News: Similar to Netflix, Cloud gaming may be free with ADS. Now you get the Whopper Whopper Ad while you fight the Covenant.

[Newegg-Official]

Microsoft is reportedly testing an ad supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming that could allow anyone to stream select Xbox titles for free. The idea is simple but potentially game changing: players would watch a short ad, around two minutes, before starting their cloud session. In return, they’d gain limited access to a rotating library of cloud ready games. This free tier may include titles the user already owns digitally, older “Xbox Classics,” and weekend trial games through Free Play Days. Sessions could be capped at one hour, with a limit on how many times users can stream per month.

(photo: Netflix / IndieWire)

This move reflects Microsoft’s growing ambition to make Xbox gaming more accessible worldwide. With Game Pass prices increasing, a free option helps soften the blow and invite new players into the ecosystem. Ads would generate revenue to offset the cost of servers and licensing, while giving advertisers a new way to reach gamers directly. It’s a model reminiscent of YouTube or Spotify free content, paid through attention. However, it comes with risks. Gamers notoriously dislike intrusive ads, and not every publisher will want their titles shown in an ad supported format. Still, if Microsoft executes carefully, this could be the first truly mainstream step toward making high end gaming as accessible as streaming music or video.

(photo: Xbox)

Does this make gaming more accessible for all? Or is this a money grab? Share your thoughts and leave a comment down below!

[Viraco]

like Google and Facebook. Microsoft is one of those companies that is just the worst. Microsoft has been horrible for gaming in recent years.

[elaniselan]

I just saw a gamers Nexus video talking about taking a bunch of purposely “bricked” hardware (windows 10 support going away) and repurposing them with Linux.

So, we definitely will get more ways in the future to circumvent things that annoy us.

[Viraco]

I could see using Linux for something like that most definitely, cause there’s nothing wrong with those computers. While I’ve never used Linux before, what I’ve read and seen it’s not as easy to use as windows. in that video GN even admit some utilities only work with windows in. It’s always an option, but it’s not a cure unfortunately. I thought about going to Linux when I first built my current computer, but it’s just so easy just to pump in windows and then turn the power on and Wa-la everything works.