EA has today unveiled plans to combine its subscription services EA Access and Origin Access Basic intro a single package called EA Play, which will go into effect from Tuesday, Aug. 18.
In terms of new features, it’s essentially the exact same services rolled into one. Existing Origin and EA Access customers aren’t required to update any existing details, nor will they have to worry about any additional charges.
Monthly prices remain the same; EA Access currently runs for $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year. Origin Access is the same price, with Origin Access Premier running $19.99 a month or $129.99 a year.
The intent is to streamline EA’s subscriptions into a single package that the publisher presumably hopes customers will more easily be able to locate and understand moving forward. The decision comes just days after EA announced that EA Access will be available via Steam for the first time.
EA Play customers can expect the same early access to new EA games and the 10% discount that was part of EA Access, as well as “things like early access challenges and rewards like Ultimate Team Packs, exclusive vanity items and cosmetics, and more.”
As for the annual event of a similar name, EA is quick to clarify that EA Play and EA Play Live are unrelated. The latter will presumably continue next year in the same capacity, a showcase “dedicated to sharing the latest EA news and game updates with our global community.”