The new PS Plus Collection proves that the best way to get free stuff is to spend a little money. Yes, that sounds counterintuitive, but just ask the super-rich: it’s true. It’s also PlayStation’s opening gambit to enlist PlayStation gamers as its loyal foot soldiers as both sides gear up for the next-gen console showdown that’s only weeks away. As the days of the current-gen consoles creep closer to single digits, the battle for platform supremacy is heating up – and we, the players, get to sit back and be the life of the party as both companies vie for our attention (and, more importantly, our money).

So what’s the big deal? What is the PS Plus Collection? Why should we care? Well, let’s dig in and take a look at what exactly the PS Plus Collection is and why PS Plus subscribers and Xbox gamers should care.

While Xbox Game Pass offers access to a large, static library of hundreds of games, PS Plus is more of an answer to the Xbox Live Gold subscription. The special privileges that come with it are similar selling points, rather than the games themselves.

PlayStation Plus subscribers get access to two games each month, which they can download to their machine and keep access to — after redeeming — for as long as they remain subscribed. However, if you miss the bus, you won’t get that game for free unless it comes back into circulation.