You can now play your Xbox games on the cloud with no ads and without having to stump up at least $9.99 for a Game Pass subscription first.
Selected Xbox Insiders can now purchase cloud playtime, stream games on supported devices, and share feedback. The Xbox Insider program is free to sign up for all, and you can head here to sign up. Cloud playtime will cost $3.99 for 10 hours, $7.99 for 25 hours, or $11.99 for 50 hours. That works out to roughly 40 cents an hour for the 10-hour pack, 32 cents for the 25-hour pack, and 24 cents for the 50-hour pack.
Any hours you purchase won’t expire, and will roll over month by month. You’ll also need to make sure you have eligible games in your library—purchasing cloud playtime won’t enable you to play any games you don’t already own, or that aren’t free to play and eligible for cloud gameplay.
Microsoft notes that availability, purchasing options, eligible games, and cloud gaming features may vary by market, device, account eligibility, and preview ring.
The news comes as part of Xbox’s staggered rollout of its cloud gaming offering to users without a Game Pass. Back in July, Xbox began testing free ad-supported cloud gaming for Xbox Insiders without a Game Pass, although playtime was capped at one hour per session.
Recommended by Our Editors
Xbox Tests Ad-Supported Cloud Streaming, No Game Pass Required
Xbox Cloud Gaming Could Soon Be Cheaper, Hints Microsoft Exec
Game Pass Everywhere: How to Install Xbox Cloud Gaming on Steam Deck
Purchasable playtime for cloud gaming is set to roll out more broadly in November for Xbox users. Users will have to work out for themselves whether buying playtime piecemeal is worth it. From November onwards, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will get 15 hours of complimentary cloud streaming per month, while Game Pass Premium and Game Pass Essential will get ten and five respectively.
Xbox’s pay-by-the-hour pivot is recent; until it announced caps in early September, the company hadn’t limited Game Pass subscribers’ cloud playtime at all. Those caps are set to come into play in November.
About Our Expert
Will McCurdy
Contributor
Experience
I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.
I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
- OpenAI Is Now Keeping Its Frontier Models off the Internet During Training
- Iran Has ‘Detailed Plans’ to Attack Undersea Cables, Says Report
- New York Rep Introduces Bill That Could Keep Games Playable for Longer
- Wanna Pick Up an iPhone Duo on Launch Day? It May Be Harder Than You Think
- ChatGPT Can Now Take Control of Your Chrome Tabs
- More from Will McCurdy
