Xbox reportedly tests pay‑as‑you‑go cloud gaming

Microsoft has begun testing a pay‑as‑you‑go option for its cloud‑gaming service, letting Xbox Insiders start streaming games without an Xbox Game Pass subscription on Oct 21, 2026. The trial offers packages of 10, 25 and 50 hours, priced at about $4, $8 and $12 or $3.99, $7.99 and $11.99. The service will launch more broadly in November and will be ad‑free with higher‑quality streams.

Buying cloud playtime does not grant access to the full Xbox game library; users must already own a playable title or choose from selected free‑to‑play games, and the purchased hours can be used until they run out, per t2. Microsoft also offers a free, ad‑supported tier for Insiders who do not have Game Pass, giving an alternative for those who prefer a lower cost or shorter queue times, as noted in both reports.

The new model comes as Microsoft limits the number of streaming hours that Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can use each month. Compared to competitors, Nvidia’s GeForce Now requires game ownership but offers 100 hours for $10 a month, while Game Pass Ultimate remains $23 a month with a 15‑hour cap, according to t3.