INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Video game company EA is slowly switching its business model to recurring subscriptions
The company just launched Origin Access Premier for $15 per month or $100 per year
This subscription is only available on PC.
This isn''t EA first subscription
The company first launched EA Access on the Xbox One
For $5 per month or $30 per year, you can download a play old EA games as part of your subscription.
EA Access doesn''t include the most
But you can play the latest Fifa, Madden and Battlefield games a few months after their initial releases
Usually, EA Access games don''t include any DLC or extra content.
In addition to full games, EA Access lets you try new EA games for 10
You also get 10 percent off on EA digital purchases.
In 2016, EA launched a similar service on PC for the same price
In addition to a collection of EA games, the company partnered with Warner Bros
Interactive Entertainment and other game companies
You can find indie hits, such as The Witness, Oxenfree and Trine 2.
And now, EA is launching a more expensive subscription tier
With Origin Access Premier, you get new EA titles a few days before launch day
For instance, you&ll be able to download and play Madden NFL 19, Fifa 19, Battlefield V and Anthem when they launch in the coming
months.
Subscribers won''t have to pay for DLCs, or at least not as many
Games included in the subscription are deluxe editions (Fifa Ultimate Edition, Battlefield V Deluxe, etc.).
In order to convince people to
subscribe right away, EA is adding deluxe editions of Battlefront II, Fifa 18, Unravel Two, Fe or The Sims 4 right away.
Other companies
have launched subscription services, such as Microsoft with the Xbox Game Pass and Sony PlayStation Now
This is an interesting shift as game companies are getting ready for cloud computing.
While many people still buy games on DVDs and play on
gaming consoles, the industry is slowly going to switch to cloud gaming
You will launch a game on a server in a data center near you and stream the video feed to the device in front of you.
It doesn''t make as
much sense to own a game if you don''t even run it on your console in your living room
By creating recurring subscriptions and putting together gaming libraries, companies can increase recurring revenue.tt
