Xbox Game Pass Must Borrow This Service From PS Plus

Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus are two major subscription services competing for users' money. Game Pass has a huge library and offers new releases from Xbox Game Studios right on launch day (at least for the Ultimate tier), but its value has been questioned after recent price increases. On the other hand, PlayStation Plus may not have as many day-one releases, but it excels in one key area: its well-organized collection of classic games. Game Pass's retro games often feel random and don't have the same level of presentation or consistent updates that PlayStation Plus provides.

PlayStation Plus' careful selection expands on its partnership with Ubisoft, giving subscribers a lot more of a selection from a huge publisher. Xbox does not have this same bonus, and that really hurts the service. While Game Pass is great for fresh content, adopting PlayStation Plus's careful strategy for its game library would increase its appeal and help justify its higher price. A noticeable gap in Game Pass's otherwise strong offering is the absence of a similarly curated and regularly updated selection of classic games.

Ubisoft+ Classics Is Available As Part of A PlayStation Plus Subscription

This Is Default In Some Tiers, But Not In Game Pass

Ubisoft+ Classics is included in the higher tiers of PlayStation Plus, which is a smart move for improving the subscription service. Unlike Xbox Game Pass, which requires separate payments for similar third-party games, PlayStation Plus offers Ubisoft+ Classics as part of its Extra and Premium memberships. This addition will give more games and make these plans much more appealing, encouraging people to upgrade.

By providing a selection of popular Ubisoft games at no extra cost, PlayStation Plus adds significant value for its Extra and Premium subscribers. This approach directly addresses the challenge of justifying the higher prices of the premium tiers. Having a large, regularly updated collection of quality games means that having a lower tier isn't much of a loss, but there's a benefit in upgrading.

This strategy helps keep subscribers happy, benefiting Sony financially, while giving players access to a wide range of titles without additional costs. The partnership between PlayStation Plus and Ubisoft+ Classics shows how effective collaboration can make a subscription service more appealing and profitable. This strategy is a great example of how smart planning and strong partnerships can create real value in gaming subscriptions.

You Can't Get Ubisoft+ Classics on Xbox, Regardless of Tier

This Service Has To Be Purchased Separately

The difference between Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus is significant when considering the extra benefits each offers through partnerships. While Xbox has Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard, Game Pass doesn’t include Ubisoft+ Classics. This means that Xbox Game Pass users have to pay an extra $18 for a Ubisoft+ Premium subscription to access the same Ubisoft games, which is a hefty cost on top of the $20 they already pay for Game Pass Ultimate.

This situation is frustrating because many popular games found in Ubisoft+ Classics, such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, and Rainbow Six Siege, are also part of the more expensive Premium subscription. Essentially, Xbox players are paying twice for access to many of the same games that PlayStation Plus users can get for less. This lack of inclusion makes Game Pass seem less valuable.

While having a big library and new game releases is great, asking for an extra $18 for a service that already includes those games on a competitor’s cheaper tier seems unwise. Xbox Game Pass should take note of PlayStation Plus’ effective partnership with Ubisoft. Microsoft could easily adopt a similar approach to improve the appeal and value of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Right now, the way Game Pass is set up feels more like a mix of separate add-ons rather than a complete subscription, which reduces its overall value and leads to unnecessary user costs.

Ubisoft+ Has A Ton of Great Titles, Which Really Expand The Library

Ubisoft Had Some Great Games Already

Ubisoft+ Classics is a lot like Ubisoft+ Premium. While Premium has more games thanks to keeping newer games in its library, many popular titles overlap. Big games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, and Rainbow Six Siege are part of both Ubisoft+ Classics and Ubisoft+ Premium. As a result, PlayStation Plus subscribers receive a large part of the Premium catalog for free, while Xbox Game Pass users have to pay more for mostly the same games.

This strategy makes even more sense since Ubisoft's recent games have had mixed reviews. While new games can be attractive, the real value in Ubisoft+ lies in its vast collection of older titles. For the price difference between PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium and Ubisoft+ Premium, PlayStation Plus offers an even larger library at no extra cost.

If Microsoft Works With Ubisoft, It'd Help Justify The Recent Price Increases

Prices Go Up, But Not Quality

The recent price hikes for Xbox Game Pass have led to a lot of discussions about whether it’s worth the money. While the service offers a big game library and allows players to try new Xbox Game Studios games right when they come out, there’s a major downside when it comes to third-party games. PlayStation Plus has handled this better by partnering with Ubisoft to include Ubisoft+ Classics as part of its Extra and Premium subscriptions.

This clever strategy significantly expands the game choices and helps balance the rising costs. PlayStation Plus improves its value by providing access to popular Ubisoft games, encouraging people to upgrade their subscriptions, and lessening any negative reactions to the price increases.

If Microsoft could strike a deal with Ubisoft to include Ubisoft+ Classics or a similar curated selection in Game Pass Ultimate without extra charges, it would greatly improve the service’s value. This move would help address concerns about the recent price increase and justify the higher cost by offering a more appealing selection of games. Right now, it feels like the same service Microsoft offered at $14.99 only a year ago.

Xbox Game Pass users would love to have Ubisoft games as part of their library. It's so frustrating to know that PlayStation Plus users get to have something that Game Pass offers for a fee, especially when you're already paying a high cost for Game Pass Ultimate. There's no indication that the price rises that keep coming to Game Pass are going to stop anytime soon. However, getting more content is how Xbox Game Pass should justify the increases, not removing content.

Xbox Series X

ExpandCollapse