EA Access is widely considered to be the best value in all of gaming. Available on Xbox One for $30 a year, subscribers get unlimited time with the full back catalog of titles from publisher Electronic Arts — plus other perks including 10 percent off digital purchases and 10-hour game trials with new games.
"Madden NFL," "FIFA" and "NHL" are added every year when their respective sports' seasons reach their postseasons or have concluded.
Microsoft is doubling down on the subscription model by launching a service of its own on Xbox One. Available Wednesday, Xbox Game Pass goes for $10 a month and everyone with Xbox Live Gold can start off with a free 14-day trial. Game Pass features more than 100 titles with high profile franchises such as "Halo," "Gears of War" and "Bioshock" featured prominently.
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For sports fans there are some great games available. "NBA 2K16," "The Golf Club" and "Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings" are there for the launch of the service. It's expected that "NBA 2K17" will follow within the next few months, as publishers continue to look for a way to introduce more consumers to their revenue-generating modes at points in the year when interest would typically tail off. New games will be regularly added to Xbox Game Pass with some being shuffled out based on contractual obligations.
"NBA 2K16" is considered by many to be one of the best sports video games of all time, and it received a 5/5 score in the Sporting News review. Both "The Golf Club" and "Super Mega Baseball" are fan favorites with sequels on the way this summer.
The Xbox One will undoubtedly look appealing to consumers making a new console choice due in part to the subscription services. When spending so much money on the system itself, shelling out $60 for each individual game on top of it becomes even more painful. However, by combining the two subscription services, which amount to $12.50 a month — about a fifth of the cost for a single new game — they'll have a gigantic library of great games to play immediately.
Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is co-founder of the sports gaming site HitThePass.com, hosts the "Press Row Podcast" and be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.