EA Play Limited-Time Free Game Claims for Xbox Subscribers During Holiday Promotions

Recent holiday promotions through EA Play, accessible via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions, have enabled claims of select full games at no additional cost for limited periods. These offers, part of Christmas celebrations running daily until December 26, require an active subscription and are available only on specific days. Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2, including its Deluxe Edition with bonus Deluxe Upgrade DLC, was claimable for free on December 22. Once claimed, the game binds permanently to the Xbox account, with no immediate installation required. Similar one-day-only deals previously included Battlefield 1 and Star Wars Battlefront 2. Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition was listed in initial announcements but had not appeared as of the latest reports.

Past and Ended EA Free Game Programs

EA previously operated an "On the House" program, which provided periodic free game downloads such as Theme Hospital, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and titles from the Battlefield series. This initiative ended on July 30, 2018, coinciding with the launch of the paid Origin Access Premier subscription tier. Users who claimed games prior to the shutdown retained access, but the On the House page redirected to subscription promotions thereafter.

In 2011, Battlefield Heroes offered exclusive in-game rewards for logging in between June 30, 3:00 PM PT, and July 7, 11:59 PM PT. Rewards included two Party Packs (one Royal, one National), each containing 77 Battlefunds, 25 Festive Flares, a permanent Party Hat, and a seven-day Birthday Suit rental. These were accessible via the "My Stuff" menu under "Rewards." Battlefield Heroes was described as a free-to-play third-person shooter.

Ongoing Free Rewards and Free-to-Play Titles

For the early access game Skate, players received 2000 Tix and 500 SVBs as compensation for reported issues including bugs, glitches, progression locks, and performance problems. These rewards required logging in between the announcement and the end of Season 2 on December 2. Not all in-game currency carries over to subsequent seasons.

EA maintains a roster of free-to-play games available on console, PC, and mobile, including Apex Legends, FIFA Mobile, and Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes. No subscription is required for these titles.

Subscription Requirements and Claim Process

All recent holiday free game offers mandate an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or EA Play subscription. Claims occur through the Xbox store, where eligible titles appear at 100% off for the designated day. A forum report mentions searching the store to locate the free listing for Battlefield 1, with uncertainty about premium pass inclusion, as such content is typically excluded from subscriptions.

Reliability Notes on Reports

Information on current holiday promotions derives from gaming news sites, with partial confirmation from official EA announcements. Older programs like On the House and Battlefield Heroes rewards are documented on EA's site and archived news. User-generated forum posts, such as those questioning premium pass availability, are treated as unverified.

Conclusion

EA Play provides time-sensitive opportunities for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to claim full games like Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 Deluxe Edition permanently during holiday periods ending December 26. Historical freebies through ended programs and login rewards offer context on past access methods, while free-to-play titles remain available without cost. Details on eligibility and processes are limited to subscription status and one-day claim windows.

Sources

1. Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate EA Play Free Christmas
2. Freebies No More or the Paid Lunch EA Abandons On the House Program
3. Battlefield Heroes Prepares for War with Exclusive Freebies
4. Skate Players Getting Free Rewards for Issues Some But Not All Currency Will Carry Over
5. EA Games Library Free to Play
6. EAs Next Free Xbox Game Is Now Available to Claim
7. PSA Battlefield 1 Premium Pass Free with Game Pass EA Play Updated with More Freebies