Microsoft Tests Ad-Supported Free Xbox Cloud Gaming, No Game Pass Required
Microsoft is reportedly planning to introduce an ad-supported free version of Xbox Cloud Gaming, allowing players to stream games on PC, Xbox consoles, handheld devices, and the web without a Game Pass subscription. According to IGN India, citing The Verge, the feature is currently being tested internally. While a public test may begin soon, the official release is still expected to be months away.
The report suggests that Microsoft may show around two minutes of ads before a game becomes playable and could limit free sessions to one hour at a time, with a maximum of five hours per month. However, these details are yet to be confirmed, and the company has not released any official statement regarding the ad-supported service.
This move comes shortly after Microsoft faced backlash for raising the price of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which increased from $19.99 to $29.99 per month in the US, and from Rs 829 to Rs 1,389 in India. If implemented, the ad-supported free Xbox Cloud Gaming could make the service accessible to a wider audience, removing the previous necessity to own a Game Pass subscription to access cloud gaming.
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