Advertising is also reaching video game subscription plans. And Microsoft is working on a free model with ads for Xbox Cloud Gaming, the Xbox service that allows you to play video games in the cloud from any device. As has been made known The Vergehas begun testing ad-supported game streaming internally.
The free version with ads would expand the reach of the Xbox service
Until now, Cloud Gaming was accessible for a fee through Game Pass, the Xbox subscription model that provides access to hundreds of titles in exchange for a monthly amount. However, the technology firm is considering the option of expanding the scope of its proposal by making it free and including ads.
According to the aforementioned media, the tests that are being carried out among the company’s employees include around two minutes of ads in pre-roll format before being able to play the video game for free through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
However, the company would also be testing a limit of one hour per session, with up to five free hours per month, although limits could vary when the service officially launches.
On the other hand, the ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming would be available for a wide range of modes and devices: PC, Xbox consoles, portable devices and web. As reported The VergeMicrosoft plans to soon test this model in a public beta, before officially launching it sometime in the coming months.
The news about the free version of Xbox Cloud Gaming comes just a week after the company has presented three improved Game Pass plans -Essential, Premium and Ultimate-, and increased the price of subscriptions by 50%, which has led to criticism and cancellations by users.
As part of this reorganization, Microsoft has also announced that Xbox Cloud Gaming has already left the beta version to establish itself as an official service, and has been incorporated into the different Game Pass plans.
However, the possibility of developing an ad-supported version on Xbox Cloud Gaming is something that has been considered for some time as a way both to diversify Xbox’s income options and to make the video game service more accessible and affordable for players.
