Xbox tests 'Cloud Gaming' for free with ads: this could be the new model

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.

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 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.

Applied to gaming, the format introduces an almost unprecedented system: playing for free, with brief advertising breaks before starting each session.

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.