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Game Pass Streaming Caps Hit
4 Sep
Summary
- Game Pass streaming will face monthly time limits starting November.
- Subscribers will face new limits on Xbox Cloud Gaming time.
- Microsoft states limits affect only 4% of subscribers.
Starting November, Microsoft will implement monthly streaming time limits across its Game Pass subscriptions, a significant shift from unlimited access previously offered with Game Pass Ultimate.
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will receive 15 hours of streaming time per month, while Game Pass Premium will be capped at 10 hours, and Game Pass Essential at 5 hours. Although Microsoft has indicated that additional streaming time may become available for purchase, specific details regarding pricing and availability have not yet been shared. Access to games via download remains unchanged for all subscribers.
The company states that these new restrictions will only affect approximately 4% of its Game Pass subscriber base. This adjustment is attributed to the increasing costs associated with providing cloud gaming services, particularly the significant computing resources required for running games on remote servers. Microsoft aims to continue investing in the service's reliability and performance through this new model.
This change comes years after Microsoft envisioned a future where cloud gaming would be a primary method of accessing games. While competitors like Sony offer unlimited streaming on their top-tier PlayStation Plus Premium plan, and Nvidia's GeForce Now has session-based limits, Microsoft's move signals a notable evolution in its cloud gaming strategy.
