I'm pretty sure Microsoft is getting this for free actually. Why would they pay? It is all good for EA and Microsoft. It is not like an exclusivity deal or something.  It is a good opportunity for EA and Microsoft is just happy that Sony passed on this as they can tag it as "exclusive".

Quite simple, they are trying to promote their new console. Henry is right, a deal for something like this in EA's case not being on Origin/PC is just odd. Maybe Henry is right, EA were making Sony pay for the privilege of having the service.

Why wouldn't they let their customers decide what is of value and what isn't? Sounds like they are bitter.

Following EA’s announcement of the company’s new subscription program, Access, we were curious about it being tied only to Xbox One. We reached out to Sony for clarification, and it seems like PlayStation 4 owners shouldn’t hold their breath for the program.

“We evaluated the EA Access subscription offering and decided that it does not bring the kind of value PlayStation customers have come to expect,” a Sony representative told us via email. “PlayStation Plus memberships are up more than 200% since the launch of PlayStation 4, which shows that gamers are looking for memberships that offer a multitude of services, across various devices, for one low price. We don’t think asking our fans to pay an additional $5 a month for this EA-specific program represents good value to the PlayStation gamer.”

EA's Access program costs $5 per month or $30 per year and offers discounts to members, free (while membership is active) catalog titles, and pre-release access to game trials up to five days in advance. The program is in beta now, with Xbox One preview members getting first access yesterday evening. FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2, and Battlefield 4 kick off the program as free-with-membership titles.

While Sony could certainly change its mind down the line, we don’t expect that to happen any time soon. For more on EA Access, check out yesterday’s coverage.



Our Take
While EA Access might not be coming to PS4, I wouldn’t necessarily count out the publisher’s games in PS Plus. There is still value for EA there, especially as those free-with-membership games have great potential to move the needle for DLC that has long since dropped down the sales chart.

This also doesn't mean that Sony can't change its mind later. If demand is great enough and value increases, EA Access could migrate over down the road. For now though, this is a clear statement that PS4 players shouldn't hold their breath for the program.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/07/30/sony-ea-access-doesn_2700_t-represent-good-value-to-the-playstation-gamer.aspx

so you are saying different people have different opinions? fantastic observation. 

I just can't see this as the kind of thing you could use to promote a console. Exclusive game, yes, but a subscription service that allows you to play old games? That doesn't really sound like a sexy system seller to me. Atleast not enough to make MS fork up some cash for the privelege, and to even fork up enough cash to keep it off PC as well. I'm fuzzy on the details but if this is a streaming service it would be more difficult on the 360 do to its lack of RAM, so maybe that is why its not coming there.

If MS did pay for this then that was an incredibly dumb move. You really think EA would refuse to put this service on a console? They have to put it somewhere and consoles are their bread and butter. If both sony and MS refused to pay you really think EA would just scrap it? No, they'd put it on the platform because they'd make more money off sales than whatever the platform holders would have paid. I think Sony just genuinely refused to allow the service on their system just like they said.