PS4, if it hasn't/won't already. The same could possibly (likely?) happen once Ubi-pass, Acti-scription, etc. come to fruition.

This isn't an issue with Microsoft as their free games in Games with Gold have been considered extremely weak and outdated. PS Plus has been solid in this regard.

In the long run, PS Plus to play them online and then costs for PS Now and/or for multiple publishers to play older titles could end up being very costly to consumers. While I personally would prefer more choices (let me decide to buy or not buy EA Access), I also do not want to see less publishers offering titles with PS Plus, hence a lower perceived value for the cost. (This assuming publishers will get a higher cut with their own app vs. PS Plus.)

I'd also add it's worth noting that the website/release for EA Access does not say anything about it coming first, only, or exclusively to Xbox One. Given the backlash, I wouldn't be surprised if Sony reverses course, though in the long run I am not sure it would be for the best of the gaming community.

CLW - 07-30-2014, 02:33 PM
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Sony Was Right To Turn Down EA's Video Game Subscription Plan

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain...rtner=yahootix

jaymo76 - 07-30-2014, 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by CLW

Sony Was Right To Turn Down EA's Video Game Subscription Plan

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain...rtner=yahootix

I respectfully disagree and Sony is taking a lot of heat from it. Consumer choice is never a bad thing.

skipwondah33 - 07-30-2014, 04:53 PM
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As much heat as EA seems to take for being the worst company ever can't imagine why.

CLW - 07-30-2014, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by jaymo76

I respectfully disagree and Sony is taking a lot of heat from it. Consumer choice is never a bad thing.

Consumer choice is never a bad thing for the consumer. But Sony is not a consumer.

For Sony the ? is what do they want out of PSNow (its own service that it announced well in advance to EA Access). My take, is they plan to (eventually) try to turn it into the long hyped "Netflix for video games" that many (including myself) want. Essentially PSNow will have most/all PS games in its library and it will entice me/consumers to pay a monthly fee to have unlimited access to the PS library. Sure the newest releases will probably not be available (at least for the next several years). However, if Sony does it will they basically have a HUGE LEAD on the entire gaming console industry when it goes all digital.

IF Sony plans on turning PSNow into a subscription model giving a user access to most (or even all) of its games why would Sony allow a developer of what 5% of all games out there to have its own special app and thus take those games out of Sony's own PSNow service?

They wouldn't b/c it's not smart business. Sony has ALL the leverage against EA right now. #1 EA doesn't make consoles (or any device capable of playing its product/games). #2 Sony has the hottest console on the market right now with the PS4.

MS has screwed up. Why? B/c now EVERY publisher is going to come on to their console and have a Ubisoft app and a Square App etc...... So IF I am a XB1 gamer I have to pay 5-10 (or more) different prices/subscriptions. Now PS4 gamers only have to pay for 1 bill/service PSNow.

It's like "bundling" cable/internet/phone. Why play on XB1 where you have to buy keep up with X number of separate accounts where on PS4 its all included in one nice bundle (PSNow).

bdoughty - 07-30-2014, 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by cdj

In the long run, PS Plus to play them online and then costs for PS Now and/or for multiple publishers to play older titles could end up being very costly to consumers. While I personally would prefer more choices (let me decide to buy or not buy EA Access), I also do not want to see less publishers offering titles with PS Plus, hence a lower perceived value for the cost. (This assuming publishers will get a higher cut with their own app vs. PS Plus.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rth_America%29

Other than Crisis 3, Dead Space 3 (August) and a few arcade games, EA has not exactly been a top publisher in offering games to PS Plus. With the new service, one would imagine that there will be few, if any in the future.

CLW - 07-30-2014, 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by bdoughty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rth_America%29

Other than Crisis 3, Dead Space 3 (August) and a few arcade games, EA has not exactly been a top publisher in offering games to PS Plus. With the new service, one would imagine that there will be few, if any in the future.

Yep. Honestly, it wouldn't stun me if at some point if EA became completely exclusive to MS period. Of course, in my dream scenario it would permit Sony to hire real talent to build real sim games like The Show for soccer and football.

jaymo76 - 07-31-2014, 12:45 AM
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After taking some more time to think about this, what I find frustrating is that based on the current value (and the unknowns) of EA Access I would buy it in a heartbeat over paying $$$ for PSNow to rent/stream games. Currently I have ZERO interest in PSNow as the games to this point hold no interest for me. However, I would play the hell out of every single game available fro EA Access (early release and the vault)

I'm a big fan of Sony and love the PS4. That being said I really think Sony screwed up with this one and I am a little bit less of a Sony fan today than I was yesterday. PSNow in its current form has minimal value and is highly, highly overpriced. Asking me to pay #30 for a year subscription is more than fair and I would have got my monies worth several times over. $1.99 to $4.99 to rent an old PS3 game for four hours...???... yep that sure is good value.

IMO, Microsoft hugely one-upped Sony on this one and in the long run this may hurt Sony more than they know. This could be enough to sway someone on the fence for what system to buy.

bdoughty - 07-31-2014, 07:48 AM
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Originally Posted by jaymo76

$1.99 to $4.99 to rent an old PS3 game for four hours...???... yep that sure is good value.

Sony using the old fashioned, "Renting porn at a hotel pricing strategy." Say what you will but if people will pay for things like MUT, FUT, HUT and LUT, you can darn well bet they will pay for this. With so few games being released on the PS4/XB1 they have to be kicking themselves a bit for not have it ready.

souljahbill - 07-31-2014, 09:31 AM
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I'm with Jaymo. I'd rather pay $30 a year to play last year's EA games than $15 a month to play PS1/2/3 games.

jaymo76 - 08-05-2014, 08:00 PM
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Was the beta of this programme supposed to be officially released today?

jaymo76 - 08-09-2014, 11:46 PM
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Peter Moore announced today that any game put into the EA Vault will NOT be removed. Once a game is in the vault it will stay in the vault and you can play it for as lng as you have a subscription. Moore also again recommitted to the fact that AAA titles will be added to the vault as time goes on.

I still say Sony errored big time on this one.

I OU a Beatn - 08-10-2014, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by jaymo76

I still say Sony errored big time on this one.

On both accounts - how they're pricing PS Now and the fact they denied EA the chance to launch their platform on Sony's system. The EA service is MUCH more appealing to me than PS Now ever was. I'm just waiting to see what kind of early access I'm going to get for Madden games before jumping in. 3 or more days and I'll definitely be subscribing.