Xbox Cloud Gaming Could Soon Be Free—But You’ll Watch Ads First

8 months ago

Microsoft is preparing to roll out a free, ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. The Verge reports that Microsoft has already begun internal testing, letting employees stream certain games without a Game Pass subscription.

The free tier will reportedly require viewers to sit through about two minutes of ads before gameplay starts. Right now, tests are capped at one-hour sessions, with up to five hours of free streaming per month—though sources say those limits could change before launch.
The offering won’t just be demo titles.

Sources told The Verge that players will be able to stream games they already own, try out Free Play Days titles, and even revisit older “Xbox Retro Classics.”

Microsoft is said to be planning a public beta in the near future, with a full rollout expected in the coming months. The ad-supported tier will work across PC, Xbox consoles, handhelds, and the web.

The move comes as Microsoft shakes up its subscription strategy. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers just saw a 50 percent price hike, while new Premium and Essential tiers were introduced with capped resolutions and bitrates. Ultimate members, meanwhile, now get 1440p streaming for certain titles.

Hints of a free streaming option have been floating around for years. Back in 2022, Microsoft Gaming CFO Tim Stuart said the company was exploring a no-cost, ad-backed version of Xbox Cloud Gaming. More recently, Xbox exec Jason Ronald said expanding access was the bigger goal. “I think for us, it really opens up the opportunity to make it much more affordable, and make it more accessible to players,” Ronald said on a podcast in August.

If the current testing is any sign, players could soon find themselves jumping into the cloud—as long as they don’t mind a few ads first. Would you be open to free Xbox Cloud Gaming but with ads? The ad-supported model seems to be working for Netflix, but it will be interesting to see how it would fare for gamers.

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