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If you have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you may have played games over streaming through its xCloud tool. Microsoft’s latest comments suggest the feature continues to be a success, but it may soon mix up how you access it.
Spotted by The Verge, Microsoft’s latest official Xbox podcast has one of the company’s senior staff talking about the future of its cloud gaming platform. Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of Next Generation, said, “One of the things we see is there’s a lot of players who use Game Pass Ultimate to access the cloud, whether that’s the primary way they play, or an additional way to play on the go.”
“I think for us, it really opens up the opportunity to make it much more affordable, and make it more accessible to players. Whether that’s going into new regions, or new ways to actually access the cloud.”
That’s not confirmation of a cheaper alternative cloud gaming tier, but it's the brand's latest hint toward it. An executive said in late 2023 that Microsoft was considering offering an ad-supported game streaming tool, meaning you can play without paying at all. We’ve yet to hear anything firm about that over the last 18 months.
Last July, a report from Windows Central cited sources with knowledge of Xbox's future plans saying it was considering offering a cheaper alternative subscription for access to cloud gaming separately from its Ultimate tier.
Offering cloud gaming outside of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for a lower price may encourage more players to switch to Xbox. Game Pass Ultimate isn’t cheap at $19.99 a month, which is more than the top tier PlayStation Plus package at $17.99, which also includes cloud gaming.
Microsoft's plans aren't yet confirmed, but this is the best hint yet that Xbox is considering spinning off its cloud gaming technology into its own tier. One thing to consider here is Ronald's comments around regions. Be prepared that this service may also not be available in the US at launch.
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