“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.”

Electronic Arts has announced a new subscription service that gives Xbox One owners access to some of its biggest games for a small monthly fee. Called EA Access, the service is launching to select users in beta today, with a starting price of $4.99 (£3.99) per month or $29.99 (£19.99) per year. The company says EA Access will “launch for everyone on Xbox One soon.” Paying for the subscription will get you access to what EA calls its Vault, a collection of games you’ll have unlimited access to as long as you’re subscribed. During the beta, that will include a sampling of four titles — FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2, and Battlefield 4 — though the company says more games will be added “soon.”

The service will also get you early access to some of EA’s upcoming titles. Subscribers will be able to play trials for upcoming games like Dragon Age: Inquisition and this year’s EA Sports titles “up to five days” ahead of their launch date. Additionally, EA says subscribers will save 10 percent when buying EA games through the Xbox One game store. “This is something we’ve never done before and we’re excited to share it with you,” the company says. EA calls the service a “partnership” with Microsoft, and there’s no word on whether it will be available on other platforms as well.

August’s line up of free games for your XBox Live Gold subscription was just announced and DAYUM! I want them all…

First up on XBox 360:

Motocross Madness by Bongfish GmbH (Xbox 360, $9.99 ERP)

Available Aug. 1-15, back on earth Xbox 360 gamers get to tool around the dirt tracks and mud pits of their imaginations with Motocross Madness, an off-road motorcycle racing game. Racing against the clock (or other racers) is just a small part of this one, as you’ll be able to perform tricks, run through obstacle courses, or just motor around big maps and explore as you please. Asynchronous multiplayer via social networks means you can involve your friends, even if they’re off doing something else while you’re playing. Unlimited potential!

Dishonored by Arkane Studios (Xbox 360, $19.99 ERP)

Finally, available Aug. 16-31, Xbox 360 owners get to experience Dishonored, an award-winning steampunk stealth/action title. You play Corvo, erstwhile bodyguard of the Empress, turned assassin. Your job is to protect the princess, take out the bad guys who are trying to take over the Empire, and do it all undetected. You have an arsenal of gadgets, weapons, and magical powers to help you, but the most important is your own brain. Challenges in Dishonored often have multiple solutions, so lateral thinking is more important than a quick trigger finger. You can blast your way through, too, to be sure – there’s something for everyone here – but cleverness is rewarded more than aggression.

Then for XBox One we have:

Crimson Dragon by Grounding / Land Ho! (Xbox One, $19.99 ERP)

Available Aug. 1-31, Crimson Dragon, originally an Xbox One launch title, and acts as a spiritual successor to the much-beloved Panzer Dragoon saga. It’s a fast-paced rail shooter set in a beautiful fantasy world, where you can join with up to three other players for online co-op battles. You have a half-dozen majestic draconian steeds to choose from, and they level up as you progress through the game’s epic story. Crimson Dragon also features a killer soundtrack, courtesy of Panzer Dragoon composer Saori Kobayashi.

Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut by Born Ready Games (Xbox One, $19.99 ERP)

Also available Aug. 1-31, Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut has its origins in crowdfunding platform Kickstarter and was the first title from the ID@Xbox program. You take on the role of a pilot of the titular suit, flying it against aggressors in epic space battles. One of the key hooks is that you are only a small part of these battles, with huge ships duking it out around you, and your objectives within them clearly defined – but it’s up to you to accomplish them as you see fit. With fantastic ship design, gigantic battles, and plenty of weapons and enemies to deal with, Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut gives space-sim fans on Xbox One plenty to chew on.

Crimson Dragon and Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut will replace July’s Xbox One Games with Gold titles Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition so be sure to grab them while you can!

I’ve been wanting to grab Crimson Dragon and Strike Suit Zero for a long time now, now I can, for nothing 😀

Give us your thoughts int he comments below!

So, the BETA weekend for Destiny has come and gone and i played most for the weekend on the 360 version.

Ok, I’ve played first person shooters since some of the first came along and MMO’s for as long as they’ve been around (any one that’s seen my XFire game time list will attest to that), and such, I have high impressions for both genres.

Games like Borderlands kicked things off for me int he right direction for Multiplayer shooters with an RPG element, and Destiny is very much in that vein, but has massive leanings to HALO, for obvious reasons.

BUT, this is a console game, which means it also suffers in every way a typical console based FPS falls flat.  The Controller!

HALO is spot on, its built around a controller, it has just the right amount of twitch and its easy to get going, even our own Digmbot can’t disagree with that.  Destiny, somehow, drops the ball on that perfect HALO balance.  The controls feel at times stiff, at others, too sprung.  The auto aim is more a hindrance than a help, then turning it off (thank the gods you can turn it off), the aiming then becomes clunky, especially for a twitch shooter

Then there’s the maps and map transitions.

Between maps, the loading screen is your ship flying down to the zone you are heading too…   This was cool once or twice…  The third time? I took the chance to go get a drink.

Then there is the maps themselves.   I played the same map four times for four different missions.   And every time, it started me at the same point in the map, even though I then had to slog across the map I had already done to get to the next point.  I honestly found it a little boring to do it over and over again.

Now one thing I did like was the Melee attack, as you can see in the screenshot below, it’s more a close range force push, but it has a few second cool down, meaning you can’t just run around force pushing all the enemies, and some of the enemies come at you thick and fast for sure…

So, did I like the game?

Honestly, not so much, I got bored very quickly and just wanted to go back to playing HALO.   I very much doubt I’ll get it on console, but I may change my mind next year IF and ONLY IF the rumoured PC version makes an appearance.

Did you play the beta weekend?   Let us know what you think in the comments below!

During Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at Comic-Con International 2014 Saturday night, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt and director James Gunn announced that a sequel to the film will hit theaters July 28, 2017.

Pratt and Gunn appeared on screen for the assembled crowd to share the news, and while “Guardians of the Galaxy” doesn’t soar into theaters until this Friday, August 1