Microsoft has introduced new monthly time limits for game streaming on its Xbox Game Pass service. Subscribers will now be allowed between 5 and 15 hours of game streaming per month, with the exact allocation dependent on their subscription tier.
This move brings into question Microsoft's previous commitment to cloud gaming, especially given the company's significant resources. The change comes as data and computing power have become more expensive, partly due to the demand from AI companies and their chatbots.
Microsoft stated in a blog post that only 4% of all Game Pass subscribers use the service for more than 15 hours a month. While game streaming was once seen as the future of gaming, companies like Google and Sony have also faced challenges in making it widely adopted, affordable, or consistently enjoyable.