This page introduces the “Overview of Game Subscription” and “Recommended Subscriptions.”
We hope this serves as a reference for “Switching Services” or “Joining New Services.”
● Those wanting to know about types of subscription services.
● Those curious about the content of subscription services.
● Those seeking information on monthly fees for subscription services.
● Those interested in the “Pros” and “Cons” of each service.
Overview
Game-related subscriptions provide various perks upon subscription.
Monthly fees vary depending on the service, but generally range from around 500 yen to 1,000 yen.
Below are some examples:
● Free play of eligible game software
● Discount perks upon game purchases
● Save data storage service
● Download of free-to-play games
● Utilization of multiplayer services …etc
Advantages of Subscribing
The major advantage upon subscription lies in unlimited play of games covered by the service.
Purchasing a single game typically costs between 4,000 to 5,000 yen (or higher, around 8,000 to 9,000 yen). Therefore, having access to dozens of games for approximately 1,000 yen is considered a highly cost-effective service.
If a game of interest is covered by the service, trying it out by subscribing for just a month seems like a feasible option.
Even if the game isn’t enjoyable, cancelling the subscription within that month would only cost around 1,000 yen, which is better than making a disappointing purchase.
Key Advantages
● Unlimited play of eligible game software
● Playing at a cheaper price (monthly subscription only) compared to buying
● Some services offer a free or discounted first month
● Possibility to subscribe for just one month to play
● Some games offer subscriber discounts or free giveaways
Disadvantages of Subscribing
While subscribing to a subscription service allows cost-effective access to various games, some individuals might perceive certain aspects as disadvantages. Please consider these before subscribing.
Due to the service structure, there’s a possibility of losing access to a game mid-play if it’s removed from the subscription.
Additionally, depending on the service, it might be challenging to cancel (or receive a refund) midway through the subscription, so please be cautious.
Main Disadvantages
● There’s a possibility that a game being played might end with the service
● There might be periods where the list of available games isn’t appealing
● Forgetting to stop payments (automatic renewal) could lead to unintended charges
● Difficulty in canceling a yearly subscription (12 months) and receiving a refund might occur depending on each service’s policy
Recommended Subscriptions
While these services might seem common for regular gamers, each service has unique features and pricing structures. We hope the following information helps you select a service that fits your playing style.
For details on monthly free titles, please refer to the following page:
https://nekozawa-game.com/free-game/
PlayStation Plus
Platform： PlayStation
Pricing
Essential： 1 month / ¥850, 3 months / ¥2,150, 12 months / ¥5,143
Extra： 1 month / ¥1,300, 3 months / ¥3,600, 12 months / ¥8,600
Premium： 1 month / ¥1,550, 3 months / ¥4,300, 12 months / ¥10,250
Overview
“PS Plus” is a subscription service provided by SIE (Sony Interactive Entertainment) for PlayStation.
The service includes distribution of free games (3 to 4 games per month), unlimited play of selected major and indie popular titles, and the ability to trial games before purchasing, among other highly enticing features.
Games distributed through free play can be obtained (added to your library) and played at your convenience.
Major titles such as “FFⅦ Remake” and “Persona 5” have been included in the past offerings.
Even if you’re someone who might already own the games available through the subscription, the excitement of discovering which games will be part of the free play each month is a compelling aspect.
Additionally, there are perks like discounted prices for some game titles.
For online multiplayer on PlayStation, a subscription to “PS Plus” is required.
The service also includes features like cloud-based save data storage and exclusive discounts for subscribers.
Moreover, during PS Store sales, discounts ranging from 20% to 30% off are available, making purchasing during these sales highly recommended if there’s no urgency.
Monthly fees vary based on the different plans with different service offerings, escalating in price from Essential → Extra → Premium.
PlayStation Plus Essential
The most affordable service tier.
Suitable if you only require access to free play games and basic services.
