Microsoft is facing backlash after introducing strict monthly hours on Xbox Cloud Gaming alongside steep local console price increases, leaving gamers paying more for a downgraded experience. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
It’s not uncommon these days for tech companies to hike prices and monetise services that were previously included, and Microsoft is proving no exception with its latest Xbox changes.
I recently received an email from Xbox announcing that its Cloud Gaming service will now be capped at a set number of hours per month. Under the new limits, Game Pass Essential members get just five hours per month, Game Pass Premium gets 10 hours, and the top-tier Game Pass Ultimate gets 15 hours.
Capping a feature that was previously unlimited—and heavily marketed as part of the platform's value proposition—feels like a step too far. For context, cloud gaming allows users to stream games directly from Microsoft’s servers to their consoles, handhelds, or mobile devices without waiting on large downloads.
Even the 15-hour monthly allowance on the Ultimate tier is a fraction of what active users need. That breaks down to less than four hours a week—an allocation many regular gamers could easily burn through in a single weekend.
