EA Access will be free next week on Xbox One

By Gabe Gurwin January 16, 2016

EA Access feat. The Lucas Brothers - Play First Trials

EA Access, a subscription service that allows Xbox One users to play some of the publisher’s biggest releases, has become a significantly better value since it originally launched in 2014. For $5 a month, you have unlimited access to Titanfall, Battlefield Hardline, FIFA 15, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. If you’re still not sure whether or not to give the service a try, EA is offering a free trial next week.

“Get ready for the release of Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 by binging on the original,” says Xbox’s Will Tuttle. “Your characters earned carry over — plus EA Access members get 10% off EA games, and get to play GW2 before it hits shelves.”

The timing of this announcement was certainly designed to get players hooked on PopCap’s shooter. Garden Warfare 2 is currently in open beta, which ends on January 18, the day before the EA Access free week begins. It includes access to the new “Herbal Assault” mode, as well as new characters like “Captain Deadbeard” and “Kernel Corn.” Because your unlocks from the original game carry over into the sequel, it will be interesting to see how many trial users marathon Garden Warfare to get a leg up on the competition.

This isn’t the only recent news regarding EA Access. The service also made its way to PC as “Origin Access,” offering several of the same games as the console program in addition to PC exclusives like SimCity and The Sims 3. Sony has thus far not agreed to include EA Access on PlayStation systems, calling it a poor value back in 2914.

EA Access will be free for all Xbox Live Gold users from January 19 until January 24. Any progress you make in the games will be carried over if you decide to sign up for a subscription.

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Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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