OnLive Unveils Flat-Rate $10 Monthly Gaming Plan

Remote gaming service OnLive on Thursday unveiled a flat-rate monthly plan for $9.99, which will allow users unlimited access to OnLive's gaming library. OnLive likened the service to a video game version of Netflix or iTunes.

Users who already have the OnLive Game Service can access the unlimited offering, dubbed OnLive PlayPack, starting today. Other OnLive members can start using it on January 15.

At this point, OnLive PlayPack has at least a dozen games, including Ubisoft's "Prince of Persia" and Warner Bros.'s "Lego Batman." OnLive promised to ramp up to more than 40 games by the January launch date. PlayPack games will play instantly on TVs, via the OnLive Game System, or on a PC or Mac after a browser download.

OnLive offers gaming via free trials, 3- and 5-day rentals, and a la carte PlayPass options for specific new-release games. It also sells the OnLive Game System (OGS) for $99, which includes a MicroConsole and controller for OnLive game access via HDTVs. OnLive said it started shipping the OGS today.

"People love flat-rate plans for instant-play media, so it's exciting to introduce this offering to the video game market for the first time. With PlayPass games priced from $3.99 to $49.99, along with the new $9.99/mo PlayPack plan, OnLive's growing library of games will suit any budget and any type of gamer, from casual to hardcore," Steve Perlman, founder and CEO of OnLive, said in a statement.

PlayBack does not require a contract and can be cancelled at any time.

For more details, see PCMag's Hands On with OnLive's Cloud-Based Game Console and the slideshow below.

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