No, EA Play is Not Free or Included with PlayStation Plus
Before we dive into everything you need to know about EA Play on PS4 and PS5, let‘s clearly state the answer upfront – EA Play does not come free with a PlayStation Plus membership.
Unlike Xbox Game Pass Ultimate which bundles in an EA Play subscription at no extra cost, PlayStation owners have to pay for EA Play separately even if they are PS Plus members.
So if you‘re wondering whether you already have access to EA Play benefits like exclusive rewards, discounts and a library of games without realizing it through your PS Plus membership – unfortunately that is not the case. It remains a standalone paid service from Electronic Arts on PlayStation.
What Does EA Play Offer on PS4 and PS5?
EA Play is EA‘s own gaming subscription that provides a few key benefits:
The Play List Vault
This ever-growing collection gives you unlimited access to a catalog of EA‘s biggest franchises and top titles across PS4 and PS5. As long as you stay subscribed, you can download and play as many of these games as you want.
Some major franchises featured include FIFA, Madden NFL, Star Wars, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Mass Effect, Plants vs Zombies, Apex Legends plus yearly sports game refreshes and more.
- There are 75+ popular games available via the Play List vault on PlayStation
- New games get added over time after launch as part of the vault
Exclusive Member Rewards
You also get member-only content, cosmetic upgrades, DLC and unlockables for titles like Apex Legends, Battlefield 2042 and FIFA 23 Ultimate Team mode.
10% Discount on EA Digital Purchases
This tidy discount applies to full games, season passes and other downloadable content. It lets you save 10% on anything you buy directly from PlayStation Store or in-game across EA titles.
Early Trials for Upcoming Games
Get early limited access trials to brand new EA blockbuster games before launch, so you can play sections of upcoming hits several days ahead of release.
So in summary, you‘re paying $4.99 monthly (or a cheaper $29.99 yearly) to get:
- A Netflix style catalog of EA games
- Member perks and exclusive cosmetics
- 10% off EA digital purchases
- Early access to new releases
It‘s a great deal for fans of EA studios and franchises.
EA Play vs Xbox Game Pass Comparison
Now this is where things differ greatly from Microsoft‘s competing Xbox subscriptions when it comes to EA Play…
If you‘re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member on Xbox consoles or PC, EA Play is actually included at no extra cost as part of your existing subscription.
But PlayStation owners don‘t get any bundle deal – you have to subscribe separately to EA Play for $4.99 monthly even if you have an active PS Plus membership.
Here‘s a quick comparison table:
| Benefit | EA Play on PlayStation | EA Play via Xbox Game Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 per month $29.99 per year | Included at no extra cost with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription |
| Games Library | 75+ EA titles New games added over time after launch | 75+ EA titles New games added over time after launch |
| Exclusive Rewards | Yes – member only cosmetics, DLC etc | Yes – member only cosmetics, DLC etc |
| Early Trials | Yes – early limited access to new releases | Yes – early limited access to new releases |
| Discounts | 10% EA digital discount | 10% EA digital discount + Xbox Game Pass member discounts |
So essentially you get the exact same EA Play benefits on both PlayStation and Xbox, but Microsoft bundles it free with their $14.99 monthly Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Whereas on PlayStation EA Play remains a standalone $4.99 monthly subscription even for PS Plus members. Hopefully that key difference is clear!
Recently Added and Upcoming EA Play Games
To give you a taste of what games get added over time, here‘s a selection of titles that have recently released or will be coming soon to the EA Play PlayStation catalog:
- F1 22 (added in September 2022)
- Madden NFL 23 (added August 2022)
- NHL 23 (releases October 2022)
- Need for Speed Unbound (releases December 2022)
New sports game annual refreshes also launch directly into The Play List vault on release day for next year‘s FIFA 23, Madden 24 and more.
Plus a host of all-time classics like Mirror‘s Edge Catalyst, Titanfall 2, Dead Space 3, Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare and Star Wars: Squadrons are available right now for unlimited play.
My Impressions Using EA Play on PS5
As an avid gamer who loves sports and racing titles, I‘ve found EA Play to be a superb addition to my PlayStation 5.
I only play the latest FIFA and Need for Speed games casually each year. So being able to access the brand new yearly releases on launch day for a single $29.99 annual fee via The Play List vault is perfect.
This saves me forking out $59.99+ on buying each title outright. Then the 10% store discount has already saved me a bunch on DLC add-on purchases too!
For racing fans, getting day-one access to the F1 and upcoming Need for Speed games makes it a terrific deal. While football/soccer nuts will appreciate instantly unlocking the new FIFA 23 Ultimate Team content which is gated behind the EA Play paywall for others.
Even outside of the annual sports refreshes, exploring EA‘s extensive back catalog with classics like Dead Space, Mirror‘s Edge and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has been great during quieter months.
While PlayStation owners sadly can‘t access it free like Xbox gamers can, I‘d still highly recommend PS4/PS5 gamers grab at least a month to try out EA Play‘s on-demand vault.
How to Get EA Play on PlayStation Consoles
If you want to subscribe to EA Play, here is the process to get it activated on your PS4 or PS5:
- Join EA Play on PlayStation Store and select either monthly or yearly membership
- Load up any EA game on your PlayStation console
- Sign in with the EA account tied to your Play subscription when prompted
- Your accounts will automatically link to grant access
- You can now download and play any Play List vault games!
After following these steps, your EA Play membership will be unlocked across your PlayStation ecosystem.
You can check the full library of games available to you via the EA Play tile on the home screen, or directly through the PlayStation Store listings at any time.
New titles get added monthly, so keep checking back for the latest drops.
Can You Cancel EA Play Auto-Renewal?
Yes! Once subscribed, you can manage your EA Play membership from the account settings menu:
PlayStation > Account Management > Subscriptions
Here you can turn off auto-renewal so you aren‘t charged repeatedly when each subscription period ends.
Handy if you only wanted to try it for a month, or switch to another membership later down the line.
The Verdict – Worth Paying For on PS4 and PS5?
At the end of the day, while it would be nicer for PlayStation owners to get EA Play bundled as part of the PS Plus subscription, I still think it offers good value at only $4.99 monthly.
You gain access to a huge 75+ catalog of EA‘s biggest blockbusters to discover or revisit. There are classic franchises dating back decades right up to each year‘s new sports game entries dropping day one.
Plus you get member-only cosmetics and rewards thrown in across live service stuff like Apex Legends. And the 10% store discount soon pays for itself when buying DLC packs or season passes.
Even just subscribing for 1-2 months per year to check out the latest Need for Speed racer, FIFA soccer sim or Battlefield shooter as soon as they drop can save you a bunch. Without needing to splurge $59.99+ outright buying each title yourself.
So while it‘s no Game Pass, I firmly believe EA Play remains a worthwhile subscription for most PlayStation gamers – especially if you enjoy EA‘s ever-popular annual franchises.
