Xbox Explores Hourly Fees for Streaming Purchased Games

Microsoft's Xbox division is reportedly considering a new pricing model that would charge players an additional fee to stream games they have already purchased. This potential shift, which has surfaced through internal discussions and industry analysis, could involve hourly rates ranging from 24 to 40 cents.

The proposed system would mean that even after buying a game outright, players would incur ongoing costs if they choose to stream it via cloud services rather than downloading and playing it locally. This approach marks a significant departure from the current model where purchasing a game grants indefinite access to play it, and it raises questions about the long-term value proposition for consumers investing in digital game libraries.