Game Pass, PS Plus, EA Play, Humble Choice - we run the math on every major gaming subscription and tell you who each one is actually worth keeping for.
The average gamer who subscribes to everything - Game Pass Ultimate, PlayStation Plus Premium, EA Play, Humble Choice, and Ubisoft+ - is spending over $100/month on gaming subscriptions alone. That's more than most people spend on all their streaming services combined.
The sales pitch for all of these is "incredible value." And sometimes that's true. But the value depends entirely on a question none of the platforms ask you: how many games do you actually finish?
Most people who subscribe to Game Pass or PS Plus play one or two games in a given month. At that usage level, the math frequently doesn't favor the subscription. This article breaks down each major gaming subscription honestly - who it's genuinely worth it for, and who's paying for access they'll never use.
At $19.99/month, Game Pass Ultimate includes access to 400+ games on console and PC, EA Play, cloud gaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming on mobile and browser, and Xbox Live Gold for online multiplayer. Day-one first-party Microsoft titles (Halo, Forza, Starfield) launch directly on Game Pass. This last point is what makes it genuinely exceptional - new $70 games included at no extra charge.
Worth it if: You play more than one Microsoft first-party title per year, you're an active online multiplayer player (the Gold inclusion saves $9.99/month alone), or you have kids who cycle through games quickly. The math works easily if you play even two new games per year that would otherwise cost $60–$70 each.
Not worth it if: You play exclusively PlayStation or Nintendo exclusives, you only replay the same two or three games repeatedly, or you primarily play older games available cheaply on disc or digital sale. Spending $240/year to access a library you don't explore is a streaming service trap in game form.
The catch: Games leave Game Pass constantly. If you start a game and it exits the catalog before you finish, you either pay separately to continue or lose your progress mid-story. Check the "leaving soon" section monthly.
PS Plus now has three tiers: Essential ($9.99/mo), Extra ($17.99/mo), and Premium ($21.99/mo).
Essential is basically online multiplayer access plus two monthly free games. If you play online multiplayer at all, it's hard to avoid - Sony requires it for most online features. At $9.99/month it's essentially a tax on online gaming rather than a service you choose.
Extra adds a catalog of 400+ PS4 and PS5 games. This is where the Game Pass comparison becomes relevant - at $17.99/month, PS Plus Extra is close to Game Pass Ultimate in price but notably weaker in the day-one game inclusion. Sony's first-party titles don't go to PS Plus Extra at launch; they typically arrive 12–18 months later. If you're patient, you can wait for the games to come to Extra rather than buying them.
Premium adds PS3 classics (via streaming), game trials, and PSP/PS1 titles. It's mostly worthwhile for nostalgia and the game trials. If you don't care about playing old games or trying games before buying, the $4 premium over Extra doesn't justify itself.
PS Plus stacking tip: PS Plus Extra includes EA Play at no additional cost. If you're paying for EA Play separately on PlayStation, cancel it - you're double-paying.
EA Play at $4.99/month (or $29.99/year) gives you a catalog of EA titles including FIFA/EA FC, Madden, Battlefield, The Sims, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age. The ten-hour trials for new EA releases are its most genuinely useful feature - you can try a $70 game for ten hours before buying.
Worth it if: You're an active Madden or EA FC player, a Sims player who buys multiple packs per year, or someone who uses the ten-hour trials to evaluate games before purchasing. The annual plan at $2.50/month is a legitimate deal for anyone who regularly plays EA titles.
Not worth it if: You play one EA game per year. Just buy that game outright - even at full price, a $70 game costs less than eight months of EA Play. And check whether EA Play is already bundled into your Game Pass Ultimate or PS Plus Extra before paying for it separately.
Humble Choice at $11.99/month is fundamentally different from every other gaming subscription: the games you claim are yours permanently, added to your Steam library. Canceling Humble Choice doesn't remove the games you've already claimed. It's closer to a game-of-the-month club than a rental service.
Worth it if: You like discovering indie and mid-tier games, you're building a Steam library, or you would otherwise spend $15–$30/month on individual game purchases. The average monthly bundle value is typically $120–$200 at retail, making the math compelling on paper.
The real question: Do you actually play the games you claim? Most Humble Choice subscribers accumulate far more games than they play. If your Steam library has hundreds of unplayed games already, adding more at $11.99/month is paying for games you'll never touch. The permanent ownership angle only matters if you play them.
Not worth it if: You primarily play AAA titles (Humble Choice focuses on indie and mid-tier), you already have a backlog you'll never finish, or you play on console rather than PC.
Ubisoft+ at $17.99/month gives access to Ubisoft's full catalog including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Tom Clancy titles, and new releases on day one. It's the most niche of the major gaming subscriptions - its value is entirely contingent on whether you like Ubisoft games specifically.
Worth it if: You play multiple Ubisoft titles per year and upgrade annually. A single Assassin's Creed title costs $60–$70. Two titles per year at $70 each is $140 - Ubisoft+ at $215/year costs more, but includes access to the entire catalog simultaneously.
Not worth it if: You play one Ubisoft game every 18 months. Just buy it. Ubisoft+ is only a good deal for prolific Ubisoft consumers.
The efficient stack for most gamers in 2026 depends on your platform:
Xbox primary: Game Pass Ultimate covers online play, EA Play, and cloud gaming in one subscription. You don't need PS Plus, EA Play separately, or Xbox Live Gold. The only addition worth considering is Humble Choice if you also game on PC.
PlayStation primary: PS Plus Extra covers your multiplayer and game catalog. It includes EA Play - cancel that separately. Don't pay for PS Plus Premium unless you actively play classic games. If you also use a PC, Game Pass PC ($9.99/month) is a worthwhile addition for the first-party PC exclusives.
PC primary: Game Pass PC and Humble Choice together cover most needs at $21.98/month combined. Add EA Play only if you specifically play EA titles not covered by Game Pass.
Charged after canceling a gaming subscription? If you were billed after canceling Game Pass, PS Plus, or another gaming service, generate a dispute letter for your bank with the exact charge details.
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