Following the well-received launch of Apple Arcade, Google today is officially introducing its own take on subscription-based access to premium mobile games - or, in Google's case, premium mobile apps, too. The new Google Play Pass subscription, arriving this week, will offer over 350 apps and games that are completely unlocked, with no upfront fees, in-app purchases, or advertisements. And the initial price point is something of a no-brainer - it's just $1.99 per month for the first year, Google says. That price will increase to $4.99 per month after the first 12 months have passed, which is the same price as Apple Arcade at launch. This launch promotion is only available until October 10, 2019, however.

The two services are similar in concept, as both are providing a large library of premium content for a monthly subscription. But there are some differences between the two. For starters, Apple Arcade is filled with exclusives - meaning its games will not be found on Andriod. The reverse is not true for Google Play Pass. Instead, the Play Pass catalog includes many cross-platform titles, including some that even found their fame first on iOS, like ustwo's Monument Valley.

Notable launch titles include Stardew Valley, Risk, Terraria, Monument Valley, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Reigns: Game of Thrones, Titan Quest, and Wayward Souls. Some lesser-known additions include LIMBO, Lichtspeer, Mini Metro, and Old Man's Journey. Others, like This War of Mine and Cytus, are coming soon. And for little kids, there are some preschooler-friendly titles like Toca Boca classics and the My Town series. In addition, Play Pass's launch titles aren't all games. There are also ad-free versions of popular mobile apps, like AccuWeather, Facetune, and Pic Stitch, for example.

Play Pass subscriptions can be shared with up to five family members and also integrate with Google's parental controls for the Play Store. Unlike Apple, Google isn't requiring more stringent privacy standards from apps included in Play Pass — though the removal of all ads is a big step forward for many of them.