Service Includes
● Provision of free play (download two games each month at no additional cost)
● Eligibility to purchase select games at subscriber-exclusive prices
● Cloud-based save data storage
● Online multiplayer
PlayStation Plus Extra
In addition to the services offered in “Essential,” this tier offers unlimited play of popular titles for PS4/PS5.
While the monthly cost might seem high at first glance, purchasing 12 months at once reduces the cost to approximately ¥700 per month, making it more cost-effective for those planning long-term subscriptions.
Service Includes
● Access to all services offered in “PS Plus Essential”
● Unlimited play of major and indie popular titles
PlayStation Plus Premium
Building upon the services of “Extra,” this tier offers unlimited play of titles from the original PS/PS2/PS3/PSP, services like game trials for popular games, among others.
Although priced slightly higher, it provides the opportunity to play games spanning 20 to 25 years, making it potentially the ultimate service for gaming enthusiasts.
If not interested in titles from the original PS/PS2/PS3/PSP, “Extra” might suffice.
Service Includes
● Access to all services offered in “PS Plus Essential” and “PS Plus Extra”
● Playability of PlayStation®3 titles (provided via cloud streaming)
● Playability of titles from the original PlayStation, PlayStation®2, PSP® (provided via cloud streaming or download)
● Ability to trial games before purchase (with limited playtime)
Cancellation Policy
“After purchasing a subscription service, you have 14 days to request a refund.”
However, if the service has already been used, the refund amount will be adjusted based on the usage, and the difference will be refunded.
For more details, refer to the “PlayStation” support page:
▶Digital Content Cancellation
Xbox Game Pass
Provided Platforms： Xbox Series, PC
Pricing：
Standard / ¥850 per month (¥100 for the first month)
Ultimate / ¥1,100 per month
Overview
“Xbox Game Pass” is a subscription service provided by Microsoft.
Personally, this is the service I highly recommend.
The most significant allure of “Xbox Game Pass” lies in the fact that you can play new titles from their “release day.”
Wouldn’t it feel fantastic if a game you intended to purchase was included in your subscription?
In the past, titles like “Halo Infinite,” “Forza Horizon 5,” “Rainbow Six Extraction,” among others, were playable from their release days.
Although such opportunities aren’t frequent, the benefit of playing major titles from their release day is substantial.
There are over 100 playable games available, encompassing major titles released by Microsoft Studios, EA Play, Ubisoft, Capcom, and more.
Additionally, famous indie titles such as Craftopia and Subnautica are included in the selection.
The price for the standard (Standard) tier is ¥850 per month, which seems quite standard in terms of pricing.
If you were to subscribe for a year, it would cost ¥10,200, offering access to over 100 games, including major titles, for the price of 2 to 3 games, making it an incredibly cost-effective service.
There’s also the Ultimate tier, which includes “Xbox Live Gold (online play)” and “EA Play service (allowing partial free play of EA games).”
However, one drawback is that this service is only playable on Xbox Series or PC.
In Japan, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch dominate the console market, so it’s unfortunate that this service is limited to Xbox or PC.
If you subscribe through Xbox, it’s called “Xbox Game Pass,” and for PC, it’s “Xbox Game Pass for PC.” Both offer the same service.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
You can request a refund if you meet either of the following criteria:
● Within 30 days from the initial purchase
● Request cancellation before the first renewal date
Additionally, the right to a refund is limited to “once per Microsoft account,” so please take note of this.
For more details, refer to the “Microsoft” support page:
▶︎Canceling Xbox Subscriptions and Refunds
Nintendo Online
Provided Platform： Nintendo Switch
Pricing：
1 Month / ¥306
3 Months / ¥815
12 Months / ¥2,400
12 Months (Expansion Pack) / ¥4,900
Overview
“Nintendo Online” is a subscription service provided by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch.
As a unique service by Nintendo, it allows access to over 100 titles of NES and Super NES games.
Moreover, the Expansion Pack version allows playing NINTENDO64 and Mega Drive games.
