Xbox Cloud Gaming is likely one of the key promoting factors of Xbox Game Pass, and it typically works nicely. The service lets players stream Xbox titles to a variety of gadgets, together with telephones, tablets, handhelds and choose smart TVs from Samsung, LG and Hisense. Nonetheless, following the Xbox Game Pass price increase from November, streaming alone will not be sufficient to maintain some subscribers on board, which is the place an ad-supported tier might come into play.
Microsoft confirmed the existence of an ad-supported tier final 12 months however has not shared particulars on when it can launch or what it can embrace. New screenshots shared by gamers counsel the tier could also be arriving quickly, although questions stay about the way it will work and what limitations it might have.
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When will the Xbox Cloud Gaming ad-supported tier launch?Â
Microsoft hasn’t made an official announcement but, nevertheless it’s anticipated to roll out someday this 12 months, in line with Windows Central. Final month, some players noticed a unique loading display for Xbox Cloud Gaming with a message saying “1 hour of ad-supported play time per session,” which might level to the adverts coming quickly.Â
seems to be like ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming quickly 👀 pic.twitter.com/c8hAERrVB9
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) January 17, 2026
How a lot will the Xbox Cloud Gaming ad-supported tier value?Â
In October, Microsoft confirmed it was internally testing the ad-supported tier, and on the time, stated it will be free. Going by the load display message I discussed earlier, there’ll possible be a restrict on how lengthy folks can play on the tier and through inside testing, gamers must watch a 2-minute advert.Â
What video games can be obtainable on the ad-supported tier?Â
Rumors in regards to the inside testing urged gamers would solely have entry to sure video games without cost, however the query is, which of them? Microsoft has a significant number of games obtainable to stream, whether or not it is bought digital video games or these obtainable with an Xbox Sport Cross subscription. Microsoft might permit all of the digital video games in a participant’s library to be streamed and would possibly make just a few video games obtainable without cost on a weekly or month-to-month foundation, much like the Free Play Days video games.Â