Microsoft Introduces Hourly 'Cloud Playtime' Fees for Xbox Owners
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The gaming giant is testing a metered payment model that charges users to stream games they have already purchased.
Microsoft has rolled out a la carte "Cloud Playtime" purchases to Xbox Insiders, introducing a metered payment system for users to stream eligible games they own on supported devices. According to reporting from Ars Technica, these charges apply to non-subscribers and come on top of the initial purchase price of the games.
The "introductory launch pricing" for these streaming packs includes: * 10 hours for $4 (~$0.40/hour) * 25 hours for $8 (~$0.32/hour) * 50 hours for $12 (~$0.24/hour)
Microsoft states that purchased playtime remains available until used. While the company is offering a free, ad-supported streaming option for Xbox Insiders, Ars Technica reports that paid users will receive high-quality streaming and shorter wait times, implying a degraded experience for those using the ad-supported tier.
This move follows a September decision by Microsoft to limit the streaming hours available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers to between five and 15 hours per month. Microsoft previously indicated that this subscription limit would affect only 4 percent of Game Pass subscribers.
The new model differs from previous industry attempts at cloud gaming. Ars Technica notes that Google's defunct Stadia service offered unlimited streaming for purchased games, while Sony's 2014 PlayStation Now service initially offered a la carte rental periods before transitioning to the current PlayStation Plus Premium subscription, which costs $20 per month or $160 per year.