THE CRUNCH

Microsoft has introduced a 15-hour monthly cap for cloud gaming on Game Pass Ultimate, with the option to buy extra hours.

Microsoft has introduced a monthly time limit for cloud gaming on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, capping usage at 15 hours per month. The company will allow subscribers and non-subscribers to purchase additional hours if they exceed this allowance. This move appears to be a direct response to the service's profitability, as one report suggests the 15-hour cap was set precisely at the point where cloud gaming stops being profitable for Microsoft.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Microsoft will likely monitor how users react to the cap and whether the option to buy extra hours generates significant additional revenue.