Xbox is putting monthly time limits on cloud gaming

Don’t forget to watch the clock while you play!

Beginning in November, Microsoft’s Xbox will put monthly cloud-gaming limits on its Game Pass plans, the company announced in a blog post.

Right now, eligible subscribers can stream games without a monthly hour limit. “We recognize that introducing limits is a meaningful change, particularly for players who regularly spend more time gaming through the cloud,” the company wrote. “We expect this upcoming change to impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers.” Starting in November, the $22.99-a-month Game Pass Ultimate subscription will include 15 hours of cloud gaming each month.

Premium members who pay $14.99 a month will get 10 hours, while Essential members will get five hours with their $9.99 monthly subscriptions.

Players who use up those hours will be able to buy more cloud time through the Xbox Store.

Cloud gaming has given owners of older Xbox hardware a way to play some games designed for newer systems without buying an entirely new console.

It has also let Game Pass subscribers try games from the catalog before paying for the full download.

Xbox said it was making the change because “the cost of providing cloud gaming grows” as players use the service more and play for longer.

Gamers have faced rising costs for hardware, games, and subscriptions amid soaring memory and storage costs.

Xbox didn’t immediately respond to Business Insider’s questions about the price of additional playtime.