Microsoft is introducing monthly Xbox Cloud Gaming limits for Game Pass subscribers. Unlimited cloud gaming access, which has been in place for about a year, will end in November. The Xbox team announced the change on Thursday on the official Xbox Wire blog.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Limits by Tier
The hourly caps vary by subscription type. Game Pass Ultimate at $22.99 a month will get 15 hours, Game Pass Premium at $14.99 10 hours, and Game Pass Essential at $9.99 just 5 hours. Anyone who exhausts their limit will be able to purchase additional hours through the Xbox Store. Microsoft has not yet disclosed exact pricing. According to Windows Central, purchased hour packages will also not have an expiration date, so unused time will not be lost.
The Change Will Affect Four Percent of Subscribers
"We recognize that introducing limits is a significant change, especially for players who regularly spend more time playing in the cloud," the Xbox team stated in the post, adding: "We expect this upcoming change to affect four percent of Game Pass subscribers."
"We are introducing this model because the costs of providing cloud gaming grow as more people use it and play for longer periods," Microsoft said in a statement quoted by CNBC. According to the company, the transition to monthly limits will allow it to continue offering the service while investing in its reliability and performance. The company admitted that for some players, the practical result is a higher price.
Cloud Gaming Without a Subscription
At the same time, the change opens up Xbox Cloud Gaming to people without a Game Pass subscription. They will be able to buy hours to stream games they own on supported devices. According to Windows Central, Microsoft promises details in November on pricing, supported games, and how players can check their remaining time.