Microsoft has announced a significant update for Xbox Game Pass subscribers: Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available to users of the Xbox Game Pass Standard and Core tiers. This feature was previously exclusive to the premium Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, marking a major expansion of accessibility for cloud-based gameplay.
The new offering is currently live for participants in the Xbox Insiders program, which is free and open to anyone. Microsoft has not yet disclosed a specific date for when this feature will roll out to all Standard and Core subscribers.
For context, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $20/month, while Game Pass Standard is priced at $15/month, and Game Pass Core is available for $10/month. Additionally, a PC-focused version of the service, Game Pass PC, is offered at $12/month.
In a related enhancement, Xbox Insiders subscribed to Game Pass Standard or Core can now also play PC versions of certain games. To utilize this, users simply need to download and open the Xbox PC app, sign in, and navigate to the Game Pass tab to browse eligible titles.
This initiative aligns with recent indications from a Microsoft executive regarding more affordable avenues for Xbox Cloud Gaming. The future evolution of Microsoft`s cloud gaming strategy might even include options for free ad-supported game streaming, according to previous statements.
The expansion comes amidst a period of declining Xbox console sales. By making Xbox Cloud Gaming broadly available, Microsoft reinforces its “This Is An Xbox” campaign, launched in 2024, which highlights that Xbox games can be enjoyed on a variety of existing devices—including smartphones, tablets, and computers—without the need for a dedicated Xbox console.
Despite this strategic pivot towards cloud accessibility, Microsoft remains committed to hardware innovation. The company is actively collaborating with AMD on a next-generation console, and new ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming devices are scheduled for release this October.
