Xbox Game Pass has always offered plenty of perks beyond its ever-growing library of monthly titles. One of the most valuable is cloud gaming, which lets players stream games without needing a console or high-end PC. Until now, this benefit has been exclusive to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier. That’s about to change.
In an official announcement, Xbox revealed that it will upgrade its more affordable Game Pass plans by adding cloud gaming and select PC titles at no additional cost. This means subscribers won’t have to pay extra to enjoy the benefits that were previously locked behind the premium tier.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Expands to More Game Pass Plans
Cloud gaming is a cornerstone of Microsoft’s long-term strategy, though its growth has been slower than expected. Recently, Xbox executives hinted at new ways to leverage the technology, and now we know one of them: Xbox Cloud Gaming will soon be available for Xbox Game Pass Core and Standard subscribers.
With this update, users of these lower-tier plans will be able to stream compatible titles instantly, skipping lengthy downloads and hardware limitations. Cloud gaming supports any Xbox Game Pass title marked with cloud compatibility, as well as owned games with the same support.
Currently, this feature is in testing through the Xbox Insider Program, meaning only a limited group of users can try it out. However, Xbox has confirmed that a full rollout to all Core and Standard members is planned in the near future.
More PC Games for Core and Standard Members
Microsoft is also working to make select PC titles available on cheaper Game Pass plans, giving players more flexibility. This change means that users won’t need a separate PC Game Pass subscription to enjoy certain Windows-compatible titles on desktops or portable devices.
Just like the cloud gaming update, this feature is being tested with Xbox Insiders before its general release.
For players, this is a major win: more ways to play across devices and more content available without upgrading to Ultimate.
