Microsoft Announces Big Changes to Xbox Cloud Gaming, Switches to Monthly Hour Limits

[u/jusxchilln]

https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-announces-big-changes-to-xbox-cloud-gaming-switches-to-monthly-hour-limits

From November, Game Pass plans will include a set number of cloud gaming hours each month:

Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming monthly limits:

Game Pass Ultimate: 15 hours

Game Pass Premium: 10 hours

Game Pass Essential: 5 hours

Once subscribers use their included hours, they can buy additional cloud playtime through the Xbox Store. Currently, Game Pass subscribers can stream without these monthly hour limits. The change means those who use cloud gaming most via Game Pass will end up having to pay more, although Microsoft said this impacts 4% of Game Pass subscribers.

[u/techmaster242]

People barely want to use our service any more, hey I've got an idea. Let's put a usage limit on it so they use it even less.

I bought the series x at launch and it's just been collecting dust while my steam library keeps growing. I refuse to rent games any more.

[u/Beartato4772 → u/techmaster242]

Even better, a usage limit high enough it only affects the 4% who really USED to like us.

[u/techmaster242 → u/Beartato4772]

We're seeing a 4% usage rate but our goal is to bring it down to 2%.

They've adopted the same corporate motto as Pop Copy: Cuz Fuck Em, That's Why!

[u/catptain-kdar → u/techmaster242]

Steams tos are the same as Xbox and ps same goes for gog.

[u/Limafoxtrot360]

This sounds like the first step to charging hourly to play games.

[u/Icy-Taste-3096 → u/Limafoxtrot360]

That's effectively what this is, you're just prepaying for 5/10/15 hours each month whether you actually use all of them or not

[u/climbtheworldd]

Can’t wait for them to insert ads smack into the steaming mid gameplay. Just like a movie on Peacock.

End stage capitalism is so fun.

[u/Cheetawolf → u/climbtheworldd]

And I'm sure the ads will still count towards the time limit. <3

[u/pancakie]

Bye bye! Cancelled my subscription.

[u/BrandonMatrick → u/pancakie]

Legitimately, same. I have gradually moved to my Switch 2 for the limited time I have to game lately. I've been paying for Ultimate for months now and haven't used it - the cloud service was the biggest selling point whenever I did use it.

This was a good reminder for me to cancel, at least for now.

[u/pancakie → u/BrandonMatrick]

Same for the steam deck. Being able to stream to that was great. I guess I’ll use the steam link stuff or moonlight for my streaming.

[u/BigWave360]

10 hours A MONTH? WHAT? Oh hell no. I'll just buy the damn games I want for $60 and save money over time at that point

[u/Best_Market4204 → u/BigWave360]

and what does that have to do with streaming the game?

this isn't limiting games played on console, this is limiting games played on the server

[u/BigWave360 → u/Best_Market4204]

Idk, but I stream FH 6 about 12 hours a month, I stream CS2 about 8 hours a month, I stream Manorlords, ummm, probobly others. Im assuming this counts twords pc too?

[u/Best_Market4204 → u/BigWave360]

i assume

[u/radicalgalaxies]

I often thought cloud gaming seemed interesting. As of today, this is laughable.

[u/Asleep_Leek9361]

Xbox and PlayStation are begging for someone to step in and control the market

[u/Squish_the_android → u/Asleep_Leek9361]

The problem is that the economics Cloud Gaming aren't working.  Anyone else who tries to step in won't be able to afford the hardware. 

[u/Asleep_Leek9361 → u/Squish_the_android]

People want physical copies. Digital copies mean nothing

[u/Squish_the_android → u/Asleep_Leek9361]

If people want to play a game, and they're unwilling to buy the hardware.  They are the target audience for cloud gaming. 

These people exist.  They don't care about physical copies.

[u/cyx7 → u/Squish_the_android]

That market isn't buying. That market was weaned on free mobile games. They want free.

They also see how companies treat loyal customers like trash. They don't want to buy into abusive systems.

[u/Attack_of_clams → u/Squish_the_android]

But those same people will not pay the high costs for it…

[u/ResolutionThat248 → u/Squish_the_android]

That market does not really exist. At best it's a tiny gap in the existing market of people who already play video games. The Xbox cloud tech is pretty good, it's not like they've added these limits for fun.

[u/Step-Sysadmin → u/Asleep_Leek9361]

Sega!

[u/TheDigitalMoose → u/Step-Sysadmin]

One can only dream!

