Xbox Cloud Gaming Will No Longer Be Unlimited for Game Pass Subscribers

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Xbox Cloud Gaming is about to become a lot less unlimited, as Microsoft has announced monthly streaming caps for Game Pass subscribers starting in November.

Under the new system, Game Pass Ultimate members will receive 15 hours of cloud gaming each month, Premium subscribers will get 10 hours, and Essential members will be limited to five. Anyone who goes beyond that allowance will be able to purchase additional cloud playtime through the Xbox Store.

Microsoft says the change is being introduced because operating costs have increased as more people use the service and spend longer periods streaming games. According to the company, only around four percent of current Game Pass subscribers are expected to hit the new limits based on existing usage.

That may be true, but for anyone who regularly uses Xbox Cloud Gaming as their main way to play, this is still a fairly significant downgrade. Microsoft is also expanding cloud access in another direction. Players without Game Pass will eventually be able to buy streaming hours separately and use them to play eligible games they already own.

That makes the overall strategy fairly clear. Cloud gaming is moving away from being a simple unlimited subscription perk and toward a more metered system where heavier users pay more. Microsoft has not yet revealed the price of additional hours, and more details about supported games, regional availability and how remaining playtime will be tracked are expected before the November rollout.