Xbox is set to implement monthly usage caps for its cloud gaming service, affecting subscribers across different tiers of its Game Pass platform. Beginning in November, users on the Ultimate plan will be limited to 15 hours of cloud streaming per month. Those on premium tiers will be restricted to 10 hours, while Essential subscribers will be capped at five hours.
Once these limits are reached, users will be required to purchase additional cloud playtime through the Xbox store. The company has not yet disclosed the pricing for these extra hours. Xbox stated that the decision is driven by the increasing costs associated with cloud infrastructure, noting that these changes will allow the firm to maintain the service's performance and reliability.
According to Xbox, only about 4% of its Game Pass subscriber base utilizes the cloud gaming feature. The company also announced that it will open cloud gaming access to non-subscribers, allowing them to purchase time directly through the Xbox store.
The move comes as Microsoft navigates a broader period of restructuring. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma recently highlighted the necessity of focusing on affordability and efficiency, citing a surge in hardware component costs—specifically RAM—driven by the expansion of data centers for AI. This shift follows a 7% decline in annual Xbox revenue, as reported in Microsoft's July financial filings, and a series of workforce reductions totaling 3,200 positions.
Industry analysts have noted the tension between these restrictions and the company's continued investment in AI, such as Microsoft Copilot. While cloud gaming remains a niche offering, the introduction of usage fees adds another hurdle for a technology that has struggled to achieve mainstream adoption, following the high-profile closure of competitors like Google’s Stadia.
Source: BBC News
មិនទាន់មានមតិយោបល់នៅឡើយទេ។ សូមធ្វើជាអ្នកដំបូងដែលចែករំលែកគំនិតរបស់អ្នក។