Xbox Cloud Gaming Tests Playtime Packs for Non-Game Pass Users
Microsoft began a preliminary test on October 21 that lets Xbox Insider Program participants without a Game Pass subscription buy cloud play time for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Three packs are sold at introductory prices: 10 hours for $3.99, 25 hours for $7.99, and 50 hours for $11.99. The purchase covers streaming time only, not access to the Game Pass library, so users must own the supported cloud-enabled games themselves, though some free-to-play titles also qualify. Purchased time does not expire until it is used up, and the test supports high-quality streaming and reduced wait times. The test runs ahead of a change to how Xbox Cloud Gaming is offered in November. Microsoft announced in September 2026 that it would change the service's offering starting in November, citing rising costs that accompany growth in users and playtime, and said Game Pass subscribers would get monthly playtime limits by plan, with extra time purchasable after the limit is reached.