Microsoft made some interesting decisions over the past few years. For ages, we saw companies like Xbox focus on not only hardware but also exclusive software. That’s starting to change. Xbox, for one, is opening up the idea of its first-party games coming to rival platforms. They are seeking out a way to bring their games to as many players as possible. Another way they have been going about it is through their Xbox Game Pass service.
For a good while, Xbox Game Pass was a subscription service tied to Xbox consoles and the PC platform. That didn’t last too long before we saw cloud gaming becoming a more viable option. Microsoft wants to bring its games to as many players as possible, and as a result, it made Xbox Game Pass available online. Players could even gain access to the latest generation of video games on something like an Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Cloud Only Game Pass Tier Inbound?
It’s not been a secret that Microsoft was interested in moving forward with more cloud gaming options. There was even a device being considered in the past that would be focused on Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming. While that was scrapped, Microsoft continued to pursue new means for consumers to enjoy cloud gaming. If you don’t recall, select games that consumers own outside of Game Pass are even available to stream via the cloud.
However, thanks to The Verge, we’re finding out that Jason Ronald, the VP of Microsoft’s Next Generation, was featured on the official Xbox podcast. During the show, Jason noted that they are seeing more players use cloud gaming. It’s uncertain whether this is the only way they access Game Pass or if cloud gaming is just a secondary option for when they are on the go.
That said, this discovery has led Jason to look at opportunities to make a more affordable means for players to enjoy Game Pass. Right now, access to the cloud is locked behind Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the top tier offered by Microsoft. While we don’t have anything officially unveiled regarding a new tier, it appears that something is being developed. We’ll just have to wait for Xbox to spill the beans on it finally.
