Xbox is preparing a new free ad-supported Cloud Gaming plan that would allow users to play without paying a subscription. The news comes from information released by The Verge and by specialized journalist Tom Warren.
The proposal aims to expand the reach of video game streaming service from Microsoft. It would be a key change in the cloud access strategy.
Free Xbox Cloud Gaming: how the new plan would work
The new free tier would be funded by ads. Each session would allow users to play for up to one hour.
Before starting, users would have to watch advertising. According to the first data, there would be no interruptions during the game.
One-hour sessions and pre-roll ads
A leaked promotional image mentions "1 hour of ad-supported gameplay per session". It is not clear whether a single ad block would unlock the full 60 minutes. It is also not clear whether additional ads could appear.
A plan that Microsoft had already been testing
According to previous reports from The Verge, Microsoft has been testing this free version internally since October 2025. The tests included about two minutes of ads before playing.
