Xbox caps cloud gaming at 15 hours a month for Game Pass subscribers

Xbox is introducing strict monthly time limits for Game Pass subscribers who stream games online through its cloud gaming service.

The changes, which come into effect in November, will see a subscriber to the £16.99 Ultimate monthly plan able to stream games for up to 15 hours a month - before having to purchase additional cloud play time.

Xbox said the limits were due to the rising cost of cloud gaming, and they would allow the firm to "continue to invest" in the service's "reliability and performance".

While some questioned , external whether the service was used by many to begin with, others called out , external the additional limits for subscribers.

Cloud gaming allows players to stream and play games online from a remote server using a phone, tablet or controller, rather than downloading and running it on a PC or console at home.

Different tiers of subscription to Game Pass will have different limits.

Premium users will get 10 hours, while those on the basic Essential tier will get five hours a month before they have to pay for extra time.

Xbox claimed just 4% of the people who use Games Pass - its Netflix-style subscription plan for games - use its cloud gaming service.