Microsoft is implementing a hard cap on Xbox Cloud Gaming for Game Pass subscribers, marking a shift from the previously unlimited streaming. Starting in November, subscribers will have limited cloud streaming hours: 5 hours for Game Pass Essential, 10 hours for Premium, and 15 hours for Ultimate. After reaching their limit, users will have to purchase additional hours through the Xbox Store.
Microsoft anticipates that only about 4% of subscribers will be affected by this change, suggesting that most casual gamers may not notice the difference. However, for heavy users relying on cloud gaming, this could be a significant impact. The pricing for additional hours has not yet been announced, but the company acknowledged that this adjustment will likely increase costs for some players.
Furthermore, while Xbox’s new limits appear conservative compared to NVIDIA GeForce Now’s 100-hour monthly cap for its top subscription tier, Microsoft cites rising cloud infrastructure costs as the driving factor behind the decision. This move appears to align with broader efforts to enhance profitability following recent layoffs within the company.
