Microsoft is expanding the reach of its Game Pass service by making PC and cloud gaming available to subscribers on its more affordable tiers, Core and Standard. While Game Pass Ultimate has long been the premium offering at $19.99 per month, this change means that players who opt for the cheaper plans will also benefit from the ability to stream games from the cloud and even play select PC titles locally. This marks a significant shift for Microsoft, as Core and Standard subscriptions were previously limited almost entirely to the Xbox console, leaving PC and handheld players on the sidelines.
The expansion fits with Microsoft’s broader vision of what an “Xbox” represents — not just a console, but a gaming ecosystem that includes PCs, handheld devices, and even streaming to smart TVs. With this move, players who own less powerful PCs will be able to use Microsoft’s GPU-powered cloud servers to enjoy games that would otherwise be unplayable locally. Core subscribers currently enjoy a rotating library of 25–30 console games, while Standard members have access to several hundred titles on Xbox consoles. Now, both tiers are gaining cloud support, meaning players can stream games they own and access part of the Game Pass catalog without investing in high-end gaming hardware.
At the moment, the feature is in testing through the Xbox Insider Program, requiring players to install the Insider Hub on PC or console to try it out. Microsoft has not confirmed how many games will be cloud-enabled at each tier, but the fact that owned games can also be streamed is a major bonus for low-end PC gamers. While competing platforms like Nvidia’s GeForce Now already offer cloud-based gaming, Microsoft’s decision to bring the capability directly into its existing Game Pass subscriptions makes the offering far more attractive, giving subscribers more value for their money and widening the Xbox ecosystem across more devices.
