Xbox has begun testing a new cloud gaming option for players without an active Game Pass subscription. The preview began Wednesday for eligible Xbox Insiders, ahead of a rollout to all players in November.
Through the pay-as-you-go system, players can buy 10 hours of streaming for $3.99, 25 hours for $7.99, or 50 hours for $11.99. Purchased hours don’t expire, which is nice for casual cloud gamers, though they cover streaming time only, not game access. This means you first need to purchase a game (or an eligible cloud-playable game you already own) or select a free-to-play game, then buy streaming time.
The test comes ahead of Game Pass cloud gaming changes coming next month. Microsoft will implement monthly streaming allowances of five hours for Essential subscribers, 10 hours for Premium subscribers, and 15 hours for Ultimate subscribers. Subscribers who exhaust their allowance can purchase additional playtime.
Xbox is also continuing to test a free, ad-supported streaming option. That test covers selected games players own, runs ads before sessions, and limits each session to one hour.
