"That's a moderately useful option for cloud-curious Xbox players that might not be willing to take the plunge on a monthly subscription, we suppose. But it also feels like Microsoft could come up with some more imaginative ways to use Cloud Gaming to reach occasional players in new ways. What's stopping Microsoft from offer streaming players a 30-minute timed demo stream of any available Xbox Cloud Gaming title-perhaps in exchange for watching a short ad,"
"And they all feel potentially more impactful than using ads as a way to let Xbox players stream copies of games they already purchased. Back in 2019, we noted how Stadia's strictly buy-before-you-play streaming business model limited the appeal of what ended up as a doomed cloud-gaming experiment. Microsoft should take some lessons from Google's failure and experiment with new ways to use streaming to reach players that might not have access to the latest high-end hardware for their gaming experiences."
Microsoft currently lets players stream games they already purchased but could better use Cloud Gaming to attract occasional or hardware-limited players. Offering 30-minute timed demo streams, possibly in exchange for watching short ads, could let players sample titles before buying. An ad-supported, streaming-only Game Pass tier could lower cost barriers while generating revenue. Short-term digital rentals for a few days would mimic movie storefront models and broaden access. Lessons from Stadia's buy-before-you-play model show that purchase-only streaming limits appeal. Experimenting with ad-supported access, demos, and rentals could expand reach and sales among casual audiences.
Read at Ars Technica
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