Microsoft is preparing an ad-supported tier for Xbox Cloud Gaming that would allow players to stream games they already own digitally without a Game Pass subscription, Windows Central reported, citing sources familiar with the plans.
This means Xbox gamers will be able to stream their games for free on any other device, but with ads.
Last week, users began seeing a new message when launching cloud-based games that referenced “1 hour of ad-supported play time per session,” although no such tier is currently available.
The reported ad-supported option would apply to hundreds of games available for digital purchase through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
At present, these titles require players to subscribe to at least one Game Pass tier to stream them through the cloud, even if the games are already owned outright.
The report said Microsoft expects the ad-supported tier to launch sometime this year.