Xbox introduces cloud streaming option to its lower-tier Game Pass plans
In a move that signals a shift in the gaming industry, Microsoft is bringing cloud game streaming to the lower tiers of its Xbox Game Pass service. Until now, cloud game streaming was locked behind the $20 Ultimate plan of Xbox Game Pass.
Starting from August 27, Xbox Game Pass Insider program members can begin testing the cloud game streaming feature. This test period suggests that the rollout of this feature to all subscribers will be quick. Only the insider members have access to the test before a wider rollout.
The introduction of cloud game streaming to the lower tiers, specifically for Core and Standard subscribers, marks a significant change in the Game Pass service. The Core tier bundles online multiplayer with a small catalog of games, while the Standard tier, introduced a year ago as the middle tier between Core and Ultimate, offers a larger library of games.
Microsoft's decision to open cloud access to all Game Pass tiers is a statement that cloud gaming is no longer an add-on, but central to the future of how games are played. This move comes after Sony has started layering cloud features into PlayStation Plus, and Nvidia has built GeForce Now entirely around cloud streaming.
By bringing cloud streaming to the Core and Standard tiers, Microsoft is changing the story of those tiers feeling limited compared to Ultimate. Both the Core and Standard tiers worked fine for accessing games at a lower cost, but they always felt limited compared to Ultimate. Microsoft hints at a potential cloud-only subscription in the future.
In 2023, Xbox Live Gold was retired and replaced with the Core tier of Xbox Game Pass. This move was a part of Microsoft's steady reshaping of the Xbox Game Pass service over the past few years. The reshaping has made the service more accessible and affordable for a wider audience.
As the testing phase progresses, it will be interesting to see how the gaming community responds to this change and how it affects the future of cloud gaming.
