Microsoft is testing , ad-supported cloud gaming for Xbox Insiders

Xbox Insiders tin watercourse games from their libraries for free successful ad-supported streaming sessions starting today. The free streaming sessions are constricted to games you already own, and sessions are capped astatine 1 hour. However, ads will only play “before sessions begin.” It’s besides optional — you won’t request to watch ads if you person a paid unreality gaming subscription.

Microsoft says the ad-supported streaming action will only beryllium disposable for a constricted clip during a “test period.” It antecedently began internally testing an ad-supported type of Xbox Cloud Gaming precocious past year, pinch sources telling The Verge astatine the clip that the trial included astir 2 minutes of preroll ads earlier streaming sessions.

Around the aforesaid time, Microsoft besides increased Game Pass prices, but added unlimited unreality gaming to its lowest-priced Game Pass Essential subscription, which costs $9.99 per month. Previously, you needed a Game Pass Ultimate subscription for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft says the extremity of its existent trial for ad-supported streaming is to further grow affordable ways to play Xbox games. Ad tiers person go increasingly common connected video streaming platforms complete caller years — the summation of ads connected Xbox’s streaming work could awesome a akin displacement coming to gaming subscriptions.

Additionally, Microsoft notes that unreality gaming could “help Xbox One owners play newer games built for Xbox Series X/S” without needing to bargain a caller console. The news comes arsenic Xbox is successful a state of upheaval, including mass layoffs, studio closures, and a pivot backmost toward the fan-favorite Fallout franchise. On apical of that, Xbox console prices are group to increase by upwards of $100 starting connected August 1st.