Pareesa Afreen 
Oct 05, 2025
Microsoft is testing a free, ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming, where anyone can then stream games for a limited time, and not have to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Reports shared across social media indicated that a beta test of this feature will be made available in the upcoming weeks.
Reportedly, the free tier of Xbox Cloud Gaming will allow up to five hours of play time in a month, and users will need to watch a short, two-minute ad before each play session.
Each play session will be capped at one hour, and while the ad-supported service will be a feature of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, it could provide new players a chance to try out cloud gaming without needing to pay for the time.
Currently, Xbox Cloud Gaming allows users to stream eligible games to their devices—often called "play anywhere" games—on PCs, consoles, and/or mobile phones, and the games are actually running from Microsoft’s dedicated servers.
A strong internet connection, fibre-optic or cable, is highly recommended for the best gaming experience.
According to The Verge, the beta version will have access to games, its own games, and be able to tie to games you already play on a user’s Microsoft account, and Free Play Day games. The free tier will be available on Windows PCs, on Xbox consoles, and on mobile.
The move comes as Microsoft faces criticism over its recent Xbox Game Pass price hike, which saw the Ultimate tier rise from $19.99 to $29.99 per month, and existing plans renamed as Essential and Premium.
Moreover, the company hopes that the new ad-supported cloud gaming model could help retain users and attract new ones to the Xbox ecosystem.
