I’ve used nearly all of them over the years.

Here’s why I’ll never pay for a game subscription service again.

I can also sell it to recuperate part of the original purchase cost.

Game subscription services with various warning signs around.

Lucas Gouveia / How-To Geek

It’s a bit of a hassle.

Not every platform is so restrictive when it comes to digital games you own, though.

It’s one of the reasons why I buy most of my PC games on Steam.

Person’s hands holding the Steam Deck and playing a game, with a fireplace in the background.

Marcus Mears III / How-To Geek

But there’s a downside to that evolution because games regularly leave too.

Plus, you could always buy from DRM-free stores like GOG (ideal forfinding classic games).

I don’t replay many games, but there are those I return to every year or so.

Nintendo Switch game cartridges on a table.

Tim Brookes / How-To Geek

That’s great, as you’re bound to find titles that take your fancy.

Moreover, do you need constant access to all those games?

For example, the base tier of EA Play increased from $29.99/year to $39.99 in May 2024.

Xbox Game Pass website showing games leaving the service soon.

Inever buy games at launch, mainly because prices drop quickly.

Plus, once I’ve bought a game, that’s it.

I don’t have to worry about a sudden price increase making it unaffordable for me to keep playing.

EA Play pricing in the US.

Others don’t care about game ownershiprenting isn’t a new practice, after all.

And someone with plentiful free time will get great bang for their buck.

Game subscription services are not inherently bad, they’re just not right for me.