{"id":2126634,"date":"2026-09-03T17:18:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T14:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2126634"},"modified":"2026-09-03T17:18:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T14:18:26","slug":"microsoft-announces-big-changes-to-xbox-cloud-gaming-switches-to-monthly-hour-limits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2126634","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Announces Big Changes to Xbox Cloud Gaming, Switches to Monthly Hour Limits"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2154984108 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-2044616299 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Microsoft has announced big changes to Xbox cloud gaming, including a switch to monthly hour limits.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">From November, Game Pass plans will include a set number of cloud gaming hours each month:<\/p>\n<h2 data-cy=\"title2\" class=\"title2 jsx-1903782357 jsx-3735650234\">Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming monthly limits:<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"list jsx-4224303756\" data-cy=\"list\">\n<li>Game Pass Ultimate: 15 hours <\/li>\n<li>Game Pass Premium: 10 hours <\/li>\n<li>Game Pass Essential: 5 hours<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Once subscribers use their included hours, they can buy additional cloud playtime through the Xbox Store. Currently, Game Pass subscribers can stream without these monthly hour limits. The change means those who use cloud gaming most via Game Pass will end up having to pay more, although Microsoft said this impacts 4% of Game Pass subscribers.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The 100 Best Xbox Games of All Time<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"What is an Xbox? Microsoft has spent 25 years trying to answer the question, but for fans, the answer is easy: \u201cXbox\u201d evokes one-eared headsets wired into the memory card slots of massive controllers with breakaway cords. A dashboard with gleaming skeuomorphic blades and avatars adorned in earned accessories. That sound that plays when a hard-earned Achievement finally pops. \u201cXbox\u201d means heavy-duty hardware. Tactile sensations. Friends connecting for the first time. And that\u2019s before we even get to the games.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nIt may be that the very idea of an Xbox game is coming to an end. Microsoft has undeniably shifted its tactics, with a new focus on multi-platform releases, handheld Xboxes that are actually miniature Windows computers, and the potential that future Xbox consoles may simply be gaming PCs. So now seems as good a time as any to look back at the entire history of Microsoft\u2019s console journey and rank the best Xbox games, with help from our friends at Outside Xbox, the multimillion-subscriber channel that serves up weekly videos about video games and video game-adjacent things&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nWhen we say \u201cthe best Xbox games,\u201d we mean the ones that most evoke that weighty sense of \u201cXboxness.\u201d Some are first-party, most are exclusives, and all of them are indelibly tied to the legacy of and fondness for a platform that\u2019s left a massive mark on gaming. These are the 100 Best Xbox Games of All Time. We&apos;ll be updating this list daily with 25 games at 7am PST\/10am ET\/3pm GMT from Tuesday, 20th January to Friday, 23rd January, until number one is revealed.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3027214138 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/RightChevron.272be43c.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;100. 1 vs. 100&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nA large-scale, online multiplayer game show, played in real-time by actual players who could win actual prizes? It was a bold idea, and Microsoft&apos;s 1 vs. 100 actually did it. Adapted from the TV show of the same name, players were randomly dropped into one of three pools whenever the show went live: the Crowd, the Mob, and the One, with the One competing against the Mob in trivia rounds where reaction times were just as important an ingredient to victory as the correct answer to the question being asked. Prizes ranged from 80 Microsoft Points ($1) to a free Xbox Live Arcade game, to 10,000 Microsoft Points ($125). 1 vs. 100 was a true social and technical experiment in the world of gaming, and here&apos;s the thing: it worked! Sadly, it was canceled after two &quot;seasons&quot; and can&apos;t be played now, but it lives on in the memory as one of the best and most innovative Xbox games ever made.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 101 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;99. Conker: Live and Reloaded&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nWhen Microsoft acquired Nintendo&apos;s second-party darling Rare for $375 million, the possibilities were endless. One of the first games Xbox got from the British studio was Conker: Live and Reloaded, a remake of N64&apos;s Conker&apos;s Bad Fur Day that added online multiplayer. And while that competitive play was quite fun, thanks in part to the juxtaposition of over-the-top violence and adorable characters on screen, it was the technological level-up from the N64 original that was truly stunning. The action-platformer was now &quot;fur-shaded,&quot; giving the manes of Conker and his buddies a unique &quot;next-gen&quot; new look. Ironically, Live and Reloaded was actually more heavily censored than Bad Fur Day, but both campaign and multiplayer were nevertheless a great way to introduce Rare to its new Xbox player base.