Xbox Cloud Gaming Could Be Getting New Tier Soon

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According to a trusted Microsoft insider, Xbox Cloud Gaming is expected to offer a free version in the near future. The insider also revealed what seems to be the first preview of the new Xbox service.

Microsoft’s game streaming service, first known as xCloud, has been available since November 2019 as a benefit for Xbox Game Pass subscribers in certain regions. It originally required the top-tier ‘Ultimate’ subscription, but in August 2025, Microsoft made it available to all Game Pass members (excluding those on PC). Later, in November 2025, the company announced plans to offer a free version of the service supported by advertisements, confirming long-standing speculation.

Ad-Supported Xbox Cloud Gaming Tier Will Reportedly Offer 1-Hour Sessions

looks like ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming soon 👀 — Tom Warren (@tomwarren.co.uk) 2026-01-17T02:08:09.158Z

As a huge Xbox fan, I’m getting really excited about what Tom Warren from The Verge shared on BlueSky! He posted what looks like a promotional image for Xbox, hinting at a new membership tier. It seems like you’ll be able to play for an hour per session with ads – basically, ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming. He said it’s ‘coming soon,’ but didn’t say where he got the image from. It did have a plane icon that looks a lot like the design they use in the Xbox app, which makes it seem pretty legit!

How the Free Tier of Xbox Cloud Gaming Will Reportedly Work

Microsoft has been quietly testing a free version of Xbox Cloud Gaming since at least October 2025. According to reports, this free tier requires users to watch about two minutes of ads before they can start playing games through the cloud. The initial information suggested ads would only play before games start, not during gameplay. A recent image suggests free gaming sessions might last up to an hour, but it’s still uncertain whether watching one ad segment will consistently unlock the full hour, or if users will encounter more ads during their session.

Currently, Xbox Cloud Gaming is bundled with Game Pass, but recent reports indicate a new, ad-supported version will be available separately. This free tier is expected to offer the same streaming library as the paid version, including most Xbox Game Pass games and an increasing number of titles you can stream from your own library. The library recently grew in late December 2025 with about 50 new additions, such as Blood West, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2, Resident Evil 3, and Octopath Traveler 0. Most new games added to Xbox Game Pass also become available on Xbox Cloud Gaming, as long as they have a console version – Microsoft’s streaming technology uses custom Xbox Series X hardware. However, games removed from Game Pass are usually not kept available for cloud streaming through the ‘Stream Your Own Game’ program.

Xbox is planning to offer a free version of its Cloud Gaming service on all the devices it currently supports, including Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PCs, and phones. This will also include handheld gaming devices like the ROG Ally and Steam Deck. The free tier will likely launch in the same 29 countries where the paid service is already available – which includes all of North America, plus countries like Germany, France, Japan, and Australia. Following their usual approach, Microsoft will probably test the ad-supported free tier with a public beta before releasing it to everyone who qualifies.

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2026-01-18 03:06