Skip to main content

Long-term EA Access subscribers get free 2TB hard drives as a thank you

ea access subscriber freeby eaaccessfree
KeithDodson/Twitter
To say thanks for those who have helped make EA Access what it is, Electronic Arts is now sending out 2TB external hard drives to long-term subscribers, free of charge. Users have been receiving the totally unannounced EA care package and reporting it on social media.

“Thanks for being an EA Access member from the start — there’s no one we’d rather have spent all those weekendlong and all-night gaming marathons with than you,” reads the note included with the care pack. “We figured with the 40+ games in the Vault, you could use some extra hard drive space, plus a little extra something to get your whole crew on board.”

Recommended Videos

The package contains the 2TB version of Seagate’s Game Drive for Xbox, along with the note and three one-month EA Access membership codes. In total, that’s a $100-plus pack going out free of charge.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

It even showed up on the doorsteps of big names in the gaming industry, like Microsoft’s head of Xbox, Phil Spencer.

Great to see @EAAccess recognizing the fans who have supported them from the start. Proud to have EA Access on XB1 #PlayMore  @EA pic.twitter.com/tVVMC0HknZ

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) April 3, 2017

That is rather fitting, as it was on the Xbox One that Ea Access first debuted back in 2014, only appearing on PC as Origin Access in January 2016 (thanks Gamespot). Many more typical EA Access members have received the freebies too though, so if you’ve been a longtime subscriber yourself and haven’t received anything yet, keep your fingers crossed.

For the uninitiated, EA Access is a subscription service which gives gamers access to a number of titles as part of the EA “Vault.” They can download and play them in an unlimited capacity, so there are no limits on the number of games played or how long they are played for.

The platform also occasionally hosts Early Access releases like the Mass Effect: Andromeda free-play period launched earlier this year.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
3 new PS Plus games that you should play this weekend (December 20-22)
Frey in Square Enix's Forspoken.

The latest batch of new PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium game catalog additions was released this week. As a result, PS Plus subscribers have a ton of new options when it comes to what to play as we approach what is many people's holiday break. Games from this most recent batch are what I'm recommending people check out this weekend. One of the titles is technically a Christmas game, so it's fitting to play this time of year, while my other recommendations are good options if you're looking for something to play with others.
Forspoken
Forspoken - Official Launch Trailer

Square Enix's Forspoken is a high-profile action RPG console exclusive that was released on PlayStation 5 in 2023. While its quip-heavy dialogue definitely isn't for everyone, the way it incorporates the player's magical abilities into combat and traversal is truly exhilarating. Dashing through large fields, surfing on top of water, and launching bullet-like streams of rocks at enemies is immensely satisfying. Forspoken's Isekai adventure technically begins with the main character, Frey, being whisked away from New York City around Christmas. That technically makes this a Christmas game, giving you all the more reason to check it out this weekend.

Read more
We might get a new Steam Deck next month — and Valve isn’t making it
The Steam Deck OLED on a pink background.

I expected to see some new handheld gaming PCs this year at CES, but it looks like something even more exciting is in store. AMD and Lenovo are hosting an event during the week of the show, and it'll have two special guests in attendance: Valve's Pierre-Loup Griffais and Microsoft's Jason Ronald.

I'll be attending the event on January 7, about which Sean Hollister over at The Verge initially shared out the details. There are a couple of reasons why this event could be significant. First, Valve. Since the launch of the Asus ROG Ally, there have been a handful of these types of events featuring spokespeople from AMD, Microsoft, and the company making a handheld -- Lenovo or Asus. Valve hasn't ever been in attendance, and considering Valve makes the Linux-based Steam Deck, it would be odd for the company to have a presence.

Read more
Star Citizen’s 4.0 update supports 500 players per server
star citizen hits one million backers fighter

Star Citizen is the stuff dreams of made of, even if the long development time may feel more like a never-ending fever dream. Cloud Imperium Games has raised more than $750 million in funding and spent over 12 years building up Star Citizen's world piece by piece, and now up to 500 players can wander across the same galactic server in the new Pyro system.

One thing to note: this isn't the full release of the game. Cloud Imperium says it still has improvements it wants to make before releasing a stable version, so consider Star Citizen 4.0 something like an alpha. Even if it isn't all the way finished, this latest update gives more of a glimpse into the final vision that Cloud Imperium has for the title.

Read more