Nintendo offers dedicated controllers for “NINTENDO64” as well, enabling players to experience the games as they were originally played.
For online multiplayer on the Nintendo Switch, a subscription to “Nintendo Online” is necessary.
Subscribers gain access to exclusive benefits such as the “2-for-1 Nintendo Catalog Tickets” and the “Synchronized Trial” service.
The Catalog Ticket allows the purchase of two eligible download software titles totaling ¥9,980 (tax included).
For instance, purchasing “Kirby and the Forgotten Land: ¥6,500” and “Pokémon LEGENDS: Arceus: ¥6,578” would total “¥13,078” under normal circumstances. However, using the Catalog Ticket allows the purchase for “¥9,980”.
It’s a cost-effective way to purchase two titles together.
The ticket has a validity period of one year, allowing its use at any preferred time within that duration.
You can purchase one game and then buy another later within the validity period.
Additionally, within the validity period, you can wait for upcoming game releases before utilizing the ticket.
The Synchronized Trial is a service offering a certain period of free gameplay for eligible games.
Some games support competitive play, allowing up to 99 players to participate, such as “TETRIS® 99” and “PAC-MAN 99”.
Rather than PvP, these games focus on individuals achieving high scores to disrupt others’ gameplay.
Services such as cloud-based save data backup and exclusive discounts for subscribers are also included.
With a price of ¥306 for 1 month, the service is competitively priced compared to other similar services.
Even purchasing the 12-month plan at ¥2,400 (¥200 per month) maintains an affordable pricing structure.
It’s a recommended service for those interested in playing retro games like NES, Super NES, and NINTENDO64.
Cancellation (Refund) Policy
Please note that refunds after purchase are not available.
For more details, refer to the “Nintendo” support page.
▶︎Q&A (Frequently Asked Questions)
EA Play
Provided Platforms： Xbox, PlayStation, PC
Pricing：
1 Month / ¥518
12 Months / ¥3002
Overview
“EA Play” is a subscription service provided by Electronic Arts.
One of its distinct features is its availability across a wide range of platforms, including Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
Subscribing to this service grants access to games released by Electronic Arts.
This includes prominent content such as Battlefield 2042, sports genres like FIFA, NBA, NFL, as well as the Star Wars series.
Moreover, with early access, users can play the latest titles for up to 10 hours.
They also provide in-game items like skins, continuously updating the content periodically.
At a price of ¥518 per month, considering access to major titles from Electronic Arts, it seems to offer a cost-effective pricing structure.
Opting for the 12-month annual plan provides a 50% discount (¥3002), approximately ¥250 per month, making it a more economical option.
While the service might seem comparatively limited in terms of content, it’s a recommended service for enthusiasts of Electronic Arts games.
Cancellation (Refund) Policy
Please note that refunds after purchasing a membership are generally not allowed.
However, there might be exceptions under specific conditions where refunds could be permitted.
For more details, refer to the “EA Play” support page.
▶︎Cancellation of EA PLAY membership (bottom of the page)
UBISOFT+
Starting from April 12, 2022, “UBISOFT” launched a new subscription service.
Subscribing to this service allows unlimited play of “UBISOFT” titles.
Currently, there are approximately 110 titles available.
The price is “1 Month / ¥1,500”, with the first 7 days being a free trial period.
(The 7-day free trial is applicable for subscriptions made until May 11, 2022.)
As of now, there are no options for half-yearly or annual purchases.
It’s important to note that this service is available only for PC.
While games from “UBISOFT” are playable, there might be certain titles not included.
For instance, in the “Far Cry” series, Far Cry 6, 5, and New Dawn are playable, but other numbered titles are not included.
These finer details might be subject to updates in the future.
Key Points of “UBISOFT+”
● Unlimited play of “UBISOFT” games
● Over 100 titles available, including new releases playable on their launch day
● Includes “expansion content” and “season passes”
● Monthly access to new custom items, boosters, rewards, and more
● Available only on PC
● Subscription auto-renews, so careful attention is necessary
