Xbox Cloud Gaming is one of the key selling points of Xbox Game Passand it usually works well. The service allows players to stream Xbox titles on multiple devices, including phones, tablets, handhelds and select. smart TVs from Samsung, LG and Hisense. However, following the Xbox Game Pass price increase from November, streaming alone may not be enough to keep some subscribers, in which case an ad-supported level may come into play.

Microsoft confirmed the existence of an ad-supported tier last year but didn’t share details on when it would launch or what it would include. New screenshots shared by players suggest that the level could be coming soon, although questions remain about how it will work and what limitations it may have.

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When will Xbox Cloud Gaming’s ad-supported tier launch?

Microsoft has not yet made an official announcement, but it is expected to launch this year, according to Windows Central. Last month, some gamers saw a different loading screen for Xbox Cloud Gaming with a message that said “1 hour of ad-supported play time per session,” pointing to ads coming soon.

How much does Xbox Cloud Gaming cost at the ad-supported level?

Last October, Microsoft confirmed that it was being tested within the ad-supported levelsand at the time, said it was free. Going by the load screen message I mentioned earlier, there is probably a limit to how long people can play the level and in internal testing, players have to watch a 2-minute ad.

What games are available at the ad-supported level?

Rumors about internal testing suggest that players will only have access to certain games for free, but the question is, which ones? Microsoft has a significant number of games available to stream, whether they are purchased digital games or those available with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Microsoft may allow all digital games in a player’s library to be streamed and may make some games available for free on a weekly or monthly basis, similar to Free Play Days games.