EA Play will be part of Xbox Game Pass for ‘quite a while’, Microsoft says

The addition of EA Play to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service appears to be part of a long-term agreement between Microsoft and EA.

As of November 10, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on console get an EA Play membership at no additional cost, granting members unlimited access to full versions of selected EA back catalogue games. Game Pass PC subscribers will enjoy the same benefit beginning on December 15.

EA Play also offers early access trials of most new EA games, including FIFA 21 and Madden NFL 21, and members receive a 10 percent discount on EA digital purchases.

In an interview with Gaming Bible, Xbox marketing GM Aaron Greenberg suggested the deal struck with EA is a long-term one, although he didn’t rule out the possibility of EA Play being withdrawn from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in the future.

“So right now we have a significant partnership with EA Play,” he said. “And while we’re not going to say never, never, but this is not something that’s just a short period of time. So this is a significant addition, and this is going to remain in the service for quite a while.

“So people should, just like you see, what if you compare to other subscription services like Netflix, and you know, where if it’s a Netflix Originals, those kind of stay on forever, if it’s something that they licence what’s made independently, it’s sort of up to the rights of the content owners.

“The same applies here,” Greenberg continued, “but EA is invested in Game Pass, just like we’re invested in helping support the EA Play catalogue. And we think, you know, ultimately, gamers are gonna be the ones that are going to win here.”

Further reading

New Xbox Game Pass titles for console, PC and Android announced, including Control

Plus, Call of the Sea, Haven, Greedfall and Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

Greenberg also said Microsoft is “open to” more marketing partnerships and co-promotions with other subscription services, having previously offered Xbox Game Pass members six months of Spotify Premium and a 30-day Disney+ trial.

Microsoft recently detailed the latest wave of titles coming to Xbox Game Pass for console, PC and Android.

Call of the Sea, Monster Sanctuary and Starbound joined the service today. Unto the End will be added to Game Pass tomorrow, followed by Assetto Corsa, Gang Beasts, GreedFall, Superhot: Mind Control Delete, and Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair on December 10.