Microsoft slashes Xbox Cloud Gaming to simply 15 hours a month for Ultimate subscribers

Microsoft is asserting some main modifications to Xbox Cloud Gaming immediately, lower than a yr after opening up cloud gaming to its Xbox Game Pass Premium and Essential tiers. While all Game Pass plans have included limitless cloud gaming over the previous yr, from November this shall be restricted to simply 15 hours on Ultimate, 10 hours for Premium subscribers, and a measly 5 hours for Game Pass Essential.

“We recognize that introducing limits is a meaningful change, particularly for players who regularly spend more time gaming through the cloud,” says the Xbox workforce in a blog post asserting the modifications. “We expect this upcoming change to impact four percent of Game Pass subscribers.”

If you wish to use greater than the 15 hours included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you’ll must buy further cloud playtime by means of the Xbox retailer beginning in November. Microsoft isn’t revealing precise pricing and particulars immediately, however Xbox cloud gamers will have the ability to buy bundles of hours that may roll over if unused in a specific month.

Microsoft says it’s making these modifications “because the cost of providing cloud gaming grows as more people
use it and play for longer.“ While that’s undeniably true, Microsoft previously restricted Xbox Cloud Gaming access to its Game Pass Ultimate tier and then opened up access to all tiers of Game Pass nearly a year ago. Unlimited cloud gaming was one of the big additions for Game Pass Premium and Essential tiers, and now that everyone has gotten used to the new feature, they’re being asked to pay for more hours.

Xbox players use cloud gaming in a variety of different ways, including people trying out games before they download them, Xbox One owners using it to access Xbox Series X games, or gamers simply accessing Xbox games away from home on mobile devices.

These strict monthly limits could force some Xbox One owners to upgrade their consoles instead of relying on the cloud for certain games. Players who have regularly used Xbox Cloud Gaming to try out games might also think twice about doing that regularly, especially when the hourly restrictions could make that a lot more difficult on the Game Pass Essential tier.

As part of these sweeping changes, Microsoft is also opening up Xbox Cloud Gaming access to people without a Game Pass subscription. “Players will be able to purchase cloud playtime hours through the Xbox Store and stream eligible games they own on supported devices,” says the Xbox workforce. “This will provide another option for people who want occasional access to cloud gaming or do not want a recurring Game Pass subscription.”

I don’t assume these limits are going to go down properly with Xbox Game Pass subscribers, very like the unique value hikes. Microsoft was compelled to drop the value of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate six months later, however reduce new Call of Duty titles from the service in a bid to stability its prices. These newest Xbox Cloud Gaming modifications look like yet one more try to stop extra Game Pass value will increase.