Microsoft is launching free, ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming tier
Microsoft is testing a new way to play: a free, ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Soon, you could stream select games without paying for Game Pass—just watch approximately two minutes of pre-roll advertisements first.
Internal testing is underway now, with a public beta and full launch planned next. The service will work on PC, Xbox consoles, handhelds, and web browsers.
How the free tier will work
With the free tier, you'll be able to stream games you own, Free Play Days titles, and some Xbox Retro Classics.
Expect about two minutes of ads before jumping into gameplay.
There might also be a one-hour session limit and up to five hours of free streaming per month—though these rules could change before launch as Microsoft fine-tunes the experience.
Microsoft's latest Game Pass upgrade
This move follows Microsoft's recent Game Pass upgrades that added cloud gaming to paid plans with bigger game libraries and unlimited cloud gaming for paid plans.
By offering a free option with ads, Microsoft wants to make cloud gaming more accessible for everyone—not just subscribers.