14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft believes that EA Access will be a real “game-changer” for the Xbox One computer entertainment system.
The recently announced subscription program from mega-publisher Electronic Arts, currently in beta on the Xbox One, will allegedly give Microsoft’s next-gen console a leg up on its competition, the PlayStation 4.
"That was announced last week as well and is very much a game-changer," Xbox evangelist Jeff Rubenstein says during the latest podcast from Major Nelson.
EA Access lets you play any games in The Vault (only four for now) for as long as your sub is active. In addition to this, you also get a 10 percent discount on EA digital games and content, which basically means that the sub will pay for itself, if you’re a fan of their titles.
Furthermore, Rubinstein has also pointed out the fact that EA Access membership will also net you early access to EA games ahead of their launch, which is said to include “at least two hours of gameplay,” and what’s more is that pretty much every upcoming EA title will be available, according to him.
The official EA Access FAQ states that early access for upcoming titles will vary from game to game, with some games offering a single game mode available for a limited time, while others allowing you access to the full version, again for a limited time.
Another interesting bit is that your progress will be saved, which means that if you decide to buy the game you were taking for a spin, you’ll be able to continue where you left off, once the game is released.
The limitations on the EA Access trial for upcoming games are not set in stone yet, and each trial will most likely be different in the amount of time and type of access granted, on a game-to-game basis.
The feature is currently undergoing beta testing on the Xbox One, but a public release date announcement is bound to come soon.
EA Access will only be available on the Xbox One gaming system, as Sony has already expressed its opinion that it won’t bring a good enough experience for its users, on par with the value that its users are accustomed to, and so it’s not going to come to the PlayStation 4.
The four games available for now are Battlefield 4, FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25 and Peggle 2, but more will be added in the future, including triple-A titles, but for now the company is trying to figure out the specifics of which games to add to the service.