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The story
It’s come to light that Microsoft has placed a cap on usage time for “Xbox Cloud Gaming,” the cloud streaming feature of Xbox Game Pass, sparking discussion on 5ch’s Hardware/Industry board (Geha). Previously, subscribers could play without worrying about the clock, but the terms have reportedly been revised to impose a monthly usage limit. In the thread, some pointed out that this hits hardest for people relying solely on the cloud version via a Fire TV Stick or laptop, while those who already own a PC or Xbox console won’t be affected; others read it as a cost-cutting measure meant to avoid a price hike. The discussion also drew comparisons to usage limits on competing cloud services.
What people said
Xbox console crowd: "Not a problem!"
Oh no… ((((;゚Д゚)))) (kaomoji for a shocked, blood-drained face)
The Xcloud version is built on the console version's specs, so no matter how small the screen, the image quality just isn't something gaming PC folks would accept.
No mention of that.
It's strictly the usage time tied to the subscription perk.
Guess this is the perfect excuse to finally buy a gaming PC.
so no problem here.
Yeah, it's about using the right tool for the job.
Xcloud is plenty for something like a JRPG, and I don't want to eat up storage on the console.
but the second Phil [Spencer] and Sarah Bond got pushed out and MS gave up on cloud, they started saying only PS fanboys use cloud gaming.
At the end of the day, these people just unconditionally agree with whatever MS leadership says at any given moment — there's no real thought behind any of it.
Going back to Ultimate-only, or charging extra for it, is the normal move here.
At the end of the day it just comes down to: what was Sarah Bond even trying to do?
PC Game Pass shouldn't even have cloud access to begin with.
A downgrade doesn't make something else better; a downgrade just means the next downgrade is already lined up.
I know Xbox fanboys will lose it and scream "PS fanboy!" if I leave it at that, so I'll add:
PS Plus is the same story — raising the price didn't improve the lineup either, and in Japan you still can't play it on PC.
It's overflowing with day-one releases every time though? Do some research before you post, it's embarrassing.
Thought this was a joke but it's already been changed for real, lmaoooooooo
https://www.xbox.com/ja-JP/xbox-game-pass
MS really doesn't waste any time, huh.
I've been an Ultimate subscriber continuously since '22, and I have a pretty good sense of how the pace of additions has changed over time — that's exactly why I'm saying it's dropped.
Impressive how you're emphasizing "since '22" just to flex your credentials.
That's basically starting a thread with zero sources.
In other words, unless you're on the priciest plan, unlimited cloud gaming just isn't a thing.
Even the top plan caps each session at 8 hours, but again, no monthly cap.
With GeForce Now you can just log back in and start a fresh session.
You think that whole price tag is just for the cloud feature?
It's ¥1,550, you clearly haven't even played ("airplay"/eapure — slang for talking about a game you've never touched).
The current situation is just untenable, honestly.
They'll probably walk it back before long.
Best to keep a low profile about it.
Sorry, it went up because of the recent app rollout.
With Ultimate plus console/PC/smartphone, I consistently clear 16,500 points a month [about ¥1,800 in Amazon gift cards].
Maybe subtract the ¥1,200 worth you can get for free?
Background and Key Points of This Discussion
Xbox Cloud Gaming is a feature bundled with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and its main selling point was letting people play without owning a console or gaming PC, streaming everything over the cloud instead. In the thread, it’s easy to miss that this new time limit applies only to cloud usage granted as a subscription perk — there’s no mention of it affecting cloud streaming of titles you’ve actually purchased (comments 10 and 12). It’s also worth noting that rival cloud services like NVIDIA’s GeForce Now already impose per-plan usage caps of their own (comments 70 and 73), so Xbox isn’t uniquely singling itself out with an unusual restriction. Opinions in the thread are split between reading this as an anti-abuse measure and as a cost-cutting move, and since Microsoft hasn’t offered a clear explanation, that’s something this article itself can’t confirm.
※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hardware/Industry (Geha)) thread “[Sad News] MS: “We’re Adding Xbox Cloud Time Limits” — Isn’t This Only a Problem for Certain People? lol“.
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