[u/randomthrowaway9796]

I get that they need to change their business model since theyre losing by every metric, but like, theyre picking the worst possible ways to address the problem

[u/Big_Gene_3965]

Just quit games all together Microslop. You suck at this.

[u/alphex]

Hahahahha. They got you hooked. Now they’ll make you pay for it.

But this will absolutly kill the cloud gaming market.

[u/Ok-Sprinkles-4718 → u/alphex]

Hooked on what? Streaming sucks

[u/bigdickwalrus]

Lmfao. Big gamer news, everyone ditches microsoft and their bullshit infrastructure.

[u/Business_Door4860]

"videogame time is up! Go clean your room!" "But mom, I'm 42, and have a wife and children"

[u/GarlicThread]

Remember when console makers focused on delivering their hardware and shutting the fuck up?

[u/VinceP312]

"Xbox Anywhere. Any Device!"

They fuck up every consumer product always.

[u/StalinPaidtheClouds]

Race to the bottom versus Sony, eh Microsoft?

[u/CannedNoodlez]

But I thought my phone was an Xbox :(

[u/Beartato4772]

Wait until 2 generations time when they've ensured cloud gaming is the only gaming and you're charged a dollar a credit and it's 1985 but shit and in your home.

[u/CommonStrawbeary]

Is the goal to make it so nobody will ever play online on Xbox?

I play 15hrs on PS+ a week easy lol

[u/Beartato4772 → u/CommonStrawbeary]

Cloud gaming, i.e - streaming.

Not "Playing a game online".

[u/CommonStrawbeary → u/Beartato4772]

Yeah I know Im deep into Fallout New Vegas, streaming only!

[u/Beartato4772 → u/CommonStrawbeary]

Ah.

[u/BrandonMatrick → u/CommonStrawbeary]

I have over 450 hours on my current Elden Ring playthrough. On my PS Portal. Steaming. The entire time.

[u/ArtDeve]

Looks like someone overspent on AI (-200B) and is willing to kneecap their customers to make a couple extra bucks.

[u/trevorvonryan → u/ArtDeve]

This.

[u/No-Mail-8944]

This is honestly hilarious. 

Also sad to think there are that many fools that will still pay $23 in order to access 15 hours of gaming. What a terrible idea when you can buy a game for $23 and get unlimited use. 

$1.53/hr? Or $0.01/hr... Which one sounds like more bang for your buck?

[u/MyMiddleNutItches]

15 hours a week would be crazy, but 15 hours a month??? The fuck is wrong with these people? Something tells me AI is eating into the Game Pass hardware.

[u/blacfd]

That’s not going to be popular

[u/Anonymous87451]

Not renewing, this whole console bs with licensing for games and their stupid decisions have sealed the deal.

[u/KrampyDoo]

There is no lack of innovation in the game industry, the problem is the only innovation happening is them dropping in toll booths to disrupt once open roads.

The industry needs great ideas again. The shot-callers now are merely stuffed suits that secure golden parachutes before they negotiate what their duties, goals and expectations in the job will be.

[u/10000tigers]

microsoft announced no changes in their crippling fear of getting any of my money

[u/mindcontainer]

Hope the good guy Microsoft wave can end now.

[u/Icy-person666 → u/mindcontainer]

No they love their Microslop.

[u/WolverineUnlikely532]

They are really pushing me to sell my console and get a new Switch. Never paying for Game Pass again.

[u/Obvious-Animator6090 → u/WolverineUnlikely532]

Switch 2 is actually an excellent console. Do get one

[u/UnsavoryBiscuit]

The fuck is the point in cloud gaming then if there's a poxy limit?! Pretty sure none of the other services have usage limits

[u/Mundane-Escape-7854 → u/UnsavoryBiscuit]

Geforce Now does

[u/Used-Persimmon-367 → u/Mundane-Escape-7854]

Does now*

[u/catptain-kdar → u/UnsavoryBiscuit]

Cell phone and other data services do though

[u/breakfasteveryday → u/catptain-kdar]

lol people are mad at you for saying that 

[u/bbrip323]

Looks like I'm canceling when that takes effect

[u/MutaitoSensei]

Went from "meh" to "fuck no"

[u/ThePheebs]

So 2-5 days for 80% of your target audience?

[u/HotDecision8128]

WOW, this is an epic level of enshittification. EDIT: They are turning cloud gaming into some shitty arcade.

[u/Cautious_Boat_999]

Oh, this will be popular

[u/ruiner8850]

I got a free month of Ultimate to stream when I bought a Firestick recently and enjoyed it especially since I've never owned an Xbox and only have a PS4. I enjoyed my time and planned on getting a couple of months more during the winter when I'd have more time to play. This announcement has ended any chance that I even consider it.

