Xbox Cloud Gaming Without Game Pass Is Live: Prices From $3.99

Short answer: from November 11, 2026, you can play Xbox Cloud Gaming without a Game Pass subscription. You buy cloud playtime packs: 10 hours for $3.99, 25 hours for $7.99 or 50 hours for $11.99 (introductory prices). The hours don't expire, but you still need to own the game (or play a supported free-to-play game).

What changed

Until now, Xbox Cloud Gaming needed a Game Pass plan that includes cloud gaming. Xbox tested a new option called cloud playtime with Xbox Insiders from October 21, 2026, and said it would roll out more broadly in November. In its GTA 6 announcement on November 10, Xbox confirmed that starting November 11, players in supported markets can buy cloud playtime to stream supported games without a Game Pass subscription.

Xbox cloud playtime prices

Pack	Price	Price per hour
10 hours	$3.99	about $0.40
25 hours	$7.99	about $0.32
50 hours	$11.99	about $0.24

Xbox calls these introductory prices, so they may change later. Prices in other currencies depend on your country.

According to Xbox, the packs include:

• No ads
• Shorter wait times to start a game
• High-quality streaming
• Playtime that "remains available until it's used" (no expiry date)

What games can you play?

Cloud playtime works with cloud-playable games you own and select free-to-play games. Buying hours does not give you a library of games like Game Pass does: you need to buy each game separately.

Xbox also tests a free, ad-supported way to try cloud gaming. It has not shared full details for everyone yet.

GTA 6 and cloud playtime

The biggest game this applies to is GTA 6. Xbox confirmed that GTA 6 comes to Xbox Cloud Gaming on November 19 on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and that the game must be bought separately. So an Xbox One owner without Game Pass could buy GTA 6 and a playtime pack to stream it. Full details: GTA 6 Is Coming to Xbox One Through Cloud Gaming.

Can you use it on PC?

Xbox Cloud Gaming normally works on Windows PCs through the Xbox app and in a web browser at xbox.com/play. Xbox says cloud playtime needs a "supported device" and that availability "may vary by market, device, account eligibility". For GTA 6, the announcement only names Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, not PC. GTA 6 still has no PC version: see GTA 6 PC Release Date.

Cloud playtime vs Game Pass

	Cloud playtime	Game Pass (with cloud)
Cost	From $3.99 for 10 hours, once	Monthly subscription
Games	Games you own + select free-to-play	Game Pass library + some owned games
Expires	No	When you stop paying
Best for	Playing a few hours a month	Playing many games often

If you only want to try a game or play a few hours a month, playtime packs are cheaper. If you play every day, a subscription is usually better value.

Related

• GTA 6 Is Coming to Xbox One Through Cloud Gaming
• Is GTA 6 on PS4, Xbox One or Switch?
• GTA 6 PC Release Date

FAQ

Can I play Xbox Cloud Gaming without Game Pass?

Yes. From November 11, 2026, you can buy cloud playtime packs in supported markets and stream games you own without a Game Pass subscription.

How much does Xbox cloud playtime cost?

$3.99 for 10 hours, $7.99 for 25 hours or $11.99 for 50 hours. Xbox says these are introductory prices.

Does Xbox cloud playtime expire?

No. Xbox says playtime remains available until it's used.

Do I still need to buy games?

Yes. Cloud playtime is for games you own and some free-to-play games. It does not include a game library.

Can I play GTA 6 with cloud playtime?

Xbox says GTA 6 streams on Xbox Cloud Gaming from November 19 on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and the game must be bought separately.

Sources: Xbox Wire, October 21, 2026 (prices, playtime rules), Xbox Wire, November 10, 2026 (November 11 launch, GTA 6). Last checked November 11, 2026.