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;98. Top Spin&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nBelieve it or not, there was a time when EA didn&apos;t support Xbox Live. And so Microsoft started building its own sports games that would take advantage of its online service, and of those titles, Top Spin was by far the best. It was a tennis sim featuring a career mode full of real-life pros, but what made Top Spin memorable \u2013 in addition to its core gameplay being so pitch-perfect, of course \u2013 was its online play. You&apos;d create your character, build them up, and take them online, pitting yourself against other players in ranked matches that, if you won, would move you further up the global rankings. It all worked perfectly (and even tied in XSN, if you remember that little experiment), and made Top Spin the best tennis game the Xbox has ever been served up.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;97. Binary Domain&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nThe Xbox 360 was a treasure chest full of those \u201c7 out of 10s\u201d that you just couldn\u2019t put down; those rough-around-the-edges cult classics that kept us more than entertained for a weekend before we moved on to the next. Binary Domain is a perfect example \u2013 a third-person shooter from Yakuza developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, this sci-fi story didn\u2019t play too differently from established cover shooters such as Gears of War, but came with its own unique quirks. Direct control of your squadmates was chief among these, with the ability to command them in six different languages via a headset or the Kinect sensor, a fun little gimmick that took advantage of the Xbox\u2019s ultimately doomed experiment with its camera peripheral. Binary Domain may have never fully reached the heights of its lofty ambitions, but it still finds a place in our hearts.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;96. Steel Battalion&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nThe original Xbox was a maximalist, brutalist brick of post-Y2K design and Steel Battalion is the purest expression of its commitment to inconvenience. The Capcom-developed mech game is arguably nothing special by itself, but the humongous HOTAS horror with which it came bundled has earned it Xbox immortality. Weighing in at a whopping 17 pounds, boasting three panels, three foot pedals, and industrial-grade divorced dad energy, Steel Battalion is the video game equivalent of \u201crolling coal:\u201d an excessive, magnificent, indulgent peripheral that cost $200 in 2002 money. Xbox is a burly, hefty console that demands a burly, hefty experience, and Steel Battalion more than fits the bill.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Also in November, Microsoft said players will be able to buy cloud playtime hours through the Xbox Store and \u2018stream eligible games they own on supported devices\u2019 without subscribing to Game Pass.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In a <a href=\"https:\/\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/2026\/09\/03\/xbox-cloud-gaming-changes\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">blog post<\/a>, Microsoft said it was making the changes because the cost of providing cloud gaming has grown as more people use it and play for longer. The monthly limits, Microsoft continued, will mean it can invest in reliability and performance. But it said it understood that for some players the practical result is a higher cost.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Expect more information on pricing, purchasing additional hours, eligible games, market availability, and how players can check their remaining time in November. Microsoft also said it\u2019ll keep a close eye on feedback and may tweak the offering before the changes come in.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-313219616\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/09\/03\/xbox-cloud-playtime-hours-c381b1adcea2de6c3def-1600x900-1788455847761.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"null\" class=\"progressive-image article-image article-image-full-size jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><figcaption data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 jsx-479945570 article-image-caption\">Big changes are coming to Xbox cloud gaming. Image credit: Microsoft.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Cloud gaming has become an increasingly important part of the video game offering as the RAMpocalypse makes console gaming increasingly expensive. Strauss Zelnick, boss of Rockstar parent company Take-Two, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/take-two-boss-predicts-actual-good-video-game-streaming-within-3-years-says-for-streaming-to-matter-it-would-have-to-run-gta-6-as-well-as-consoles\">recently predicted the video game industry will be in \u201ccommercial streaming mode\u201d within three years<\/a> \u2014 but for video game streaming to matter, it would have to run GTA 6 just as well as consoles do.