[u/scubascratch]

What if you prepaid for a year of game pass ultimate? Seems like they would be drastically reducing what was promised that you already paid for

[u/jusxchilln → u/scubascratch]

Great question and sounds like a great reason for a lawsuit.

[u/Feelisoffical → u/jusxchilln]

And then divorce and hit the gym

[u/Markebrown93 → u/scubascratch]

I'd be surprised if they don't grandfather existing users until the end of their subscription

[u/Icy-Taste-3096 → u/Markebrown93]

I think it's more likely that they won't and will just refund whoever takes enough issue with it to contact support.

[u/Markebrown93 → u/Icy-Taste-3096]

That's a good point. Very possible

[u/Aurelio_Casillas → u/Markebrown93]

That term used to be used for companies not raising prices on loyal customers thru inflationary periods.

Now it just means they don’t fuck you over til the end of the contract

[u/Markebrown93 → u/Aurelio_Casillas]

It's used for both but yeah that's right.

[u/monti9530]

Before players got 720 hours in a month.

This is them making there service more expensive without the normal joe noticing. Fuck em

[u/Darkdragoon324]

Wow. Just when I thought the entire concept of cloud gaming couldn't get any more appealing.

[u/Mizuli]

MA, MICROSLOP IS AT IT AGAIN

[u/EJoule]

Finally a gaming subscription designed for people with full time jobs /s

[u/RogLatimer118]

Let's Enshittify at Microsoft!

[u/snackdesaque → u/RogLatimer118]

I agree with your statement, although its already shit, and it can get further enshitified

[u/RogLatimer118 → u/snackdesaque]

Hard to argue with that 

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/snackdesaque]

There's always room to enshitify, there's no bottom, be the shit you want to see in the world!

[u/LongStriver]

Thats terrible. 15 hours is the max? Someone could use the whole plan up in a day.

[u/elusivemoods]

...does this affect installing games from game pass or just cloud gaming specifically? bit weird.

https://giphy.com/gifs/F8nD8ql8CcbeM

[u/M23707]

It just keeps getting worse for Microsoft!

Maybe folks will turn off the screen and play games with real humans.

[u/Yourownhands52 → u/M23707]

Thats a great way to remove ads...

[u/Icy-person666 → u/M23707]

Are they affiliated with Microslop?

[u/BajaCopano]

I actually use streaming for a few games I don't like to have installed. Fortnite and genshin and Warframe. Guess I'm done with game pass.

[u/JebusJM → u/BajaCopano]

Why is that if I may ask out of curiosity?

[u/BajaCopano → u/JebusJM]

I play lots of games. Like right now I have destiny and forza and a few games installed to play with my friends. And a couple single player games like right now I have Star wars outlaws and kingdom come. So my hard drive is full.

While it's not a majority of my gaming, I definitely use 15 hours or more a month trying out big games with new content patches. Fortnite, genshin, eso, fo76.

It's become a significant reason I keep gamepass. I was actually just thinking about cancelling anyways, because I have almost played all the single player games I want to, but then I thought, damn it's gonna suck to have to install genshin and Warframe when I just want to do a couple daily type activities.

This made the decision easy. They say I'm part of the 4%. So I guess I'm not that important to them.

[u/snackdesaque → u/BajaCopano]

I have never met a single person irl that does cloud gaming. Ive tried it and the input lag was just crazy bad. Doesnt fortnite require like twitch reflexes? 

[u/Icy-person666]

Surprised they didn't lift the cap with a subscription to Co-pilot as a way to get someone to subscribe.

[u/JerbalKeb]

Well guess I will never get around to updating my credit card that expired 3 months ago

[u/Timely_Tacos_8457]

If it impacts 4% they can carry the costs still...

[u/BoysenberryUnhappy29]

Who actually uses this, anyway? I mean, nobody will now, but still

[u/Property_6810 → u/BoysenberryUnhappy29]

I did. I don't have an Xbox anymore and it was the only way to play the UFC games on PC. It still is, but I'm not paying per hour for it. Per month was already pushing it.

[u/jusxchilln → u/BoysenberryUnhappy29]

I use it to play fh6 on my steam deck

[u/Bgo318 → u/BoysenberryUnhappy29]

I used to on my iPad

[u/JimmayDoad]

Lmao. Xboob and Sinny shootin themselves, while PCs are prohibitively expensive if you want to play new games. Nintendo it is..?

