[2023] What are the Attractions of Subscription Game Services Available at SIE, Nintendo, and Microsoft?　Comparison of services by company!

In this article, we pick up the services of Sony (SIE), Nintendo, and Microsoft, which sell game console hardware, among the game companies that have adopted subscription services. Let us provide you with details and features of each subscription service.

Sony Interactive Entertainment: PS Now (PlayStation Now)

• Monthly fee: 1,180 yen (1 month) / 2,980 yen (3 months) / 6,980 yen (12 months)
• Number of titles available: more than 400
• Supported devices: PS5/PS4/PC (Windows)

Game streaming service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). In addition to popular Japanese series such as " Final Fantasy " and " Resident Evil," the service also offers foreign titles such as " Horizon Zero Dawn.

Streaming is a so-called cloud service, in which the provider's servers take over the processing that would normally be done on a game console or PC. Thanks to this service, the user's device only needs to display the video processed by the server and send input from a controller or other device. The key point is that users can enjoy a variety of works regardless of the device's performance. In addition to the streaming service, this service also allows users to download game titles directly to their own game devices.

Among the more than 400 titles available, the ability to play PS3 titles is particularly significant, as PS5 and PS4 do not have compatibility functions and PS3 software cannot be played. Considering the fact that PS4 and PS5 will be the mainstream, it will be increasingly difficult to play directly PS3 titles, which have been released in large numbers, since PS3 production will end in 2017.

In this respect, PS Now is a very attractive service, not only because of the regular increase in PS3 titles but also PS4 titles, as well as the support for online multiplayer within the titles. The service also offers a 7-day free trial, so if you are interested in the service, we recommend giving it a try.

Some of the titles available

Final Fantasy VII

Released in 1997 on PlayStation®, this RPG puts players in control of the former soldier protagonist Cloud Strife as he embarks on an epic adventure through the stars. This title is based on the original "FFVII International," but features new features such as "no encounters," "enhanced battles," and "triple speed. The storyline and battles can be advanced with ease and tempo.

Demon's Souls

In this action RPG released on PlayStation 3 in 2009, players embark on a journey to discover the mystery of "Souls" in the country of Boletaria, which is shrouded in a thick fog. The game's high difficulty level, where a single blow can mean the difference between life and death, the "birth" system that determines initial parameters, the allocation of performance by leveling up, and the loose connection with players through "messages" are all prototypes of From Software's later works.

Nintendo: Nintendo Switch Online

• Monthly fee:
• Nintendo Switch Online: 306 yen (1 month) / 815 yen (3 months) / 2,400 yen (12 months)
• Nintendo Switch Online + Additional Pack: 4,900 yen (12 months)
• Number of titles distributed: more than 100
• Supported models: Nintendo Switch

A subscription service provided by Nintendo. In addition to enjoying online play of eligible titles, users can play more than 100 titles released on nostalgic game consoles such as the Family Computer and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) on Nintendo Switch. The service includes the origins of popular series such as " Super Mario Bros," " Super Donkey Kong," and " Fire Emblem: Riddle of the Monsters.

Notably, the monthly fee is low: only 306 yen per month, or 2,400 yen (200 yen per month) if you choose a 12-month subscription. Also, subscribers receive exclusive benefits such as the "Isei Trial," which allows unlimited play of certain titles for a limited time, and the "Nintendo Catalog Ticket," which saves on up to two eligible downloadable titles.

If you subscribe to the "Nintendo Switch Online + Additional Pack," in addition to the benefits of "Nintendo Switch Online," you will also be able to play Nintendo 64 (11 eligible titles as of March 10) and Mega Drive (19 eligible titles as of March 10) titles. (19 titles as of March 10) will also be playable. Although there are still fewer variations than those for the NES and SNES, considering that the additional packs themselves were only launched last October, there is still a long way to go. Expectations are high for future additions.

One of the extras in the pack is an additional course pass for "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe," which was unveiled at the Nintendo Direct on February 10 and allows access to a total of 48 different courses to be distributed in the future at no additional cost.

