Xbox Cloud Gaming
Microsoft Prepares Free Ad-Supported Xbox Cloud Gaming Service
Highlights
- Microsoft to launch an ad-supported, free Xbox Cloud Gaming tier with session and monthly time limits for non-Game Pass subscribers.
- Users can stream select owned titles, Free Play Days games, and Xbox Retro Classics following two minutes of ads per session.
- Service will be available across PC, consoles, handhelds, and web, with a public beta expected before the full rollout in the coming months.
Microsoft is set to launch a free, ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming, with internal employee testing now underway and a public beta expected soon. This new service will allow users to play a rotating selection of games, including user-owned, Free Play Days titles, and Xbox Retro Classics, without an Xbox Game Pass subscription. The move marks a major shift in Microsoft’s game streaming strategy, aiming to lower barriers for gamers while leveraging advertising to offset costs.
Microsoft’s Free Ad-Supported Service To Offer Five Hours of Usage Per Month
The ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming will let users stream selected games for free across PC, Xbox consoles, mobile devices, and browsers. Access comes with caveats like two minutes of preroll commercials before each gaming session begins, with individual sessions capped at one hour and an overall monthly cap of five hours per user during internal testing. Microsoft has indicated these limits could change once the service officially launches, but the ad requirement is set to remain.
Content available in this free tier will include certain games owned by the user’s Microsoft account, games made available during Xbox’s “Free Play Days” promotional weekends, and classic retro Xbox titles. Game streaming quality is likely to be limited compared to paid Game Pass tiers, as recent updates raised resolution and bitrate for Ultimate subscribers while standard and Essential plans remain restricted to 1080p and lower speeds.
All three paid Game Pass tiers will continue to offer unlimited cloud gaming, while non-subscribers using the free version may also encounter longer wait times and more limited game libraries.
Microsoft’s push to introduce ad-supported game streaming comes in the wake of significant price hikes for Game Pass, making the free tier especially appealing to price-sensitive gamers or those seeking to sample Xbox’s cloud platform. With the upcoming public beta, Microsoft aims to expand access and onboard new users globally, signaling a more flexible future for cloud-based gaming and monetization beyond traditional subscriptions.
Author
Abhimannu Das is a web journalist at Outlook India with a focus on Indian pop culture, gaming, and esports. He has over 10 years of journalistic experience and over 3,500 articles that include industry deep dives, interviews, and SEO content. He has worked on a myriad of games and their ecosystems, including Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends.
Abhimannu Das is a web journalist at Outlook India with a focus on Indian pop culture, gaming, and esports. He has over 10 years of journalistic experience and over 3,500 articles that include industry deep dives, interviews, and SEO content. He has worked on a myriad of games and their ecosystems, including Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends.
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