Microsoft Plans Ad-Supported Xbox Cloud Gaming Tier

Microsoft is preparing to introduce an ad-supported tier for its Xbox Cloud Gaming service, offering limited access to game streaming for non-subscribers in a move that could broaden the platform's reach amid rising hardware costs and softening console sales.

Users of Xbox Cloud Gaming recently encountered in-app messages referencing "1 hour of ad-supported playtime per session," according to reports from journalists including The Verge's Tom Warren, who shared a screenshot of the notice on social media. The messages appeared during game launches over the weekend, signaling an imminent rollout, though Microsoft has not yet made an official announcement. Insiders familiar with the company's plans, cited by Windows Central, confirmed that the feature has been in internal testing since at least last fall and could launch as early as this year.

Under the proposed tier, players would watch approximately two minutes of advertisements before accessing a one-hour streaming session. Access would be capped at around five hours per month, providing a free entry point without requiring a subscription to Xbox Game Pass, which currently gates the full service. The ad-supported option would...