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Xbox Cloud gaming is available in 29 countries and in India but a free version from Microsoft could appeal to more users.
Xbox Cloud gaming for free could be a game changer for Microsoft.
Microsoft could be close to having a free version of the Xbox Cloud Gaming service available in the market. The online gaming platform lets you enjoy some of the popular Xbox game titles just with the help of high-speed internet, and a subscription to access all these games which makes it cheaper than buying an all new Xbox console.
But the company could open the service to a wider range of audience with its free version that will understandably come with the burden of seeing ads. The news about the free Xbox Cloud Gaming has been floating for a while and a new report suggests we could finally see it available this year.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Without The Pass
The report by Windows Central claims Microsoft’s free Xbox Cloud offering will unlock the service without buying a Game Pass subscription. Microsoft is said to be internally testing the version which will have ads but also come with limits on the gaming session that users can enjoy for free.
The company could offer other benefits of the Xbox Cloud version but with certain limits which is understandable. To be fair, there is no clear timeline for the free service launch but at least knowing it might happen in 2026 will have many Xbox gamers excited to try out the service.
More importantly, the free version could tempt more people to invest in the ecosystem and eventually help Microsoft sign up more users for the premium versions.
The best thing about Xbox Cloud Gaming is that you can play the console games on phone, PCs or even the big screen TV in your living room. Everything is based on the cloud which just needs you to pay for the Xbox Game Pass subscription as well as invest in the Xbox controllers.
Microsoft finally brought the service to the Indian market back in November 2025 and the free version could be tailormade for countries where the gaming segment is growing and has an untapped user base that can be signed up for the future.
Redmond, Washington State, USA
January 22, 2026, 12:58 IST
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