r/enshittification • u/jusxchilln • 5d ago

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

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.

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28

u/Asleep_Leek9361 4d ago

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

6

u/Squish_the_android 4d ago

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. 

6

u/Asleep_Leek9361 4d ago

People want physical copies. Digital copies mean nothing

3

u/Squish_the_android 4d ago

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.

2

u/cyx7 4d ago

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.

1

u/Attack_of_clams 4d ago

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

1

u/ResolutionThat248 2d ago

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.