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Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told staff at an internal all-hands meeting that Microsoft has struck a deal giving Xbox Cloud Gaming exclusive rights to stream Grand Theft Auto VI when it launches in November. Rockstar has not yet announced a PC release for the game, and the timing coincides with Microsoft's rollout of a pay-as-you-go option for Xbox Cloud Gaming alongside new limits on streaming hours for Game Pass subscribers.
Microsoft has restructured Xbox Game Pass into four tiers—Essential ($9.99/month), Premium ($14.99/month), PC Game Pass ($13.99/month) and Ultimate ($22.99/month)—each offering different game libraries and features. Throughout 2026, Microsoft adjusted subscription prices and altered cloud gaming access, including new streaming limits, changing what subscribers get at each price point.
Amazon is selling the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL, a USB-C telescopic game controller for large tablets, at $159.99, a $40 cut from its $199.99 list price. The accessory is designed for iPad and Android tablets up to 13 inches, featuring full-size TMR thumbsticks, passthrough charging and a headphone jack, and supports native mobile games, cloud gaming and remote play.
At Meta Connect 2026, Meta detailed its first VR glasses, a 100-gram, tethered headset priced at $1,300 and slated to launch next spring. The device uses a magnesium alloy frame, pancake lenses, a 5K display, full-color passthrough, and runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite chip housed in a separate puck that also holds battery and storage, offering up to three hours of playback. It launches with 75 games, compatibility with existing Quest titles via Touch Plus controllers, Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming, PC/Mac productivity features, and holographic avatar video calling on apps like WhatsApp and Zoom.
Cloud gaming platforms from Nvidia, Microsoft, Sony and Amazon have survived a decade of tepid adoption since Google's Stadia collapsed in 2023, but rising demand for AI computing power is now driving up data center costs sharply. That surge is undermining the original pitch of cloud gaming: cheap, leased compute that let players skip expensive consoles or PCs.
Woot is selling the 2023 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K for $16.09 through September 13 when shoppers apply the code FIRE30 at checkout. The device supports Wi-Fi 6 and includes 2GB of memory, making it capable of running cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now.
Microsoft has begun testing several new Xbox features with Insiders, including the option to select startup animations from Xbox One through Xbox Series X/S consoles, though not the original Xbox or Xbox 360 boots. The update also adds a local search tool for games and achievements, higher-resolution Remote Play, background downloads during cloud streaming, and a Voice Clarity feature to reduce background noise in chat.
Starting in November, Microsoft will limit monthly Xbox Cloud Gaming playtime for Game Pass subscribers: five hours for Essential, 10 for Premium, and 15 for Ultimate. Once users hit these caps, they'll need to buy additional hours from the Xbox Store to keep streaming games, though downloading and playing titles locally remains unlimited. Microsoft has not yet revealed pricing for extra playtime beyond the cap.
Starting in November, Xbox will limit how many hours Game Pass subscribers can stream games via its cloud service before requiring extra purchases. Ultimate subscribers get 15 hours monthly, Premium users get 10, and Essential tier members get just five, after which additional playtime must be bought.
Microsoft is partnering with TCL to add its Xbox app to select smart TVs in the coming months, enabling access to Xbox Cloud Gaming without a console. The rollout coincides with a new pay-as-you-go cloud gaming option launching in November, which lets users stream games without an active Game Pass subscription.
Microsoft announced it will end unlimited Xbox Cloud Gaming access, replacing it with monthly hour caps tied to subscription level: 15 hours for Ultimate, 10 for Premium, and 5 for Essential, beginning in November. The company says rising cloud gaming costs are driving the change, and about 4% of subscribers will be affected, with an option to buy extra hours—also available to non-subscribers.
Microsoft will impose monthly streaming time limits on Xbox Cloud Gaming beginning in November, with Game Pass Essential, Premium, and Ultimate subscribers getting 5, 10, and 15 hours respectively. Both subscribers and non-subscribers will be able to purchase extra streaming hours, though exact pricing hasn't been announced. Microsoft says only about 4% of subscribers will be affected, attributing the change to rising infrastructure costs.