This isn’t such a bad idea actually, even if it’s just to be free of the incessant ad content.
So you know Xbox Game Pass, PS Plus, and all of those such subscription services? Well, Google Play is jumping onto the bandwagon and joining the club in providing for their clients. Technically this has been around since 23 September 2019 in the US but you know, we’re in South Africa so that’s pretty self-explanatory.
So far you should already know about the free-to-join Points Reward system that Google Play launched a while back; where you earn points for purchasing content, in-app purchase, and general downloads and you can then use these points for discounts, in-app purchases, or Play Store credit. There are various levels from Bronze to Platinum and the higher your level, the better your perks.
What Is Google Play Pass?
It’s pretty simple really just like any other gaming subscription service. More closely compared for the fact that this is more mobile-focused, is Apple Arcade, except that Google Play Pass offers both games and applications whereas Apple Arcade only offers games.
Google Play Pass is accessible on any of your devices so long as you have Google Play installed on those additional devices. This subscription service will cost you R42.99 per month or R385.99 annually; it does auto-renew, so just keep that in mind for the subscription.
If you so choose you can also set up to have a family account where you can share this subscription with up to five other members. Just keep in mind that if you do cancel the subscription, certain (not all, but majority) of the content acquired through Play Pass will no longer be available for you nor the additional members (you will still have access to your downloads ad-free until the end of the subscription).
This doesn’t mean that everything you download will be accessible to every member, each member will still have their own email/account linked to the subscription.
If you are a developer and would like in on this, you can learn more and there is a nifty little nomination form that you can fill out.
Although things were off to a rocky start, things are starting to pick up. There’s hundreds of applications and games available on this subscription service, but do note that obviously not everything is available on it, they do however regularly update what’s available so there’s always something to keep an eye on.
Some of the more recent add-ins are Botanicula, Evoland 2, Night of the Full Moon, The Ramen Sensai, and a bunch more games, applications include Photo Editor and PicLab. They will of course occasionally remove some content from the service as with any gaming subscription service.
One of the biggest lingering questions we all have is, “what’s the bet that we are going to be stuck with in-app purchases?” because I think that we can all relate to that frustration of buying a game that’s “ad and in-app purchase free” only to be inundated with, well, ads and in-app purchases somewhere down the line.
Do not despair, Google Play Pass is (for now) completely in-app purchase free. It’s likely that the application will focus more on the less micro-transaction-laden apps and games, but it’s still worth something.
You’ll also have access to free downloading of the more premium apps and games, so there’s that. It also supposedly includes the benefit of if you download a game that still requires the full-game download, you will already get that at no cost.
Introducing Google Play Pass
You will also be completely free of these pesky ads that seem to besiege our entire existence from everything like a simple mobile game to YouTube and even Facebook scrolling.
Google Play Pass allows for a trial period spanning over one month, thereafter you will be charged the monthly subscription fee unless cancelled.