Xbox recently announced monthly Cloud Gaming limits for Game Pass subscribers, but it now appears that not everyone will be affected. Some existing subscribers are being told they can continue streaming without the new limits, as long as they keep their current subscription active. However, there is an important catch. This exemption appears to be available only in certain regions.

Microsoft has started sending emails to some Xbox Game Pass members explaining how the upcoming Cloud Gaming changes will affect their accounts. According to the email, the new limits will only apply to new purchases in their market and won’t affect an existing subscription as long as it remains on an auto-recurring plan.

This essentially means some existing subscribers are being grandfathered into the current system. They can continue using Xbox Cloud Gaming without the new monthly cap, provided they don’t cancel their subscription. If they cancel and later subscribe again, they will be treated as a new subscriber and receive the monthly Cloud Gaming allowance associated with their Game Pass tier. It should be noted that Cloud Gaming is a separate service from Game Pass and relates to Xbox’s game-streaming feature.

Monthly cap on game time is for new accounts

Game Pass subscribers have reported receiving the email in countries including Australia, Brazil, Poland, and Germany. Meanwhile, users in the US, Canada, and the UK have reportedly not received the same message.

It’s unclear exactly why Xbox is treating existing subscribers differently depending on their location. One possibility is that consumer protection and subscription laws vary between countries, which could limit Microsoft’s ability to change the terms of an existing recurring subscription without additional notice.

Xbox also says that if changes are eventually made to one of these protected existing subscriptions, the subscriber will receive at least 60 days’ notice. Users would then have the option to change or cancel their plan.

That said, the new Cloud Gaming limits are scheduled to take effect in November. Game Pass Ultimate members will receive 15 hours of cloud streaming each month, while Premium subscribers will get 10 hours. Essential members will be limited to five hours per month. Players who use their allowance will have to purchase additional streaming time if they want to continue playing through the cloud that month.

Microsoft explains that the limits are being introduced because the cost of operating Xbox Cloud Gaming increases as more people use the service and spend longer periods streaming games. The company says monthly allowances will help it continue investing in the service’s performance and reliability. We saw a similar strategy when Nvidia announced a 100-hour limit for GeForce Now.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.