The short answer is no, a PlayStation Plus subscription does not include or provide free access to EA Play. They are two separate paid services, so you have to subscribe to each one individually if you want the benefits of both.
With that out of the way, let‘s take a deeper look at everything you need to know about EA Play on PS4 and PS5.
What Exactly is EA Play?
For those unfamiliar, EA Play is a subscription gaming service from Electronic Arts that grants members access to an evolving vault of games published by EA. It‘s available across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox consoles, and PC.
EA Play offers a few core benefits:
- Access to a library of full games to download and play from franchises like FIFA, Madden, Battlefield, Star Wars, The Sims, Plants vs Zombies, and more. The available "Play List" typically includes 75+ titles.
- Early access trials to new EA releases – play upcoming games for up to 10 hours prior to launch.
- Discounts on EA digital purchases:
- 10% off games
- 10% off DLC & expansions
- 10% off in-game items and currency
- Exclusive challenges and unlockable content in supported titles
- Early access to betas, demos and more
While the game catalog rotates over time as titles get added and removed, it aims to provide a diverse mix of EA‘s biggest franchises across sports, action, adventure, and roleplaying genres.
How Many PlayStation Users Have EA Play?
EA hasn‘t provided detailed subscriber numbers, but we do know:
- As of May 2021, total EA Play subscribers were over 13 million. This has likely grown since.
- In 2020, PlayStation 4 made up 33% of EA‘s overall console revenue.
- FIFA games alone had over 30 million PlayStation players in 2021.
Based on these data points, it‘s reasonable to estimate at least 4-5 million PlayStation gamers likely have an active EA Play membership given the popularity of EA titles on the platform.
What‘s the Cost for EA Play on PS4 and PS5?
EA Play offers two payment options to subscribers:
- Monthly: $4.99 per month
- Annual: $29.99 per year
The monthly option provides more flexibility if you want to subscribe for a short time to try it out. The annual plan is the better value working out to only $2.50 per month.
There is also a more expensive tier called EA Play Pro aimed at PC players that runs $14.99 monthly or $99.99 annually. This offers unlimited access to all EA titles and DLC along with early access to new releases ahead of the standard EA Play schedule. EA Play Pro isn‘t available on PlayStation.
Can You Get EA Play for Free?
There are a few ways to access EA Play for free or at a discount:
7-Day Free Trial – New members on any platform can sign up for a free 7-day trial to experience the benefits firsthand without paying. Just be sure to cancel before it ends if you don‘t want to continue.
Included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – EA Play is bundled as a free perk for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members on Xbox consoles. No extra charge.
Limited-Time Discounts – Occasional promotions like first month for $0.99 have been offered for new members in the past.
Gifted Memberships – Some players receive free or discounted EA Play subscriptions as gifts from others.
Outside of the above options, an EA Play membership typically requires a paid subscription on PlayStation and PC.
How Many Games Are in the EA Play Library?
The available Play List catalogue provides access to a rotating selection of games from EA franchises like:
- FIFA
- Madden NFL
- Star Wars
- Battlefield
- Need for Speed
- Plants vs. Zombies
- UFC
- The Sims
- Titanfall
And many others across their sports, action, RPG, and casual gaming portfolio.
The exact count fluctuates as new games get added and older titles potentially removed. However, their website states members can access over 75+ games at any given time.
Having reviewed the library across PlayStation and Xbox, here‘s a breakdown of how many titles are currently available per genre:
| Genre | PS4/PS5 Titles | Xbox Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | 17 | 21 |
| Action | 15 | 19 |
| Adventure | 12 | 14 |
| Roleplaying | 10 | 11 |
| Casual | 15 | 18 |
| Total Games | 69 | 83 |
As we can see, Playstation currently has access to 69 titles spread across various genres – a solid variety for EA fans! The Xbox version includes over 80 games thanks to some additions from their acquired studios like Star Wars: Squadrons.
What are Some of the Best Games Available?
While the catalog has a little something for everyone, here are 5 of the best and most popular titles accessible on both PS4 and PS5 currently:
- FIFA 23
- Madden NFL 23
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- Titanfall 2
- Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
Having the latest annual releases like FIFA and Madden NFL is a nice perk for sports gamers. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is considered one of the best narrative-driven action games in the catalog. Titanfall 2 is a critically acclaimed first-person shooter. And Plants vs. Zombies appeals to those looking for fun casual gaming.
What are the Key Benefits of EA Play on PlayStation?
Let‘s explore some of the most valuable benefits EA Play provides specifically for PS4 and PS5 gamers:
Play New Games Early with Trials
One of the best perks is getting early access trials to brand new EA releases before launch. You can play upcoming blockbuster games for up to 10 hours during an exclusive pre-release window.
- Try out highly anticipated titles like FIFA, Madden, Need for Speed, and Battlefield.
