Katarzyna Petru
The subscription model has firmly established itself in the gaming industry. Services like Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus offer access to hundreds of titles for a fixed monthly fee. For many players, this is a convenient solution that allows them to test new releases without spending hundreds of dollars on launch day. On the other hand, rising subscription prices and the increasingly shorter presence of games in catalogs are causing users to analyze real costs more closely. Is the subscription actually worth it, or is it just an illusion of savings?
How much does it really cost to play on a subscription?
The average price of a major release in 2026 is around 300–350 PLN. The annual cost of a premium subscription ranges from 400–700 PLN depending on the platform and package level. If you play three or four major titles available through subscription in a year, the math starts to make sense.
The problem arises when you mainly play one or two specific games a year. In such scenarios, purchasing the game outright can be cheaper, especially if you take advantage of promotions or the secondary market. Subscription is most beneficial for those who regularly try out new titles and do not become attached to one game for months.
Ownership vs. Access
When you buy a game digitally or in a box, you have permanent access to it. In the case of subscriptions, the situation is different – titles rotate in the catalog and can disappear at any time. This means that if you don't manage to finish a game, you may be forced to buy it.
On the other hand, subscriptions often offer releases on the day of debut, which eliminates the risk of paying the full amount for a production that does not meet expectations. For players who enjoy experimenting, this is a significant advantage.
Subscription Psychology
A subscription provides a sense of “unlimited access,” but in practice, many people only use a small part of the catalog. The monthly fee is often treated like a regular bill, which becomes unnoticeable. Only after a year does it become apparent that the total spending is comparable to purchasing several titles outright.
That’s why more and more players are starting to calculate the actual hours spent on games available through the service. If the cost of one hour of entertainment is low, the subscription makes sense. However, if the account is active “just in case,” the profitability drops quickly.
Game subscriptions in 2026 can still be worth it, but not for everyone. The biggest benefits go to players who regularly play a wide variety of titles and take advantage of day-one releases. However, if you buy one or two games per year and return to them for months, purchasing games outright may be the more sensible option. In the world of subscriptions, one rule matters most: calculate consciously instead of subscribing automatically.
