Microsoft reduces Xbox Cloud Gaming playtime to a measly 15 hours a month a year after full rollout

Microsoft has introduced a limit on Xbox Cloud Gaming for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. According to XDA Developers and 9to5Google, subscribers to the Ultimate tier will be limited to 15 hours of cloud gaming per month. The limit varies by subscription tier, with some tiers having as few as 5 hours per month, as reported by 9to5Google and Quartz.

Once the allotted hours are used up, additional hours can be purchased through the Xbox Store. This change will affect 4% of Game Pass subscribers, according to 9to5Google. Microsoft is also opening Xbox Cloud Gaming to non-Game Pass subscribers, allowing them to buy cloud playtime hours directly through the Xbox Store, as reported by Digital Trends.

The new system, which will be implemented later this year, will allow players to stream games they already own without a subscription. According to Digital Trends, hours will be sold in packages designed to match how people actually play, with pricing meant to reflect the cost of running the service. Pricing has not been announced, but more details are expected in November.

Brief written by urgent.news from XDA Developers, Digital Trends, 9to5Google, Quartz, Techmeme — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.