Many developers have expressed concern over the profitability of Xbox Game Pass. That concern appears to have been validated by Microsoft’s October 1 fifty percent price bump of the Game Pass Ultimate. A new report has emerged alleging the company is planning to launch a free, ad-powered cloud gaming service.
According to The Verge’s Tom Warren, the new Xbox Cloud gaming service will allow gamers to stream their digital game library, eligible Free Play Days games, and Xbox Retro Classic titles for free.
“Sources tell me the internal testing includes around two minutes of preroll ads before a game is available to stream for free through Xbox Cloud Gaming,” Warren wrote.
“Microsoft is also currently testing a limit of one hour for sessions, with up to five hours free a month. These limits may well change when the service is officially launched.”
The report also claimed the free Xbox Cloud service will be available across all platforms, including PC, console, handheld, and the web. The public beta test is expected to start soon.
Xbox Cloud Gaming is going to be another disruptive service that will likely add to the Game Pass conversation. There are reports that Xbox Cloud Gaming recently emerged from beta testing after six years.
Microsoft has been taking aggressive revenue and cost-cutting measures, including laying off hundreds of employees and raising the price of Game Pass Ultimate. The bigger concern remains how these measures affect game developers and players.
