Online subscriptions, compared in pounds
Consoles charge for online multiplayer in paid games; Windows PCs do not. Here is what each service costs in the UK in 2026 and when you actually need one.
When you need one
- PlayStation. Online multiplayer in most paid games needs PS Plus, any tier. Most free-to-play games, including Fortnite and Apex Legends, do not.
- Xbox. Online multiplayer in paid games needs Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate. Free-to-play games have been exempt since 21 April 2021.
- Nintendo. Online play in most games needs Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo's UK pages name Fortnite as a free-to-play game that does not.
- PC. No platform subscription is needed for online play on Windows; you only need the game and a connection.
Playing alone, and local split-screen on one console, never needs a subscription.
What each costs
| Service | 1 month | 3 months | 12 months | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS Plus Essential | £7.99 | £21.99 | £59.99 | Online play, monthly games, cloud saves |
| PS Plus Extra | £11.99 | £34.99 | £99.99 | Adds the Game Catalogue of downloadable PS5 and PS4 games |
| PS Plus Premium | £14.99 | £43.99 | £119.99 | Adds classics, game trials and cloud streaming to PS5 and PlayStation Portal (adult accounts) |
| Game Pass Essential | £6.99 | — | — | Online play, 50+ games, cloud play (5 hours a month from November 2026) |
| Game Pass Premium | £10.99 | — | — | 200+ games, cloud play (10 hours a month from November 2026) |
| Game Pass Ultimate | £16.99 | — | — | 400+ games including new releases, EA Play, cloud play (15 hours a month from November 2026) |
| PC Game Pass | £10.99 | — | — | 300+ PC games; no cloud play, and not needed for PC online play |
| Nintendo Switch Online | £3.49 | £6.99 | £17.99 | Online play, cloud saves, classic games |
| Switch Online family | — | — | £31.49 | Up to eight Nintendo Accounts |
| Switch Online + Expansion Pack | — | — | £34.99 | More classic libraries; £59.99 for a family |
PlayStation raised its 1-month and 3-month prices for new customers from 20 May 2026; existing members keep their price unless the plan lapses or changes. Microsoft cut Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass prices on 21 April 2026.
Cloud streaming on top
| Service | UK price | Limits | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce NOW Free | £0 | One-hour sessions, adverts before each session, queues | 15 Mbps for 720p, 25 Mbps for 1080p |
| GeForce NOW Performance | £9.99 a month · £99.99 a year | Six-hour sessions, up to 1440p, 100 hours a month | As above |
| GeForce NOW Ultimate | £19.99 a month · £199.99 a year | Eight-hour sessions, up to 5K, 100 hours a month | As above; more for higher resolutions |
| Xbox cloud streaming | Part of Game Pass Essential, Premium and Ultimate | Monthly hours from November 2026 (5, 10 or 15) | At least 10 Mbps; 20 Mbps recommended |
| PS Plus Premium streaming | Part of PS Plus Premium | PS5 and PlayStation Portal; adult accounts only | At least 5 Mbps; 23 Mbps recommended for 1080p |
GeForce NOW streams games you already own on Steam, Epic and other stores, so the membership is on top of the game. Fortnite can be streamed through Xbox cloud streaming with just a free Microsoft account.
Our twelve, console by console
| Game | PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Legends | Not needed; free to play | Not needed; free to play | Not needed; free to play |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | PS Plus for online co-op; split-screen needs nothing | Game Pass Essential or higher for online co-op | Not on Nintendo hardware |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Not needed; single-player | Not needed; single-player | Not needed; NSO only adds cloud saves |
| Dota 2 | Not on PlayStation | Not on Xbox | Not on Nintendo hardware |
| Elden Ring | PS Plus for online co-op and invasions | Game Pass Essential or higher for online play | Nintendo Switch Online for online play |
| Final Fantasy XIV | Not needed (the game's own subscription applies) | Game Pass Essential or higher, plus the game's subscription | Not needed (Switch 2 has its own game subscription) |
| Fortnite | Not needed; free to play | Not needed; free to play | Not needed; Nintendo names Fortnite as exempt |
| Helldivers 2 | PS Plus needed for online play (it is online-only) | Game Pass Essential or higher needed | Not on Nintendo hardware |
| Marvel Rivals | Not needed; free to play | Not needed; free to play | Not on Nintendo hardware |
| Minecraft | PS Plus for online play | Game Pass Essential or higher for online play | Nintendo Switch Online for online play |
| Stardew Valley | PS Plus for online co-op; split-screen is free | Game Pass Essential or higher for online co-op | Nintendo Switch Online for online co-op and cloud saves |
| VALORANT | Not needed; free to play | Not needed; free to play | Not on Nintendo hardware |