While it’s unknown just how impactful the controversial price increase for Game Pass has been for Xbox, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer had one positive metric to celebrate. The time subscribers have spent with the cloud is up 45 percent, according to his new LinkedIn post.
This was in response to the Xbox profile announcing that cloud gaming had arrived in India alongside expansions to servers in Brazil and Argentina. Spencer said, “One way we measure progress is by looking at engagement, and the momentum is encouraging: Game Pass cloud hours are up 45 percent compared to this time last year, and console players are streaming 45 percent more on console and 24 percent more on other devices. “
Which sounds all well and good, but how many were utilizing Xbox Cloud Gaming to begin with? How much time were they originally spending? These are currently unknown. Nevertheless, Spencer felt that “Progress is also about more choice for players—play what you want, where you want—and that’s what drives us forward.”
It’s also worth noting that cloud gaming is available to a wider spectrum of Game Pass subscribers than before. Previously exclusive to Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential can now access the same, albeit at lower quality and slightly longer wait times. Microsoft is also working on a free cloud gaming tier supported by ads, though it has yet to provide specifics.