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">During an investor focused Q&amp;A following the release of Take-Two\u2019s latest financial report, Zelnick was asked for his thoughts on the video game industry as it buckles under the pressure of skyrocketing chip costs, which have forced Sony and Microsoft to raise the price of their consoles and potentially delay the launches of the PlayStation 6 and the next-gen Xbox, codenamed Project Helix.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Zelnick admitted the rising cost of hardware \u201cis not a good thing,\u201d because cheaper hardware means more hardware in people\u2019s hands, which is what software companies desire. But he suggested the advent of video game streaming would go a long way to tackling this problem.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Both Sony and Microsoft are predicted to lean heavily on streaming in the coming years as they contend with the RAMpocalypse. \u201cI just don&#8217;t have any insight as to what the console manufacturers have planned, but it wouldn&#8217;t at all surprise me if part of what they plan is streaming,\u201d Zelnick offered.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2896921488 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In the shorter term, GTA 6 launches in November and it is expected to boost console sales significantly. And there are a number of use cases with cloud gaming that could make it a popular option for those either without a current gen console, or who are priced out of buying one. For example, Xbox Cloud Gaming is used by some Xbox One owners to play current gen games. It\u2019s also used by some PC gamers to play games that are beyond their current machines. Some people use cloud gaming to sample Game Pass games before installing \u2014 although this of course won\u2019t apply to GTA 6. Others use cloud gaming to extend playtime in rooms in which they don\u2019t have a console \u2014 perhaps they\u2019re at work or away over a weekend. So, while Microsoft may say GTA 6 has nothing to do with the November changes to Xbox cloud gaming, it\u2019s hard to see past the timing here.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">As for the price of cloud gaming time, don\u2019t expect a \u2018pay as you go\u2019 system \u2014 Microsoft will sell batches of hours, and those hours won\u2019t expire. That means there\u2019s no pressure to use your hours before they disappear.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In July, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/microsoft-launches-test-for-ad-supported-xbox-game-streaming-promises-the-ads-will-not-interrupt-the-flow-of-gameplay\">Microsoft launched a test for ad-supported Xbox game streaming<\/a>, promising the ads wouldn\u2019t interrupt gameplay. \u201cFor many players, the device they already own now allows them to stream games with Xbox,\u201d Microsoft said at the time. \u201cCloud can also help Xbox One owners play newer games built for Xbox Series X|S without needing to purchase new hardware right away. That can be especially meaningful in places where consoles are harder to find or less affordable, giving more players another way to access great games on devices they already have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The test of ad-supported Xbox streaming arrived amid console price rises that are pushing some gaming hardware towards the $1,000 mark. In June, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/microsoft-announces-significant-price-rises-for-xbox-series-x-and-s-2tb-model-discontinued\"><u>Microsoft announced significant price rises for Xbox consoles<\/u><\/a>, blaming the ongoing \u201ccomponents crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cLast October, we increased Xbox console price by 20-70 in the U.S.,\u201d Microsoft said at the time. \u201cWe hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles. Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"tierlist-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\" id=\"xbox-games-series-tier-list\" data-cy=\"xbox-games-series-tier-list\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-2310533475 jsx-1355461925 box\">\n<div><dialog class=\"dialog tier-list-modal jsx-55470089\" aria-labelledby=\"contentLabel\"><\/dialog><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442 jsx-2986308351\"><span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-4269505506 TierListHeader_header__xyy5a\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3647836811 jsx-4269505506 TierListHeader_title__UxzQx\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ign-icon icon-tier-list jsx-2750866048 jsx-1879929830\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-tier-list\" alt=\"Tier List\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/TierList.c19f1c86.svg?cors=0\"><\/p>\n<h3 data-cy=\"title3\" class=\"title3 jsx-12333944 jsx-2321054750 TierListHeader_full__J6p2u\">Xbox Games Series Tier List<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-957202555 TierListHeader_compact__7JWp1 balanced\">Xbox Games Series Tier List<\/h3>\n<p><\/span><\/span><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-740175521 fade-in-out\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442 jsx-2986308351\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-12151557 tier-list-skeleton\"><span class=\"stack jsx-659253495 tiers\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_s-tier__uaHwM\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row