Xbox is implementing monthly time limits for its cloud gaming service for subscribers of its Game Pass subscription plan. These changes, set to take effect in November, will cap streaming time for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers at 15 hours per month. After reaching this limit, users will need to purchase additional cloud play time.
Xbox stated that the new restrictions are a response to the increasing costs associated with cloud gaming. The company aims to use these measures to continue investing in the service's reliability and performance. Different subscription tiers will have varying limits: Premium users will be allocated 10 hours per month, while those on the basic Essential tier will have five hours before needing to pay for extra usage.
The company noted that approximately 4% of Game Pass subscribers utilize the cloud gaming feature. Given Game Pass has 30 million subscribers, this suggests around 1.2 million users could be impacted by the new limitations.
Cloud gaming allows players to stream games from remote servers, enabling them to play titles without downloading them onto their local devices. This technology requires significant infrastructure, similar to that used for AI services.
Xbox also announced that starting in November, individuals will be able to access cloud gaming without a Game Pass subscription by purchasing cloud playtime hours directly through the Xbox store. The cost for these additional hours has not yet been revealed.