- Experience new gameplay features and modes before launch.
- Carry over progress if you decide to purchase the full game.
This allows you to get a sizable taste of new EA games about a week before launch to help inform your buying decision.
Discounted EA Purchases Add Up
While 10% off may not seem like huge savings at first glance, it can add up substantially for avid EA gamers making multiple purchases per year.
Some examples:
- Annual sports games like FIFA and Madden cost $59.99 standard, so you save $6 per title.
- Full expansions like The Sims 4kits cost $9.99 – take 10% off and get for $8.99 instead.
- 10% off a $99.99 in-game currency pack brings it down to $89.99.
For players who buy 3-4 new EA releases plus DLC packs annually, the discount can easily offset the $29.99 annual membership cost.
Enjoy EA‘s Biggest Franchises
EA Play grants access to many of EA‘s popular franchises that PlayStation owners are often invested in, such as:
- FIFA – Consistently a top seller on PS4 and PS5 consoles. Football/soccer fans can play the latest titles.
- Madden NFL – A staple game for NFL fans, always updated annually.
- Star Wars – Galactic action and Jedi adventures from a galaxy far, far away.
- The Sims – Bestselling life simulation franchise with broad appeal. Build dream homes and live virtual lives.
- Battlefield – Iconic first-person shooter series for multiplayer mayhem.
Being able to download and play so many flagship EA series is valuable for multi-genre gamers.
Low Monthly Cost to Access Lots of Games
At only $4.99 per month, EA Play provides outstanding value in terms of cost per game. For the monthly fee, you gain access to a vault of 69 included titles – over 9 games for just $5.
New subscribers can experience this through the free trial. But even after that, the ongoing low monthly cost keeps dozens of games accessible at a fraction of normal purchase prices.
No Need to Commit to Annual Subscription
The monthly plan at $4.99 per month provides maximum flexibility. You aren‘t locked into an annual contract.
This allows you to subscribe just during peak sports gaming seasons like fall/winter for annual releases of FIFA, Madden, and NHL games. Or temporarily during release months of big new EA titles you want early trial access to.
Once you‘ve played to your satisfaction, you can simply cancel the monthly membership until the next season or major release.
What About EA Play on Xbox Game Pass?
An interesting note is that EA Play is actually included at no extra cost as part of an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for Xbox users. This grants Ultimate members full access to the Play catalog and benefits without paying anything additional.
In contrast, PlayStation EA Play remains a completely separate paid subscription. Although notably, PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now don‘t currently offer any free access to EA titles either.
So while Xbox owners get EA Play bundled in, PlayStation gamers have to subscribe individually – but still get strong value for the very reasonable $4.99 monthly fee.
Is EA Play Worth It for PlayStation Players?
Whether EA Play offers good value really boils down to your personal gaming preferences and budget. Let‘s weigh some of the key pros and cons:
Potential Benefits
- Play and explore lots of EA games for only $5/month
- Early access to brand new releases before launch
- Discounts can provide real savings for frequent EA buyers
- Low commitment with the monthly membership option
Potential Drawbacks
- More limited selection focused just on EA games
- Vault availability rotates as titles come and go
- Doesn‘t cover every single EA release or all DLC
- Xbox includes it free with Game Pass Ultimate
Overall, EA Play isn‘t essential, but it can certainly be worthwhile for many PlayStation gamers at the reasonable subscription cost.
If you mainly play single player story games like The Last of Us or mostly competitive online multiplayer titles like Fortnite or Call of Duty, it may not provide enough value.
However, for fans of EA‘s sports franchises like FIFA and Madden looking forward to each new annual release, or players that enjoy titles across EA‘s broad gaming portfolio, the low monthly access fee is pretty appealing.
Casual gamers can enjoy exploring different genres at minimal cost. And the early trials provide a nice perk for anyone excited about upcoming EA releases like the next Battlefield or Need for Speed installment.
For any PlayStation owner on the fence, I‘d strongly recommend taking advantage of the free 7-day trial. This gives you a full week to browse the Play List catalog, download some titles of interest, and experience benefits like the 10% discount in action.
After hands-on time through the trial, you‘ll know if the selection and perks available justify $4.99 per month for your personal tastes as a PS4/PS5 gamer.
The Verdict: Worth Trying Thanks to the Free Trial
In closing, existing PlayStation Plus does not include EA Play access. But EA Play merits consideration as a low-cost complement to Plus for avid EA gamers, sports title fans, and multi-genre players.
The free 7-day trial makes it easy to evaluate the value based on your own gaming interests. While not essential, EA Play can be worthwhile for just $5 more per month considering the vault of games, early trials for new releases, and discounts.
So while EA Play isn‘t free with your Plus membership, no strings attached access through the trial gives PlayStation players ample opportunity to experience the benefits first-hand before paying.