s-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_s-tier__Jrv1z\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_a-tier__z0Xky\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row a-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_a-tier__EGxbh\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_b-tier__nsZIP\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row b-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_b-tier__aI1S1\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_c-tier__UohGG\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row c-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_c-tier__ivXOD\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_d-tier__5Z_iU\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row d-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_d-tier__fycMA\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><span class=\"stack jsx-1061896584 content\"><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has said the spiralling cost of new and existing consoles would require &#8220;radically different business models&#8221; over the coming generation. She added that the industry had &#8220;reached a point where it will be hard to imagine&#8221; mass audiences still being able to afford &#8220;thousands of dollars&#8221; for a new console generation.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The current PS5 and Xbox Series X and S generation of consoles have seen price increases rather than cost savings. <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/sony-announces-price-rises-for-ps5-ps5-pro-and-playstation-portal-blames-continued-pressures-in-the-global-economic-landscape\"><u>Sony itself raised the price of PS5 consoles back in March<\/u><\/a>, blaming \u201ccontinued pressures in the global economic landscape.\u201d Nintendo has also not been immune, and recently acknowledged it would up the price of Switch 2, just over a year after its arrival. And <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/valve-ram-companies-state-prices-monthly-if-we-say-no-then-they-never-talk-to-us-again\"><u>Valve has bemoaned its struggle to release Steam Machine at the price it had initially hoped<\/u><\/a>, instead having to go for an eye-watering $1,049.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"jsx-2511205168 preferred-source\"><strong class=\"jsx-2511205168\">Get IGN&#8217;s Biggest Stories FIRST. Set Us as Your Source.<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.ign.com\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--secondary jsx-3027214138 icon-button contained centered large\" title=\"Add Source\" aria-label=\"Add Source\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ign-icon icon-google jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-google\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Google.9e99a9d7.svg?cors=0\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 large\">Add Source<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Microsoft has announced big changes to Xbox cloud gaming, including a switch to monthly hour limits.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">From November, Game Pass plans will include a set number of cloud gaming hours each month:<\/p>\n<h2 data-cy=\"title2\" class=\"title2 jsx-1903782357 jsx-3735650234\">Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming monthly limits:<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"list jsx-4224303756\" data-cy=\"list\">\n<li>Game Pass Ultimate: 15 hours <\/li>\n<li>Game Pass Premium: 10 hours <\/li>\n<li>Game Pass Essential: 5 hours<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Once subscribers use their included hours, they can buy additional cloud playtime through the Xbox Store. Currently, Game Pass subscribers can stream without these monthly hour limits. The change means those who use cloud gaming most via Game Pass will end up having to pay more, although Microsoft said this impacts 4% of Game Pass subscribers.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The 100 Best Xbox Games of All Time<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"What is an Xbox? Microsoft has spent 25 years trying to answer the question, but for fans, the answer is easy: \u201cXbox\u201d evokes one-eared headsets wired into the memory card slots of massive controllers with breakaway cords. A dashboard with gleaming skeuomorphic blades and avatars adorned in earned accessories. That sound that plays when a hard-earned Achievement finally pops. \u201cXbox\u201d means heavy-duty hardware. Tactile sensations. Friends connecting for the first time. And that\u2019s before we even get to the games.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nIt may be that the very idea of an Xbox game is coming to an end. Microsoft has undeniably shifted its tactics, with a new focus on multi-platform releases, handheld Xboxes that are actually miniature Windows computers, and the potential that future Xbox consoles may simply be gaming PCs. So now seems as good a time as any to look back at the entire history of Microsoft\u2019s console journey and rank the best Xbox games, with help from our friends at Outside Xbox, the multimillion-subscriber channel that serves up weekly videos about video games and video game-adjacent things&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nWhen we say \u201cthe best Xbox games,\u201d we mean the ones that most evoke that weighty sense of \u201cXboxness.