Subscription services have jumped from music to movies and series by streaming , hence also to video games, where it is increasingly common to see different options for each platform. Although in other fields such as music on demand it is normal to have similar prices and almost identical catalog, on video game platforms it is not . Each subscription service has its own features adapted to its consoles and also a completely different videogame catalog.
It is for this reason that it is interesting to see in comparison the three great services of the video game market : Sony PlayStation Plus , Microsoft Xbox Live Gold and Nintendo Switch Online from Nintendo. What price does each one have? What games do you offer? What is the cloud for
PS Plus vs. Xbox Live Gold vs. Nintendo Switch Online
| PS PLUS | XBOX LIVE GOLD | NINTENDO SWITCH ONLINE |
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| 1 MONTH PRICE | 7.99 euros | 6.99 euros | 3.99 euros |
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| 3 MONTH PRICE | € 24.99 | 19.99 euros | 7.99 euros |
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| 12 MONTH PRICE | 59.99 euros | 59.99 euros | 19.99 euros |
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| FAMILY PRICE | Do not | Do not | 34.99 euros (8 users) |
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| COMPATIBLE CONSOLES | Playstation 4 | Xbox One and Xbox 360 | Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite |
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| CLOUD STORAGE | 100 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
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| FREE GAMES | 2 monthly PS4 gamesAvailable while paying the subscription. | 2 Xbox One games and 2 Xbox 360 gamesForever Xbox 360 available. | 20 classic NES games. |
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As we can see, each of the services has the most varied characteristics . Where they all seem to match is in the payment plans: monthly, quarterly and annual. The price however is not common. PS Plus has the highest price of all, followed closely by Xbox Live Gold. Nintendo seems to go its own way with Nintendo Switch Online, which is half the price of the previous two.
The features of PS Plus, Xbox Live Gold and Nintendo Switch Online
Once you have seen the prices to locate each of the services, it is time to see what characterizes each of them to know better what can be achieved in exchange for paying each subscription. The business at the end is similar for all three platforms: retaining the user within the platform / console in exchange for a series of extra incentives such as online profiles and cloud games to compete against others.
- PlayStation Plus: PS Plus was once an extra for the PlayStation 3, now it is already a requirement to play online with the PlayStation 4. It not only offers online games , it also includes a series of free games every month . While they are usually older PS3 games, they have also published high-level AAA games. Finally, we can find discounts to buy games in the PlayStation store. The last of the advantages of PS Plus is its storage, which allows in its 100 GB per account to store games.
- Xbox Live Gold: So to speak, the pioneer service of the three. Xbox Live allows you to have an online profile with which to play multiplayer games online and also save the games. If it is also Gold (which is what you pay) you have for example four free games per month (two from Xbox One and two from Xbox 360 that are compatible with Xbox One). Not only games, just like PS Plus offers discounts for the store and even movies and series from time to time.
- Nintendo Switch Online: That Nintendo’s service is the cheapest of all is not in vain, it is also the one that offers less features . Basically Nintendo Switch Online focuses on allowing online games against other players to play games that have this mode, for example Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Additional features include being able to use the official mobile app to chat with other users live or the inclusion of some classic NES games.
So which one to stay with? Despite all the factors we have seen, in the end what most influences is obviously the console we have . It’s no use getting PS Plus its as a console we have a Nintendo Switch for example. However, this comparison can be useful to know from before what console to choose if online games have an important weight for us.
The video game industry is not limited to just these three big ones , there are other services that allow you to enjoy a catalog of online games for consoles and computers. We have PlayStation Now, EA Access Xbox Game Pass as “the Netflix of video games.” Also more curious options like Humble Monthly, where each month they give us a pack of different games.
