Microsoft is reportedly developing a free, ad-supported version of its Xbox Cloud Gaming service, a potential olive branch to players reeling from the recent 50 percent price hike for a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. This new tier would allow users to play games without any paid Game Pass plan. According to sources familiar with the strategy, the service is already in internal testing. The free version would grant access to a limited selection of games. This includes titles that users already own, a catalog of Xbox Retro Classics, and games available through the existing Free Play Days weekend trial program. The trade-off for the free access is a significant one. Users would likely have to watch several minutes of advertisements before starting a game. Furthermore, the service is expected to come with strict time limitations. The current internal tests are reportedly using a cap of one hour of play, which can be used up to five times per month. These specific restrictions could change before a public launch. The free, ad-supported tier is expected to be available across a wide range of devices including PC, Xbox consoles, handhelds, and web browsers. However, the streaming quality for this free version remains unclear. Microsoft recently made a 1440p streaming resolution available, but it is exclusive to the top-tier Game Pass Ultimate plan. The lower-cost Premium and Essential tiers are capped at 1080p, so it is likely the free service would have similar or further reduced visual quality. All of Microsoft’s paid Game Pass subscriptions offer unlimited cloud gaming, though wait times to start playing increase on the cheaper plans. It is expected that the free ad-supported service would feature the longest wait times. The mandatory ad breaks could, in effect, mask these waiting periods. This potential new tier represents a significant shift in Microsoft’s approach to cloud gaming, opening the platform to a much wider audience that is unwilling or unable to pay a monthly subscription fee, provided they are comfortable with advertisements and usage limits.