\u201d Some are first-party, most are exclusives, and all of them are indelibly tied to the legacy of and fondness for a platform that\u2019s left a massive mark on gaming. These are the 100 Best Xbox Games of All Time. We&apos;ll be updating this list daily with 25 games at 7am PST\/10am ET\/3pm GMT from Tuesday, 20th January to Friday, 23rd January, until number one is revealed.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3027214138 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/RightChevron.272be43c.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;100. 1 vs. 100&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nA large-scale, online multiplayer game show, played in real-time by actual players who could win actual prizes? It was a bold idea, and Microsoft&apos;s 1 vs. 100 actually did it. Adapted from the TV show of the same name, players were randomly dropped into one of three pools whenever the show went live: the Crowd, the Mob, and the One, with the One competing against the Mob in trivia rounds where reaction times were just as important an ingredient to victory as the correct answer to the question being asked. Prizes ranged from 80 Microsoft Points ($1) to a free Xbox Live Arcade game, to 10,000 Microsoft Points ($125). 1 vs. 100 was a true social and technical experiment in the world of gaming, and here&apos;s the thing: it worked! Sadly, it was canceled after two &quot;seasons&quot; and can&apos;t be played now, but it lives on in the memory as one of the best and most innovative Xbox games ever made.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 101 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;99. Conker: Live and Reloaded&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nWhen Microsoft acquired Nintendo&apos;s second-party darling Rare for $375 million, the possibilities were endless. One of the first games Xbox got from the British studio was Conker: Live and Reloaded, a remake of N64&apos;s Conker&apos;s Bad Fur Day that added online multiplayer. And while that competitive play was quite fun, thanks in part to the juxtaposition of over-the-top violence and adorable characters on screen, it was the technological level-up from the N64 original that was truly stunning. The action-platformer was now &quot;fur-shaded,&quot; giving the manes of Conker and his buddies a unique &quot;next-gen&quot; new look. Ironically, Live and Reloaded was actually more heavily censored than Bad Fur Day, but both campaign and multiplayer were nevertheless a great way to introduce Rare to its new Xbox player base.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;98. Top Spin&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nBelieve it or not, there was a time when EA didn&apos;t support Xbox Live. And so Microsoft started building its own sports games that would take advantage of its online service, and of those titles, Top Spin was by far the best. It was a tennis sim featuring a career mode full of real-life pros, but what made Top Spin memorable \u2013 in addition to its core gameplay being so pitch-perfect, of course \u2013 was its online play. You&apos;d create your character, build them up, and take them online, pitting yourself against other players in ranked matches that, if you won, would move you further up the global rankings. It all worked perfectly (and even tied in XSN, if you remember that little experiment), and made Top Spin the best tennis game the Xbox has ever been served up.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;97. Binary Domain&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nThe Xbox 360 was a treasure chest full of those \u201c7 out of 10s\u201d that you just couldn\u2019t put down; those rough-around-the-edges cult classics that kept us more than entertained for a weekend before we moved on to the next. Binary Domain is a perfect example \u2013 a third-person shooter from Yakuza developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, this sci-fi story didn\u2019t play too differently from established cover shooters such as Gears of War, but came with its own unique quirks. Direct control of your squadmates was chief among these, with the ability to command them in six different languages via a headset or the Kinect sensor, a fun little gimmick that took advantage of the Xbox\u2019s ultimately doomed experiment with its camera peripheral. Binary Domain may have never fully reached the heights of its lofty ambitions, but it still finds a place in our hearts.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;96. Steel Battalion&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nThe original Xbox was a maximalist, brutalist brick of post-Y2K design and Steel Battalion is the purest expression of its commitment to inconvenience. The Capcom-developed mech game is arguably nothing special by itself, but the humongous HOTAS horror with which it came bundled has earned it Xbox immortality. Weighing in at a whopping 17 pounds, boasting three panels, three foot pedals, and industrial-grade divorced dad energy, Steel Battalion is the video game equivalent of \u201crolling coal:\u201d an excessive, magnificent, indulgent peripheral that cost $200 in 2002 money. Xbox is a burly, hefty console that demands a burly, hefty experience, and Steel Battalion more than fits the bill.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Also in November, Microsoft said players will be able to buy cloud playtime hours through the Xbox Store and \u2018stream eligible games they own on supported devices\u2019 without subscribing to Game Pass.