THE CRUNCH
Microsoft is ending unlimited cloud gaming for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, introducing a 15-hour monthly cap starting this November. The change follows a year of unlimited access and is attributed to rising service costs. While the limit applies to the Ultimate tier, Essential tier users are not affected by this specific change.
Microsoft is introducing a strict monthly time limit for cloud gaming on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, ending the era of unlimited streaming. The 15-hour cap will take effect this November, replacing the previously unlimited access that has been available for the past year. Club386 reports that rising service costs are cited as the primary reason for this shift.
The restriction specifically targets the Ultimate tier, leaving Essential subscribers unaffected by the new limits. This move marks a significant change in Microsoft's cloud gaming strategy, moving away from an unlimited model to a tiered usage system. The change comes just over a year after Microsoft first opened up cloud gaming to its Premium and Essential tiers.