From Ars Technica · · 1 min
Xbox Imposes Strict New Time Limits on Cloud Gaming
Microsoft is ending unlimited Xbox Cloud Gaming, capping subscribers at 5 to 15 hours per month as cloud compute costs continue to soar.
In brief
Microsoft is ending unlimited Xbox Cloud Gaming, capping subscribers at 5 to 15 hours per month as cloud compute costs continue to soar. Unlimited cloud gaming is ending on Xbox Game Pass as high server costs force Microsoft to cap streaming time at 5 to 15 hours per month. Originally reported by Ars Technica.
Unlimited cloud streaming is over
Microsoft is replacing its unlimited Xbox Cloud Gaming perk with strict monthly time limits starting in November across all Game Pass tiers.
“that kind of streaming buffet service is coming to an end”
New monthly hourly limits
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be limited to 15 hours of streaming per month, Premium gets 10 hours, and Essential includes just 5 hours.
Paying extra for extra hours
Players who burn through their monthly allotment will have to buy additional streaming time. Downloadable versions of Game Pass titles remain unaffected.
Small minority uses most data
Microsoft estimates the caps will only affect roughly 4% of subscribers, about 1.2 million power users who consume the vast majority of streaming hours.
“the change will only impact "4% of Game Pass subscribers."”
High server costs force changes
Unlike video streaming, cloud gaming requires running high-end remote hardware. Rising RAM and storage prices have made unlimited cloud compute unsustainable.
“the cost of providing cloud gaming grows as more people use it and play for longer.”
The cloud revolution stalls out
Five years after promising a console-free future, Microsoft joins competitors like Google and Amazon in scaling back its ambitious cloud gaming vision.
“has never achieved consumer demand beyond its current niche.”
The essence
Unlimited cloud gaming is ending on Xbox Game Pass as high server costs force Microsoft to cap streaming time at 5 to 15 hours per month.
