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MIT Agents Left Alone Began to Play, Researchers Say; Drop7 Project Tests Automated StrategyUS Opens Thousands of Acres of Public Land to AI Data Centers, With 35 Projects PlannedMicron DRAM Prices Jump Over 60% as AI Tightens Memory SupplyKnicks Sent Employees Fake Championship Ring Offer in Phishing Test, Report SaysStrava adds plain-language route search, subscriber audio navigation coming soonAmazon brings handwritten notes to Kindle Android app
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Microsoft Sets Hourly Pricing for Xbox Cloud Gaming, Limits Game Pass Cloud Hours

Microsoft announced hourly Xbox Cloud Gaming packages and limited Game Pass cloud hours to 5–15 from November.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-24 03:43

The change affects subscribers who bought games outside the Game Pass library on the expectation they could play them through cloud streaming. Slashdot, citing Gizmodo, reported that before the changes were announced in September, customers paid the full purchase price for such games on the assumption that cloud streaming would be available. Once the monthly allotment of hours is used, those customers will pay by the hour to play the games in addition to the purchase price.

Microsoft said purchased playtime "remains available until it's used," according to Slashdot, so unused hours will not expire between gaming sessions.

Editor's Summary

Microsoft's new Xbox Cloud Gaming pricing adds pay-as-you-go hour packages and limits the cloud hours included with Game Pass starting in November. Subscribers will need to buy extra time even for games they already own, while purchased playtime remains available until used. The change shifts more of the cost of cloud streaming to users who exceed their monthly allotment.