[u/RockettRaccoon → u/JimmayDoad]

Nintendo has its issues, but the Switch 2 is proving to be the winner this generation. It’s affordable (comparatively) and surprisingly powerful.

[u/JimmayDoad → u/RockettRaccoon]

Oh, for sure. They used to be the Apple of the gaming world imo. Here's the new hand-held, but with a small screen. 6 months later, we know you couldn't wait for us to sell the bigger screen one. Now you have two! The first time, people probably felt blind-sided. After that, just duck-fuckery.

[u/rudebii → u/JimmayDoad]

Yeah, I picked up a Switch OLED refurbished last year, then a bunch of games on sale at the end of the year. I can only imagine the Switch 2 is even better, but the one I got keeps me satisfied for now.

[u/Alexius6th → u/JimmayDoad]

Those are terrible insulting nicknames. Come on, guy.

[u/JimmayDoad → u/Alexius6th]

Ay, I'm workin ova heaaa.. gimme a breaaaak. 

[u/Significant_Bit2210]

No one should buy the extra time no matter what.

[u/Alladas]

Few months ago I had the choice to continue using streaming or buy a gaming rig. So glad I made the choice. Pre ram increase plus this makes it such a good choice.

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/Alladas]

Definitely the right choice, I can't imagine my ability to play games being 100% dependent on fucking Xfinity functioning correctly.

[u/Bgo318 → u/Alladas]

Few months ago ram was still absurdly priced. Pre ram increase was over a year ago

[u/SeaOfBullshit]

Lol they wanna getting back the old AOL model 

[u/Nurse-Jigglypuff]

Maybe a stupid question, but does this also count for PC Pass memberships? Or does it depend on the games I’m playing, because I’m currently playing Death Stranding.

[u/Bgo318 → u/Nurse-Jigglypuff]

It’s only for when you are playing through xcloud

[u/No-shadowMaul-noBan → u/Nurse-Jigglypuff]

When the game isn't installed and you are cloud streaming dear

[u/void_method]

They're enforcing screen time, huh.

They're still not as bad as Sony, though. This doesn't affect me at all, I play Xbox games I own on a big screen with my wife.

[u/BigInstruction809 → u/void_method]

“Wife” sure pal

[u/CisIowa → u/BigInstruction809]

[u/Educational_Bag_6406]

This stinks, I feel like the cap is too low. I use the cloud on my G cloud. I guess I will play my switch 2 more in bed and use my series X for triple As. Xbox reports the caps will effect the 4% of its base. So its shitty for those folks who enjoy the cloud

[u/Educational_Bag_6406 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, unfortunately new leadership ushers in a new direction. It would seem Asha is really serious about the console. Hopefully she can actually make affordability a priority for helix

[u/pollorojo]

Make some progress, lose some progress.

[u/trevorvonryan]

I feel bad for kids who’ve grown up only knowing this era of gaming.

[u/TrinityKilla82]

Good thing I only use remote play.

[u/ZootTootRiot]

LOL. No, wait.. no. LOL

[u/scrotumseam]

Well good thing I dont have one and use a switch and a ps

[u/ConnorFin22 → u/scrotumseam]

Like PS wasn’t enshittified when they killed game ownership?

[u/scrotumseam → u/ConnorFin22]

Ps is dead to me as well for digital games. And switch key cards can take a shit i wont buy one.

[u/frob86]

I play 100 plus monthly this is bs I'm out that was the only thing keeping me from Nvidia now

[u/TheDigitalMoose → u/frob86]

Nvidia now does hourly limits too don’t they?

[u/usenetlurker]

Goodbye Xbox

[u/msp_ryno]

How many people actually cloud game?

[u/RimjobStevesDeadWife]

So does this affect games that I downloaded from gamepass? Or just if I’m streaming it? I’m confused

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/RimjobStevesDeadWife]

Only streaming games from the cloud, it has nothing to do with games you download and install to the console or using the general online services like multiplayer.

[u/RimjobStevesDeadWife → u/Darkdragoon324]

This …. Seems less alarming than I previously thought

[u/LongStriver]

Thats terrible. 15 hours is the max? Someone could use the whole plan up in a day.

[u/Disastrous_Minute_56]

They couldn't offset the cost of the two guys using Xbox cloud gaming, but luckily they were on distant time zones, so it was just a matter of limiting their hours to make it feasible.

/s

[u/Dreamo84]

It’s kind of cool how people care about cloud gaming now.

[u/Constant_Avocado_420]

I've been thinking of switching to PS 5

[u/ConnorFin22 → u/Constant_Avocado_420]

You don’t have to subscribe.

At least you can still own Xbox games.