Xbox Imposes Playtime Caps on Cloud Gaming Service
Microsoft's Xbox gaming division is making significant changes to its cloud gaming services. Starting in November, the company will impose monthly playtime caps on subscribers to its Game Pass service.
The move aims to contain operational expenses as demand for cloud gaming continues to grow. To accommodate this shift, Microsoft will introduce a tiered system with varying hour limits depending on the subscription plan:
Game Pass Ultimate: 15 hours per month
Game Pass Premium: 10 hours per month
Game Pass Essential: 5 hours per month
The change affects about 4% of Game Pass subscribers, with players able to purchase additional gameplay hours once they hit their allotted thresholds. The company has not yet disclosed the pricing structure for these top-up packages.
Xbox also announced that non-Game Pass subscribers will have the option to buy standalone cloud time to stream titles they already own.