Microsoft has been testing its ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming service over the past few months, as I exclusively revealed in October. Now, the software giant is getting close to testing the free streaming option with Xbox Insiders.

Xbox Developer Direct 2026 date, start time, how to watch and confirmed games details are now official. Microsoft has confirmed the event schedule, streaming platforms, time zones, and the list of games planned for the January 22 showcase.

Currently, Microsoft’s long-running Cloud Gaming service is limited to players who have a Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription. Now, new reporting suggests Microsoft is planning to offer non-subscribers access to game streams paid for by advertising in the near future, but only in extremely limited circumstances.

A new Xbox Game Pass update for January 2026 has just added another 48 games to the platform's 'Stream Your Own Game' library.

There are hundreds of games playable via Xbox Cloud Gaming currently. However, people need to subscribe to Game Pass to stream them. The new ad tier will allow anyone, even if they don't have a Game Pass membership, to stream select games in exchange for watching ads, according to the report.

Microsoft could soon launch its rumored ad-supported tier for Xbox Cloud Gaming, with notices already appearing prematurely for some gamers.

Microsoft and Xbox have launched a massive update at the start of the year as Xbox Game Pass' Stream Your Own Game library expands with a total of 48 additional titles to enjoy. There are many titles included in the list joining the Stream Your Own Game library,

Xbox has just announced a partnership with TV maker Hisense in a bid to bring its cloud streaming service to its TV operating system. Owners of Hisense TVs will soon be able to use Xbox Cloud Streaming to play Xbox games without having to fork out for the console itself.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is reportedly getting an ad-supported tier sometime this year that will let anyone play digital Xbox games they own.