The downloadable content "Atsumare Animal Crossing Happy Home Paradise" is also available at no extra charge, and the combination of subscription services and downloadable content may be applied to future titles as well. It is recommended that you decide on a subscription plan that suits your own style, such as Nintendo Switch Online alone for light play, or an additional pack for heavy enjoyment. Incidentally, a 7-day free trial subscription is also available for Nintendo Switch Online alone.

Some of the titles available

Super Mario Bros.

This action game was released on the Family Computer in 1985 and is the first title in the "Super Mario" series. Mario must tackle various stages in order to save Princess Peach, who has been kidnapped by the Demon Lord Bowser. The game can be played using basic controls such as running and jumping, and its ease of use has been carried over to the "Super Mario" series more than 20 years after its release.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

This action-adventure game was released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998. The player controls Link, the main character, through various dungeons in the vast Hyrule, and defeats the boss that awaits at the deepest level. This is the first 3D title in the "The Legend of Zelda" series, and features three-dimensional puzzle solving and battles that take advantage of depth and height.

Microsoft: Xbox Game Pass

• Monthly fee:
• Xbox Game Pass: 850 yen (1 month / for home consoles and PC)
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: 1,100 yen per month (for home consoles, PC, and smartphones)
• Number of titles available: More than 100
• Supported consoles: Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S/PC (Windows)

This subscription service provided by Microsoft allows users to enjoy some of the titles released for the Xbox. The main titles are foreign games such as " Halo " and " Forza Horizon " series, but popular Japanese titles such as " Yakuza" series and " Dragon Quest XI: The Search for a Time Gone By" are also available.

The Xbox's share of the Japanese market is currently small, but the fact that this service is also available for PCs (Windows) is significant. If you choose the "Xbox Game Pass for PC" (or the "for Console" version if you have an Xbox console), you can download the titles to your own PC and play them freely. In addition, regardless of plan, you can play any game released by Xbox Game Studios from day one. Last December, "Halo Infinite," the latest installment in the "Halo" series, was also included.

The monthly subscription fee for "Xbox Game Pass Ultimate" is 1,100 yen, which is slightly higher than that for "Xbox Game Pass for Console/PC. However, in addition to the above benefits, this plan offers the advantage of cloud gaming. This is especially recommended for those who do not have a gaming PC or want to enjoy home console titles on their smartphones, as they can play major games without worrying about the performance of their devices. Furthermore, since it also comes with multiplayer functionality, it is a good match for FPS and other e-sports titles.

The difference between "Ultimate" and "for Console/PC" is largely due to the availability of cloud gaming and multiplayer features. Regardless of which one you choose, you can freely play the titles covered and enjoy the latest games from Xbox Game Studios from day one. However, many games nowadays support multiplayer, so if you want to play with a large group, it would be best to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Here are 10 recommended games for the Xbox Game Pass!

Some of the titles available

Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is the latest title in the "Halo" series, which has sold more than 65 million copies worldwide as the signature title of the Xbox. This title features two unique features: "Campaign" and "Multiplayer. In the campaign, players assume the role of a soldier called "Master Chief," donning a powerful powered suit and engaging in battle on the supermassive ring structure "Halo. The multiplayer includes "Big Team Battle Mode," a large-scale 12-on-12 versus versus battle, and "Arena Mode," a smaller 4-on-4 battle. Enjoy various forms of matches.

Dragon Quest XI: The Search for a Time Gone by S

Dragon Quest XI: Seeking a Time Gone By S" adds various advancements to "Dragon Quest XI: Seeking a Time Gone By," which was released in 2017, including character voices and a new story. The main character (the player) learns that he is the reincarnation of a "hero" who is said to have saved the world in the past, and sets off from his homeland to learn his mission.

This new version of the game features a new story centered on the protagonist's friends, as well as additional character voices and the ability to switch between 3D and 2D fields. Elements not found in the original version are not to be missed.

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