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Xbox has announced a major change to its cloud gaming service, which is included in Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. Starting in November, Game Pass plans will now have limits on the number of hours players can spend cloud gaming based on their subscription tier.
Xbox Cloud Gaming launched in 2020 and allows users to stream select games over the internet to supported mobile devices, letting them enjoy console-quality experiences on the go. There has never been a limit to using the feature, but this will soon change according to an Xbox Wire Post. In November, the number of cloud gaming hours allotted each month will be as follows:
- Game Pass Ultimate: 15 hours
- Game Pass Premium: 10 hours
- Game Pass Essential: 5 hours
“Today, eligible Game Pass subscribers can stream without these monthly hour limits,” reads Xbox’s post. “We recognize that introducing limits is a meaningful change, particularly for players who regularly spend more time gaming through the cloud. We expect this upcoming change to impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers.”
Xbox adds that once players use up the hours of cloud gaming play time included in their monthly subscription, they can purchase additional hours. This pricing has not been detailed yet, and will vary by market. Additionally, players can now use cloud gaming without subscribing to Game Pass by purchasing cloud playtime hours à la carte to stream games on supported devices. Xbox promises to provide information on pricing for playtime hours, the eligible games, how to check remaining hours, and more in November.
As for why Xbox is making this change, it states, “We’re introducing this model because the cost of providing cloud gaming grows as more people use it and play for longer. Moving to monthly limits allows us to keep offering the service while continuing to invest in its reliability and performance. We understand that for some players the practical result is a higher cost.”
This move is the latest big change in a year full of them for Xbox. Following the appointment of current CEO Asha Sharma in February, the company has undergone a massive restructuring, resulting in 3,000 layoffs across the entire Xbox division and the splitting off of five internal development studios. Xbox Game Pass subscriptions dropped in price in response to a previous hike, but Xbox consoles had another price increase in the past month. Most recently, Xbox announced a program letting players use their physical game discs to claim entitlement to their digital counterparts. These big shifts come as Xbox prepares its next-generation console, Project Helix.