Rent or buy
Game subscriptions in the UK, priced and compared
Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online and EA Play: what each tier costs in pounds, which of our reviewed games it includes, and when renting beats buying.
What each tier costs
Monthly prices in pounds, checked on the official UK pages. Longer plans are shown where they exist.
| Service and tier | 1 month | 3 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass Essential | £6.99 | — | — |
| Xbox Game Pass Premium | £10.99 | — | — |
| PC Game Pass | £10.99 | — | — |
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | £16.99 | — | — |
| PlayStation Plus Essential | £7.99 | £21.99 | £59.99 |
| PlayStation Plus Extra | £11.99 | £34.99 | £99.99 |
| PlayStation Plus Premium | £14.99 | £43.99 | £119.99 |
| Nintendo Switch Online (individual) | £3.49 | £6.99 | £17.99 |
| Nintendo Switch Online (family) | — | — | £31.49 |
| Switch Online + Expansion Pack (individual) | — | — | £34.99 |
| Switch Online + Expansion Pack (family) | — | — | £59.99 |
| EA Play | £5.99 | — | £35.99 |
| EA Play Pro (PC) | £16.99 | — | £109.99 |
Two recent changes matter. Microsoft cut Ultimate to £16.99 and PC Game Pass to £10.99 on 21 April 2026, after raising them the previous October; at the same time it stopped adding new Call of Duty games at launch. Sony raised the one- and three-month PlayStation Plus prices for new subscribers on 20 May 2026, leaving twelve-month plans unchanged, so the annual plan is now the clear saving.
Which of our games each service includes
| Game | Game Pass | PlayStation Plus | Switch Online | EA Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Premium, Ultimate, PC | Premium: timed trial only | — | — |
| Hades II | Premium, Ultimate, PC | — | — | — |
| Hogwarts Legacy | Premium, Ultimate, PC | Extra and Premium | — | — |
| Terraria | Premium, Ultimate (console) | Extra and Premium | — | — |
| Flight Simulator 2024 | Standard edition: Premium, Ultimate, PC | — | — | — |
| Cities: Skylines II | Base game: Premium, Ultimate, PC | — | — | — |
| It Takes Two | Ultimate and PC (through EA Play) | — | — | Included |
| God of War Ragnarök | — | Extra and Premium | — | — |
| Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | — | — | Expansion Pack covers the Switch 2 upgrade only | — |
| Mario Kart World | — | — | Needed for online races; game not included | — |
| Donkey Kong Bananza | — | — | Not included | — |
| Civilization VII | — | Premium: two-hour trial only | — | — |
When renting beats buying
A subscription comes out ahead when you want to play several of its games within a few months, or to try an expensive game before committing. It loses when you want one game for a long time: a year of PC Game Pass costs £131.88, which would buy Hades II five times over.
Our rule of thumb: add up the list prices of the games in a catalogue that you would genuinely play in the next three months. If that total is more than three months of the tier, subscribe for those months, then cancel and buy the one you keep returning to. The bill builder runs the sums for each game.
Online play is a separate cost on consoles. Online multiplayer needs PlayStation Plus Essential, any Game Pass tier on Xbox, or Nintendo Switch Online, even for games you own outright. It Takes Two's online co-op and Mario Kart World's online races both need it.
Cancelling and refunds
Game Pass can be refunded within 30 days of first subscribing, and Microsoft refunds the latest recurring charge once within 30 days. PlayStation Plus can be cancelled within 14 days of the first payment, reduced pro rata for the time used. Nintendo offers a seven-day free trial of Switch Online. EA Play on PC is generally not refundable, so start with the monthly plan.
Every service renews automatically. Turn off auto-renew straight after subscribing if you only want the period you paid for; you keep access until it ends.