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In a <a href=\"https:\/\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/2026\/09\/03\/xbox-cloud-gaming-changes\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">blog post<\/a>, Microsoft said it was making the changes because the cost of providing cloud gaming has grown as more people use it and play for longer. The monthly limits, Microsoft continued, will mean it can invest in reliability and performance. But it said it understood that for some players the practical result is a higher cost.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Expect more information on pricing, purchasing additional hours, eligible games, market availability, and how players can check their remaining time in November. Microsoft also said it\u2019ll keep a close eye on feedback and may tweak the offering before the changes come in.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-313219616\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/09\/03\/xbox-cloud-playtime-hours-c381b1adcea2de6c3def-1600x900-1788455847761.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"null\" class=\"progressive-image article-image article-image-full-size jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><figcaption data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 jsx-479945570 article-image-caption\">Big changes are coming to Xbox cloud gaming. Image credit: Microsoft.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Cloud gaming has become an increasingly important part of the video game offering as the RAMpocalypse makes console gaming increasingly expensive. Strauss Zelnick, boss of Rockstar parent company Take-Two, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/take-two-boss-predicts-actual-good-video-game-streaming-within-3-years-says-for-streaming-to-matter-it-would-have-to-run-gta-6-as-well-as-consoles\">recently predicted the video game industry will be in \u201ccommercial streaming mode\u201d within three years<\/a> \u2014 but for video game streaming to matter, it would have to run GTA 6 just as well as consoles do.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">During an investor focused Q&amp;A following the release of Take-Two\u2019s latest financial report, Zelnick was asked for his thoughts on the video game industry as it buckles under the pressure of skyrocketing chip costs, which have forced Sony and Microsoft to raise the price of their consoles and potentially delay the launches of the PlayStation 6 and the next-gen Xbox, codenamed Project Helix.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Zelnick admitted the rising cost of hardware \u201cis not a good thing,\u201d because cheaper hardware means more hardware in people\u2019s hands, which is what software companies desire. But he suggested the advent of video game streaming would go a long way to tackling this problem.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Both Sony and Microsoft are predicted to lean heavily on streaming in the coming years as they contend with the RAMpocalypse. \u201cI just don&#8217;t have any insight as to what the console manufacturers have planned, but it wouldn&#8217;t at all surprise me if part of what they plan is streaming,\u201d Zelnick offered.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2896921488 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In the shorter term, GTA 6 launches in November and it is expected to boost console sales significantly. And there are a number of use cases with cloud gaming that could make it a popular option for those either without a current gen console, or who are priced out of buying one. For example, Xbox Cloud Gaming is used by some Xbox One owners to play current gen games. It\u2019s also used by some PC gamers to play games that are beyond their current machines. Some people use cloud gaming to sample Game Pass games before installing \u2014 although this of course won\u2019t apply to GTA 6. Others use cloud gaming to extend playtime in rooms in which they don\u2019t have a console \u2014 perhaps they\u2019re at work or away over a weekend. So, while Microsoft may say GTA 6 has nothing to do with the November changes to Xbox cloud gaming, it\u2019s hard to see past the timing here.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">As for the price of cloud gaming time, don\u2019t expect a \u2018pay as you go\u2019 system \u2014 Microsoft will sell batches of hours, and those hours won\u2019t expire. That means there\u2019s no pressure to use your hours before they disappear.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In July, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/microsoft-launches-test-for-ad-supported-xbox-game-streaming-promises-the-ads-will-not-interrupt-the-flow-of-gameplay\">Microsoft launched a test for ad-supported Xbox game streaming<\/a>, promising the ads wouldn\u2019t interrupt gameplay. \u201cFor many players, the device they already own now allows them to stream games with Xbox,\u201d Microsoft said at the time. \u201cCloud can also help Xbox One owners play newer games built for Xbox Series X|S without needing to purchase new hardware right away. That can be especially meaningful in places where consoles are harder to find or less affordable, giving more players another way to access great games on devices they already have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The test of ad-supported Xbox streaming arrived amid console price rises that are pushing some gaming hardware towards the $1,000 mark. In June, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/microsoft-announces-significant-price-rises-for-xbox-series-x-and-s-2tb-model-discontinued\"><u>Microsoft announced significant price rises for Xbox consoles<\/u><\/a>, blaming the ongoing \u201ccomponents crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cLast October, we increased Xbox console price by 20-70 in the U.S.,\u201d Microsoft said at the time. \u201cWe hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles. Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"tierlist-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\" id=\"xbox-games-series-tier-list\" data-cy=\"xbox-games-series-tier-list\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-2310533475 jsx-1355461925 box\">\n<div><dialog class=\"dialog tier-list-modal jsx-55470089\" aria-labelledby=\"contentLabel\"><\/dialog><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442 jsx-2986308351\"><span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-4269505506 TierListHeader_header__xyy5a\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3647836811 jsx-4269505506 TierListHeader_title__UxzQx\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ign-icon icon-tier-list jsx-2750866048 jsx-1879929830\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-tier-list\" alt=\"Tier List\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/TierList.c19f1c86.svg?cors=0\"><\/p>\n<h3 data-cy=\"title3\" class=\"title3 jsx-12333944 jsx-2321054750 TierListHeader_full__J6p2u\">Xbox Games Series Tier List<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-957202555 TierListHeader_compact__7JWp1 balanced\">Xbox Games Series Tier List<\/h3>\n<p><\/span><\/span><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-740175521 fade-in-out\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442 jsx-2986308351\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-12151557 tier-list-skeleton\"><span class=\"stack jsx-659253495 tiers\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_s-tier__uaHwM\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row s-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_s-tier__Jrv1z\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_a-tier__z0Xky\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row a-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_a-tier__EGxbh\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_b-tier__nsZIP\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row b-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_b-tier__aI1S1\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_c-tier__UohGG\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row c-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_c-tier__ivXOD\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier Tier_tier___6egS\">\n<div class=\"TierTitle_title__Q4E_6 TierTitle_d-tier__5Z_iU\">\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-3004210145 TierTitle_text__xca95 bold break-word\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tier-items-row d-tier TierItems_tier-items-row__q2OSM TierItems_d-tier__fycMA\" style=\"max-height:66px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><span class=\"stack jsx-1061896584 content\"><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has said the spiralling cost of new and existing consoles would require &#8220;radically different business models&#8221; over the coming generation. She added that the industry had &#8220;reached a point where it will be hard to imagine&#8221; mass audiences still being able to afford &#8220;thousands of dollars&#8221; for a new console generation.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The current PS5 and Xbox Series X and S generation of consoles have seen price increases rather than cost savings. <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/sony-announces-price-rises-for-ps5-ps5-pro-and-playstation-portal-blames-continued-pressures-in-the-global-economic-landscape\"><u>Sony itself raised the price of PS5 consoles back in March<\/u><\/a>, blaming \u201ccontinued pressures in the global economic landscape.\u201d Nintendo has also not been immune, and recently acknowledged it would up the price of Switch 2, just over a year after its arrival. And <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/valve-ram-companies-state-prices-monthly-if-we-say-no-then-they-never-talk-to-us-again\"><u>Valve has bemoaned its struggle to release Steam Machine at the price it had initially hoped<\/u><\/a>, instead having to go for an eye-watering $1,049.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Microsoft has announced big changes to Xbox cloud gaming, including a switch to monthly hour limits. From November, Game Pass plans will include a set number of cloud gaming hours each month: Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming monthly limits: Game Pass Ultimate: 15 hours Game Pass Premium: 10 hours Game Pass Essential: 5 hours Once [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-2126634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2126634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2126634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2126634\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2126634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2126634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2126634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}