Sony and Microsoft have confirmed their offerings for the Games With Gold Vs. PlayStation Plus comparison that gamers love to make. While Phil Spencer has promised changes to the Games With Gold program in the future, it takes time for the wheels of legal agreements to change. In the mean time we can continue to compare and contrast what makes the PlayStation Plus vs Games With Gold good or bad this month.
As we pointed out in our April comparison the main reason for the disparity between the Games with Gold program vs. Sony’s PlayStation Plus is the legal ownership of the titles.
Games with Gold, while offering titles that are noticeably older, gives the player ownership of the game even if their Gold subscription lapses. Sony’s PlayStation Plus service allows gamers to play and download the games as long as their subscription is current. If the subscription ends, then the games are gone and can no longer be launched. If the gamer renews the subscription, the games and all their content will return.
Another key difference between the Xbox and PlayStation platforms is the Apps like Netflix and Hulu. Since the Xbox 360 launched, only Gold subscribers could access the additional apps. This meant that on top of the monthly subscription fee that Microsoft charges for the Gold plan you would still have to pay for your monthly Netflix streaming charges. When the PlayStation 3 and the Wii came out with Netflix and other video streaming apps for free, everyone thought that Microsoft would cave to market pressure, but almost 8 years later they have hung on till the bitter end forcing gamers to pay for services they already pay for.
In an interview with Forbes, Xbox division head Phil Spencer hinted very strongly that his plans include removing the pay wall barrier for many of the service that the PlayStation, Nintendo, and other stream devices offer for free.
@Holtdagawdess Yep, blame away. I’ll get my changes to plans in place soon but in the meantime pile on.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) April 6, 2014
We certainly hope this is the case as it would benefit consumers the most. Until that time, feel free to take a look at our May comparison of Games With Gold Vs. PlayStation Plus.
Dust: An Elysian Tail Original Release Date | August 15, 2012 Games for Gold Release Date | May 1 – 15, 2014 Current Price | $14.99
Saints Row: The Third Original Release Date | November 15, 2011 Games for Gold Release Date | May 16 – 30, 2014 Current Price | $19.99
PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection (New Additions)
Puppeteer (PS3) Original Release Date | September 10, 2013 PlayStation Plus Release Date | April 1, 2014 Current Price | $39.99
Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 (PS3) Original Release Date | October 1, 2013 PlayStation Plus Release Date | April 1, 2014 Current Price | $59.99
Skullgirls Encore (PS3) Original Release Date | February 11, 2014 PlayStation Plus Release Date | April 1, 2014 Current Price | $14.99
Stick it to the Man! (PS4) Original Release Date | April 1, 2014 PlayStation Plus Release Date | April 1, 2014
Limbo (PS Vita) Original Release Date | June 4, 2013 PlayStation Plus Release Date | April 1, 2014 Current Price | $9.99
Surge Deluxe (PS Vita) Original Release Date | February 4, 2014 PlayStation Plus Release Date | April 1, 2014 Current Price | $4.99
PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection (Current Offerings)
Batman: Arkham City (PS3) *ends May 6, 2014
BioShock Infinite (PS3)
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (PS3)
Castle of Illusion Starring Micky Mouse (PS3)
Gravity Rush (PS Vita)
Little Big Planet Karting (PS3)
Lone Survivor: The Director’s Cut (PS3 / PS Vita)
Payday 2 (PS3)
PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD (PS Vita)
Remember Me (PS3)
Resogun (PS4)
Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark (PS3 / PS Vita)
Thomas Was Alone (PS3 / PS Vita)
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception Single Player (PS3)
Uncharted Golden Abyss (PS Vita)
Unit 13 (PS Vita)
Velocity Ultra (PS Vita)
WipEout 2048 (PS Vita)
XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PS3)