Microsoft has confirmed that it is testing a free version of Xbox Cloud Gaming with advertising, according to The New York Times. The proposal would allow users to play without paying for a subscription in exchange for watching ads before each game session.
This new scheme aims to broaden access and attract an audience that currently doesn't choose Game Pass due to its monthly cost.
La futura Xbox sería un híbrido entre consola y PC
This is how the free ad-supported model would work
The service is currently in internal testing. Selected users can access certain titles and must watch about two minutes of ads before playing.
The platform would be compatible with PC, Xbox consoles, portable devices, and web browsers. The experience remains unchanged in terms of gameplay, connectivity, and cloud synchronization.
The first standalone version of Game Pass
Xbox Cloud Gaming debuted in 2020 as an evolution of the xCloud project and is now included in most Xbox Game Pass plans, except on PC. This test marks the first time it would be offered completely outside of Game Pass.
Todos los planes de Xbox Game Pass permitirán jugar en la nube
The goal is to attract players who prefer to avoid a monthly subscription in order to play occasionally in the cloud.
A model similar to video streaming
Microsoft is following the path of platforms such as Netflix or Disney+, which have introduced ad-supported plans to reduce the cost of access.
El éxito de X TV dependerá de su capacidad para diferenciarse en un mercado saturado
Applied to gaming, the format introduces an almost unprecedented system: playing for free, with brief advertising breaks before starting each session.
