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EA announces Xbox Game Pass-esque service Origin Access Premier

EA announces Xbox Game Pass-esque service Origin Access Premier

EA has announced some new additions to its Origin Access service.

On stage at the company's E3 showcase, CEO Andrew Wilson announced Origin Access Premier. This is a new subscription service which lets consumers get their hands on brand new games on the day of release. It sounds awfully similar to Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass, which does pretty much the same thing. One side effect of this business model being used is that it does muddy reporting on just how well a game is performing - just look at Sea of Thieves as an example of that 

Projects such as Battlefield V, FIFA 19 and Anthem will be launching into the scheme. This is going to cost $14.99 per month of $99.99 fora full year.

"Millions of players have experienced the fun of playing more games through our subscription programs, and today we’re taking another groundbreaking step with Origin Access Premier," the exec said in a statement.

"Origin Access Premier unlocks unprecedented levels of choice and value for players who love PC games. For the first time in a subscription, you’re getting new games like Madden NFL 19, FIFA 19, Battlefield V and Anthem, and full access to more than 100 games from EA and other publishers with a single membership. We’re thrilled to be opening up this new way for players to access great games, with the freedom to play what they want, whenever they want."

Wilson also made reference to the publishing giant's recent acquisition of Israel-based streaming service GameFly, saying that streaming has had a profound impact on the games market.

It's looking like streaming is going to be coming to EA's platform at some point in the future.

You can see what else was on show at EA's E3 2018 press event right here


PCGamesInsider Contributing Editor

Alex Calvin is a freelance journalist who writes about the business of games. He started out at UK trade paper MCV in 2013 and left as deputy editor over three years later. In June 2017, he joined Steel Media as the editor for new site PCGamesInsider.biz. In October 2019 he left this full-time position at the company but still contributes to the site on a daily basis. He has also written for GamesIndustry.biz, VGC, Games London, The Observer/Guardian and Esquire UK.