Xbox Game Pass imposes strict monthly hour limits on cloud gaming - Mashable

Xbox is making a change to Game Pass that probably won't have very many defenders online.

Game Pass Essential: 5 hours per month

Game Pass Premium: 10 hours per month

Game Pass Ultimate: 15 hours per month

Speaking of which, Grand Theft Auto VI comes out in November. While it wouldn't be eligible for Game Pass streaming at launch, there's always a possibility it could be added to the service months (or years) down the line. If/when that happens, you won't be able to stream it for more than 15 hours per month. That's not great.

This is only the latest in a string of not-entirely-positive headlines about Xbox in the past year or two. Between a big leadership change that saw AI executive Asha Sharma take over the brand, console price hikes, and Xbox's inclusion on the BDS boycott list by association with Microsoft's partnership with the Israeli military, the mood around Xbox in online gaming circles has been pretty rotten lately.

For some reason, I don't think imposing hourly limits on game streaming right as the biggest game of the decade launches is going to help matters.

Topics Video Games Grand Theft Auto

Alex Perry is a tech reporter at Mashable who primarily covers video games and consumer tech. Alex has spent most of the last decade reviewing games, smartphones, headphones, and laptops, and he doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. He is also a Pisces, a cat lover, and a Kansas City sports fan. Alex can be found on Bluesky at yelix.bsky.social.