

Clear and consistent messaging of what each service offers, and what it does not, can eliminate ambiguity over time, just as video streaming subscribers have adjusted to the multiple options offered by services like Netflix and Hulu. The flip side is that too many tiers can create confusion, as some already struggle with distinguishing Game Pass Ultimate from Game Pass PC, or the difference between PS Plus Extra and Premium. More options are always in the consumer’s interest, particularly with subscriptions, where they can tailor them to what they actually want instead of buying a bundle that includes wasted features.

If anything, given its abundance of single-player exclusives, PlayStation fans would benefit from a tier like Game Pass Console even more than Xbox players. It would be beneficial for consumers to be able to subscribe to the PS Plus Extra library independent of the benefits of Essentials, but PS Plus offers no such option.

Most of the highly renowned PlayStation exclusives are single-player cinematic action games. The new PlayStation Plus Extra catalog has improved significantly, with the addition of big-name titles like Horizon Forbidden West and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. With the new Xbox Game Pass Core tier, Game Pass has better options for those who focus on one style of gaming. For those who want access to both, the top tiers like Game Pass Ultimate and PS Plus Extra and Premium still offer that combination. Similarly, those who play numerous single-player and couch co-op games through the PS Plus and Game Pass libraries have less time to devote to online gaming. Those who are hardcore online multiplayer aficionados have less time to peruse the deep catalogs of Game Pass or PS Plus Extra, so paying to access a library they would not get much use out of would not benefit them. Many of the most popular online multiplayer games are free to play titles.
