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Xbox Cloud Gaming Isn’t Getting Standalone Game Purchases Any Time Soon, Microsoft Confirms
October 9, 2025Microsoft has put the brakes on a long-awaited feature for Xbox Cloud Gaming: buying cloud-only games outright. After months of speculation, the company finally addressed the topic, and it’s a letdown for anyone hoping to skip a Game Pass subscription.
Players have been waiting for the chance to purchase individual games and stream them instantly through the xCloud service. Instead, Microsoft’s message is clear: you’re stuck with your current options for the foreseeable future, and that means no a la carte cloud purchases, at least for now.
No Standalone Purchases, Only Game Pass or Select Owned Titles
In a statement to The Verge, Microsoft confirmed they have “no plans to offer standalone game purchases for cloud gaming.” What’s currently available isn’t changing: if a game is in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s library, you can stream it right away. A few select games you’ve purchased digitally and that support “cloud-enabled” play can also be streamed, but this applies to a limited library and only at Microsoft’s discretion.
This update shuts down months of hope sparked when users noticed “Cloud Gaming (beta)” appearing as a platform option in the Microsoft Store for certain titles, usually the same ones available via Game Pass. Even though the interface implied you could buy and stream individual games, the reality was far less exciting; you could only access cloud streaming if you subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate.
The idea of a real “cloud console,” where you purchase a game once and play instantly on any screen, is still out of reach. For now, your choices are to subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate or stick with the limited roster of games you directly own that happen to support cloud play.
How Xbox Cloud Gaming Compares
This move keeps Xbox Cloud Gaming behind some competitors. NVIDIA’s GeForce Now lets users buy PC games through supported storefronts (like Steam or Epic Games) and stream them immediately. Amazon Luna also offers a la carte game purchases. Microsoft, on the other hand, keeps cloud gaming tied closely to the Game Pass ecosystem, prioritising subscriptions over individual cloud ownership.
Many fans see this as a step backwards, especially since Google Stadia (before its shutdown) supported standalone purchases. Microsoft’s focus remains clear: “We’re always evaluating feedback, but we have nothing to announce regarding standalone purchases at this time,” a spokesperson said.
The company’s current approach means that the Game Pass library is king. If you want the full cloud experience, you’re subscribing. If you bought a game outright, there’s only a slim chance it’ll appear as “cloud-enabled,” and that’s up to Microsoft, not the developers or fans.
For players who dreamed of a future where every digital game would seamlessly be playable in the cloud, Microsoft’s latest statement is a reality check. Unless the company pivots, Xbox owners will need to keep paying for Game Pass Ultimate to stream the vast majority of titles, and standalone cloud game purchases aren’t on the horizon.
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