Microsoft to Cap Xbox Cloud Gaming Hours, Add Pay

Add to Google Preferred Sources Microsoft announced that Xbox Cloud Gaming will move from unlimited access to monthly time caps starting in November. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will receive 15 hours per month, Premium members 10 hours, and Essential members five hours. Additional playtime can be purchased through the Xbox Store, with unused hours rolling over. The company said only 4% of subscribers exceed the new limits and framed the change as necessary because cloud gaming costs rise with usage. Microsoft also introduced a pay-as-you-go option allowing anyone to stream owned games without a Game Pass subscription. The changes align with a broader corporate push toward usage-based pricing seen in products like GitHub Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot.