Xbox Officially Confirms Cloud Gaming’s New Pay-As-You-Go Prices
Xbox will launch paid cloud gaming packs in November, replacing unlimited access for non-subscribers and capping hours for Game Pass tiers, with prices ranging from $3.99 to $11.99.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a restructuring plan that includes nearly 2,000 layoffs and three additional rounds of job cuts through January. The changes also extend to gaming services, with Xbox Cloud Gaming transitioning to a pay-as-you-go model starting in November. This marks a shift from the previous unlimited access for subscribers, introducing new restrictions and paid options for extended playtime.
Game Pass subscribers will face monthly cloud gaming time limits based on their tier: Ultimate users receive 15 hours, Premium users 10 hours, and Essential users five hours. Once these limits are reached, additional playtime must be purchased through Cloud playtime packs. Non-subscribers will also have access to these à la carte options, with the cheapest pack priced at $3.99 for 10 hours of ad-free cloud gaming.
The $7.99 Cloud playtime pack includes 25 hours of cloud gaming, exceeding the monthly allowance for any Game Pass tier. The most expensive option, priced at $11.99, provides 50 hours of cloud gaming time. Unlike the time granted with Game Pass subscriptions, purchased playtime is not tied to monthly limits and can be used at any time without expiration.
Xbox is also testing an ad-supported free tier for Xbox Cloud Gaming, currently limited to Xbox Insiders. The company has not confirmed whether unused cloud gaming time from Game Pass subscriptions is cumulative, but purchased playtime remains available indefinitely on the user's account.