Microsoft is opening up Xbox Cloud Gaming to players without a Game Pass subscription. Starting in November, anyone can buy cloud game time directly through the Xbox Store and stream the games they already own without a subscription.
How the new option works
Under the new system, players will purchase blocks of cloud game time through the Xbox Store and use them to stream eligible games they already own. Microsoft has yet to announce pricing, and neither has the company he says Available hours and purchase options will vary by market once the change goes into effect later this year.
According to GamesBeatan insider familiar with Microsoft’s plans said players won’t be billed by the minute or the hour. Instead, the hours are sold in bundles that correspond to how people actually play, with prices that reflect the cost of running the service. This distinction is important to anyone who expects a clear hourly rate.
Xbox Cloud Gaming already runs on phones, tablets, PCs, and select smart TVs, so the new option effectively turns any of these into console-free Xbox games.
It is intended for casual gamers and those with older hardware
The new option is for those who play only occasionally and don’t want to pay a monthly subscription for just a few hours of playtime. Xbox also targets owners of older hardware. Cloud streaming lets Xbox One owners play Xbox Series X and S games without buying new hardware, which the company says is especially useful in markets where consoles are harder to find or afford.
Framed in this way, cloud-based streaming will no longer be just a Game Pass reward, but its own product with its own price tag. Microsoft says it will continue to add more games to cloud streaming throughout the year, though it didn’t say which games would be eligible for pay-to-play at launch.
Prices for cloud-based playback hours are still under wraps. Microsoft is expected to share more details, including a list of eligible games, ahead of the November release. In addition to the pay-as-you-go option, Microsoft announced cloud gaming restrictions for Game Pass subscribers, limiting play time to 15 hours per month on the most expensive plan.
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