Even if you pay top dollar for Game Pass, Xbox will limit cloud gaming to 15 hours
Starting in November, Microsoft will limit the Xbox Cloud gaming play time to just 5 hours for Xbox Game Pass subscribers on the cheapest tier, while the Ultimate plan gets limited to merely 15 hours per month.
Microsoft is implementing a controversial change to its Xbox Cloud Gaming allowance, which will leave many Game Pass subscribers unhappy. After previously offering unlimited cloud gaming play hours to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, Microsoft is now limiting these hours. Starting in November, Xbox will only allow 5 hours of cloud gaming for users on the Game Pass Essential plan, while Game Pass Premium subscribers will have 10 hours of cloud gaming allowance.
Even Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, who pay cash for the top-tier plan, will only receive 15 hours of cloud gaming each month. This move is not surprising, as Microsoft's official blog post explains that the increasing cost of providing cloud gaming, due to the AI boom and higher prices for memory modules and GPUs, necessitated this model.
The company aims to keep offering the service while maintaining its reliability and performance. This restriction is somewhat restrictive compared to competitors like NVIDIA's GeForce Now, which allows 100 hours of cloud gaming per month, with an option to roll over up to 15 hours into the next month. Microsoft explained that the new monthly limits will help them continue to invest in the service's reliability and performance.
The shift is not unexpected, as rising cloud infrastructure costs and hardware prices, particularly memory modules and GPUs, continue to escalate. Amazon's gaming chief recently stated that the growing cost of consoles may lead more gaming fans towards cloud-based services like Xbox Cloud, GeForce Now, and Amazon's Luna platform.
The emergence of next-gen consoles, like Microsoft's Xbox Project Helix and Sony's PlayStation 6, also faces a potential price hike. Alongside these changes, Sony has unveiled two limited-edition DualSense wireless controllers inspired by Grand Theft Auto VI, featuring a neon-soaked aesthetic and unique designs. Meanwhile, Acer showcased new gaming monitors at IFA 2026, including the Predator XB253Q U1, capable of a 1,000Hz refresh rate without dropping below Full HD resolution.
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