EA Access: The Next Step for Digital Distribution in Console Gaming?

Today EA announced a new subscription service called “EA Access,” exclusively for Xbox One. For $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year users will gain unlimited access to “The Vault” which will contain numerous full EA games. We don’t know yet exactly which games you’ll be able to get your hands on when the service launches in earnest, but EA have announced that FIFA ’14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2 and Battlefield 4 will all be available in the EA Access beta.

[Mikelarry]

"The fact that EA is partnering with Microsoft and the Xbox One specifically is a little odd but not too surprising. With a service as risky as this EA will want to start small. "

noooo they went to sony and sony shunned them.

[cfc78]

I don't think Sony needs it Microsoft on the other hand has nothing like it so it's hopefully a good move on their part and could be another plus to owning an XB1 the price seem's reasonable enough if the contents there i guess we just wait and see.

[Angels3785]

I feel like that quote might have been a body shot at MS

"might want to smart small" XD

[Future_2015]

why is it not coming to pc?

[SteamPowered]

Because they already have Origins on PC. They could easily turn that "service" into subscription based. Plus I feel Steam would put them out of business pretty quick with their wicked deals.

[user5669510]

if ea was smart they take their games off ps+ and not have their games on psnow to increase the interest of their service, but it think thats going to happen anyway. seen this was coming a mile away. first pub seen it with steam now they see it with other service. why should someone else rep the benefit of your hard work. its common sense. more publishers will follow or have different services in mind.

when you look pass the pretty and fun games these devs make, you will see the greedy tactics of these pubs. a lot of kickstarter devs has been saying this for the longest but people dont want to listen, they just argue over whose console is better.

this do make perfect sense from a business perspective though.

[Ju]

I'm guessing they are stilling making most of their money on the largest online platform, aren't they? How would pulling those games make them more money? What you think? Customers would rather trash the PS4 and get a XBo or rather buy other games instead?

[optimus]

This was yesterday's news not today's. There are about 5 other stories covering the same thing already. Doubt this will get approved...especially since the person submitting wants hits to their own site.

[Hellsvacancy]

A website that wants hits? that's strange

[SteamPowered]

Dude, did you see how many TLOU articles there were this week saying the Same Thing? Popularity = News

[optimus]

yeah, and i don't get it either. most of those were reviews and impressions of the game and i submitted an article on psnow with a different take on the service from a different website and they didn't approve it cause they said it was a "duplicate article"...go figure.

[Hellsvacancy]

EA, the next step? those greedy (insert profanity here) have trouble taking the first step "pleasing the consumer" I doubt i'll buy an EA game again, not new anyway, BF4 is an atrocious game

[XtraTrstrL]

Well, to be fair, Sony only shunned them because Sony didn't want to have to lower it's own PS Now pricing. This way they have a monopoly in this area and can do whatever they want. They didn't shun them because they actually felt it was a bad deal for consumers, they just want consumers to have only the choice of their service.

[CYCLEGAMER]

@extra
Well...that's kinda what they said. Didn't they say in a recent article that they did not think that it was a good value?

[Ju]

What has this to do with PS Now? It's a PS+ like subscription service which gives you exactly the same what PS+ already does - for an additional fee and EA games only. Why do we need two services on the PlayStation which costs yet again and actually limits contents?

[SteamPowered]

Yeah I'd love to swear off EA games, but then I remembered Mass Effect and, well, no way I could keep that promise.

[user5669510]

you must not going to be buying alot of games because since last gen all these publishers has been acting greedy. i can name countless examples from multiple pubs.

[uth11]

If this was announced for both consoles, I think the reaction from the gaming community would be pretty cynical. It's EA after all, plue gamers tend to resist pushes to digital and new pricing models.

[Finch]

I might do this for the sports games. Always hated buying them every year. Now with this I might be behind but might have access to them all in time every year. Also 10% off games I can't wait on plus play 5 days before anyone else. To start its not worth it to me since I own everything they offering, but come September might be worth jumping in for the discount and the wait until better games come out. I just can't wait for Fifa but the rest I can wait until its in the vault.

[Master-H]

These types of services are just not for me with my slow ass internet and limited monthly cap, i barely download ps+ indie games and i wouldn't have even joined that if it wasn't mandatory for online play. Physical is the way for me, cant say no to resale value.

[hello12]

Ubisoft announces a similar thing it will be great news for Microsoft if Sony refuses again.

Sony might have trouble securing exclusive content from them then.

Master@ I explained my reasoning before. It shouldn't effect sales on either platform because newer titles have a waiting period to appear in the Vault. And its unlikely Sony gamers would boycott games because of exclusive content. But exclusive content may offered first on the Microsoft platform by EA.

EA access is great value if you consider Battlefield 4 and Fifa 14 are still priced high.

You could play Battlefield 4 for a month at 4.99 and than decide to stop playing it, if you want. If you want to play bf4 anywhere else you have to pay the full price.

Its not just one game you have a selection of EA games!!

BTW you said that EA won't release games on Games with Gold because of this service. May I see a link because I can't find confirmation of that anywhere.

You must be confusing me with someone else i never said this. But its more unlikely now with this service and its likely going to be a similar thing for Sony.

[MasterCornholio]

"Sony might have trouble securing exclusive content from them then."

Depends where the sales of Ubisoft games are. The recent figures show that the majority of multiplats sell better on the PS4 due to the massive lead in install base. I doubt that Ubisofts wants to damage their sales on the PS4. It only takes logic to see that.

BTW you said that EA will still release games on Games with Gold despite this service. May I see a link because I can't find confirmation of that anywhere.

[MasterCornholio]

"You must be confusing me with someone else i never said this."

No I'm not.

I asked you to provide a link where EA states that they will continue to provide games on Microsofts Games with Gold program and you haven't yet.

"BTW you said that EA will still release games on Games with Gold despite this service."

If your denying this then you think that EA games will get axed from Microsoft's Games with Gold program. Your confusing me like heck.

Let me ask you a simple question.

Do you believe that EA will stop releasing games on Microsoft's Games with Gold program despite EAs access service?

Simple yes or no will do and stop twisting my words to make my comment confusing. You have a simple question now give me an answer please.

[hello12]

Yes you're confusing me with someone else. If you're so confident show me where i said this originally. Post the link.

BTW you said that EA will still release games on Games with Gold despite this service. May I see a link because I can't find confirmation of that anywhere.

Hey you're confusing yourself you don't need my help. I was only responding to the question you asked me here and gave a reply and my view. Saying i told you before this is completely untrue.

[Ju]

Now after reading this I am confused who is confused saying confusing things making me confused to begin with. My head is spinning...

[steve30x]

Isn't it bad enough people are paying for Xbox live gold and EA wants to add more on top of that.

[ScorpiusX]

No cause they are options and who doesn't like to have options.

[Chris12]

@steve30x - you don't need Gold to play the single player games and MP is the same as any other game. It's also an option, don't like it, don't buy it. I can understand if you're a FIFA fan (for example) and the only way to play FIFA 15 was through EAAccess, but that's not the case is it?

[steve30x]

I remember when I had the Forza 3 and Forza 4 Limited edition games I the developers gave free cars every month and it required me to have Xbox live gold to be able to download the new cars. I paid for the cars already so I shouldn't have been forced to buy gold if I wanted the cars.

[Chris12]

Cool story Steve, but has nothing to do with what we are talking about here

[ScorpiusX]

Am payed up for one year , so far like what it has to offer. Looking forward to see how it evolves and continue service with EA.

[MysticStrummer]

Another next step I'll ignore as long as possible.

[Team_Litt]

We all wish you would IGNORE it.