Xbox Reportedly Preparing Free Cloud Gaming With Ads; No Game Pass Needed

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Xbox Attempts To Offer Alternate For Cloud Gamers!

Story Highlight
  • Xbox is said to be testing a new ad-based cloud gaming service internally.
  • The service will forego the need for Game Pass and allow users access to a select list of titles to stream.
  • Ads will also be part of the offerings, and a public beta is expected in the near future.

Xbox has recently upped the prices of its consoles and subscription service. Game Pass Ultimate now costs as much as $30, leading to many gamers criticizing the new pricing structure.

However, Microsoft seems to have an ace up its sleeve. According to reports, free access to Xbox Cloud Gaming is set to go live soon.

Why it matters: Microsoft hopes to push cloud gaming as a big part of the gaming division over the next few years. This is just one in a long list of steps being taken to achieve this goal.

xCloud Xbox
xCloud launched back in 2018 and has over 10 million users

Tom Warren from The Verge states that internal testing of the project is already underway. Microsoft currently plans to introduce an ad-supported tier of the streaming service, which will support a select number of games.

Eligible Free Play Days games will also be part of the package, in addition to Xbox Retro Classics offerings. It is said that Microsoft is testing one-hour sessions and plans to provide five hours for free every month.

These limits could still change by the time Microsoft officially announces this new tier. Moreover, a public beta is expected to show up very soon.

Xbox Series S|X
Everything From Xbox Now Costs More Than It Used To

Overall, these changes are part of Microsoft’s Game Pass revamp. The service is set to change significantly over the next few months, potentially leaving behind a large chunk of its established player base.

What do you think about Microsoft’s upcoming cloud gaming access? Would you be okay with ads during gameplay sessions? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

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