Microsoft’s free Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming soon with ads | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAICESHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Microsoft’s free Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming soon with adsComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMicrosoft’s free Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming soon with adsLoading screens point to an imminent test of ad-supported Xbox streaming.Loading screens point to an imminent test of ad-supported Xbox streaming.by Tom WarrenCloseTom WarrenSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom WarrenJan 20, 2026, 10:38 AM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: The VergeTom WarrenCloseTom WarrenPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom Warren is a senior editor and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.Microsoft has been testing its ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming service over the past few months, as I exclusively revealed in October. Now, the software giant is getting close to testing the free streaming option with Xbox Insiders.Over the weekend, Microsoft updated its Xbox app with loading screens for Xbox Cloud Gaming that mention “1 hour of ad-supported playtime per session.” That lines up with Microsoft’s internal testing, which has been limited to one-hour sessions, with up to five hours free per month.The ad-supported message on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Image: MicrosoftSources told me in October that internal testing includes around two minutes of preroll ads before a game is available to stream for free through Xbox Cloud Gaming. The free ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming will include the ability to stream some games you own, as well as trying out eligible Free Play Days titles over a weekend. You’ll also be able to stream Xbox Retro Classics games with preroll ads.Microsoft officially confirmed it was testing the ad-supported service just weeks after my report, and I’m now expecting it to be officially announced and in public testing in the coming weeks.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Tom WarrenCloseTom WarrenSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom WarrenGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingMicrosoftCloseMicrosoftPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MicrosoftNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechXboxCloseXboxPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All XboxMost PopularMost PopularSony’s TV business is being taken over by TCLHow much can a city take?Bungie’s Marathon shooter launches on March 5thAsus may have made its last phoneA second US Sphere could come to MarylandThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Microsoft is preparing to launch its free Xbox Cloud Gaming service, incorporating advertising as a key component of its offering. Initial testing, currently limited to Xbox Insiders, will feature one-hour sessions of ad-supported gameplay. This initiative follows exclusive reporting by Tom Warren, who first detailed Microsoft's internal testing in October. The core of the free service will allow users to stream both games they own and select titles available through Free Play Days, alongside a curated selection of Xbox Retro Classics, all interspersed with preroll advertisements, estimated to last approximately two minutes per session. Microsoft officially acknowledged the testing program shortly thereafter. The anticipated rollout represents a strategic shift for Xbox Cloud Gaming, aiming to broaden accessibility by reducing the cost barrier to entry for users interested in streaming games via the cloud. The one-hour session limit, coupled with the incorporated advertising, suggests a deliberate attempt to balance free access with revenue generation. This approach will likely be closely monitored for its impact on user engagement and game selection within the cloud gaming ecosystem. The service’s success hinges on striking a balance between providing a genuinely enjoyable gaming experience and effectively monetizing the streaming platform through targeted advertising.