playtime Archives

AppWizard

October 7, 2026

GTA VI To Stream On XBOX Cloud Gaming, But Not On PC

Microsoft has secured non-exclusive cloud streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI), announced on October 7, 2026, ahead of the game's launch on November 19, 2026. Xbox Series X|S users will be able to stream the game, but cloud gaming support will not be available for PC platforms. The agreement allows for the possibility of GTA VI streaming on other platforms, including Sony's PS5. Microsoft will introduce a new paid Cloud Gaming plan in November, separate from Game Pass, allowing users to purchase cloud playtime hours. Starting in November, Game Pass members will have monthly usage limits based on their subscription tier: Ultimate (15 hours), Premium (10 hours), and Essential (5 hours). Members can purchase additional cloud playtime if they exhaust their monthly hours.

AppWizard

October 6, 2026

Newzoo: F2P Games on PC and Console in 2026

Recent data from Newzoo indicates that free-to-play (F2P) games accounted for 29.3% of total gaming hours across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox in 2025, a decrease of 2.9 percentage points since 2021, while maintaining stable absolute playtime at approximately 31 billion hours annually. Roblox captured 7.9% of all gaming time, up 4.6 percentage points from 2021, while Call of Duty and Fortnite saw declines to 6% and 7%, respectively. The combined playtime of Fortnite and Roblox in the F2P segment rose to 44.2%. The average annual release of new F2P live-service games dropped from over 30 titles in 2017 to 14.7 between 2023 and 2025, a decline of 31%. Revenue concentration remains high, with the top five F2P titles on PC generating 65% of the segment's revenue in 2025, down from 68% in 2021, while console revenue concentration is at 72%, down from 79%. Overall revenue from F2P titles fell by 8.2% on PlayStation and 23.6% on Xbox, but PC saw a 10% increase in revenue per hour played. Gacha games increased from three major titles in 2021 to 17 by 2025, with PC gacha playtime rising by 92% to approximately 1.8 billion hours annually. RPGs grew on both PC and console, with PC RPGs accounting for 14.3% of F2P playtime in 2025, up from 9% in 2021, driven by newer titles like Wuthering Waves and Honkai: Star Rail.

AppWizard

October 6, 2026

Free-to-play playtime is broadly flat as gacha RPGs drive PC growth, says Newzoo

The Newzoo analysis indicates that the share of playtime for free-to-play (F2P) games is expected to decrease by 2.9 percentage points from 2021 to 2025, reaching 29.3%, although total hours spent on these games remain stable. The decline is linked to the rise of premium games and platforms like Roblox, with F2P playtime on PC increasing while it wanes on consoles. The number of F2P live-service launches peaked at 36 in 2017 but has since dropped by 31%, averaging 14.7 titles from 2023 to 2025. Revenue concentration among the top five F2P titles is decreasing, with their share on consoles falling from 79% in 2021 to 72% in 2025, and from 68% to 65% on PC. Gacha games are growing significantly, with major titles expected to increase from three in 2021 to 17 by 2025, and PC gacha playtime rising by 92%. RPGs are the only F2P genre gaining market share on both platforms, with PC RPG playtime increasing by 5.3 percentage points to 14.3%. New releases include EA Sports Madden NFL 27 debuting at No. 2 on console and Big Walk at No. 3 on PC.

AppWizard

October 2, 2026

The most profitable free-to-play games on consoles and PCs are gradually losing market share, study shows

Newzoo's study on free-to-play games in 2025 reveals that revenue from this segment is shifting, with the top five grossing titles' share of total console revenue decreasing from 79% in 2021 to 72% in 2025, and from 68% to 65% on PC. Players spent approximately 30 billion hours on free-to-play games in the previous year, a decline of 2.9% from 2021. Roblox's playtime has more than doubled to nearly 10 billion hours, increasing its share from 3.3% to 7.9%. While free-to-play playtime on PC has grown, console playtime has declined. The number of gacha games has increased from three in 2021 to 17 in 2025, leading to a 92% rise in playtime on PC. Newzoo's research covers 37 major markets, excluding China and India, focusing on revenue data from the USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.

AppWizard

September 24, 2026

Microsoft files patent for “ad-credit” system to show ads on PC and Xbox without disrupting gameplay

Microsoft has patented an "ad-credit" system to integrate advertisements into PC and Xbox gaming without interrupting gameplay. The patent, named 'Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access', identifies natural pauses in gameplay to display ads, rewarding players with credits for uninterrupted playtime after viewing. In 2022, Microsoft began testing ad-supported game streaming on Xbox. Additionally, new monthly cloud gaming limits for Game Pass subscribers will take effect in November 2026, with Essential subscribers limited to five hours, Premium to ten hours, and Ultimate to fifteen hours per month. Xbox has also announced layoffs affecting 268 positions across various studios as part of restructuring efforts.

BetaBeacon

September 8, 2026

Wave Launcher Drops V1.0: A PS3-Style XMB Frontend for Android Retro Handhelds

Wave Launcher, an Android launcher inspired by the PlayStation-style XrossMediaBar design, has officially reached its V1.0 release. It prioritizes controller-first functionality, offers game management features, robust asset scraping capabilities, multimedia functionality, and extras such as FTP support and Discord Rich Presence integration. It is available for download on its official page and GitHub.

AppWizard

September 7, 2026

Xbox Cloud Gaming Caps Hours: 15 for Ultimate [2026]

On September 3, 2026, Microsoft announced that Xbox Game Pass subscribers will see a shift in cloud gaming access. Starting November 2026, unlimited cloud streaming will be replaced by a tiered hour bank system: 15 hours for Ultimate, 10 for Premium, and 5 for Essential subscribers. Once a subscriber exhausts their allotted hours, they must wait for the next billing cycle or purchase additional time. This change is the most significant since the beta launch of Xbox Cloud Gaming in 2019. The announcement was made on Xbox Wire, and the new structure is reflected on Xbox’s product pages. The new tiered system introduces a scarcity model, with every paid tier now having its own cloud gaming quota. Essential subscribers, who previously had no cloud access, will now receive 5 hours per month. The pricing for the Game Pass tiers is as follows: Ultimate at .99 for 15 hours, Premium at .99 for 10 hours, and Essential at .99 for 5 hours. The free ad-supported tier remains unchanged at 5 hours per month. Microsoft's rationale for the change is based on usage data indicating that most subscribers do not heavily utilize cloud streaming, coupled with the rising costs of operating cloud gaming services. The company has stated that additional hours can be purchased once a subscriber's monthly allotment is used up, although pricing details for these add-ons have not yet been disclosed. The new hour caps will take effect in November 2026, following a shorter notice period compared to NVIDIA's GeForce NOW service, which implemented a 100-hour monthly cap earlier in 2026. The response from gaming communities has been largely negative, with concerns about the limits falling short of typical usage patterns and conflicting with the marketing of Game Pass as offering unlimited access. The introduction of hour caps could impact Game Pass's subscriber base, particularly among those who rely on cloud gaming as their primary access point. Microsoft's internal usage data will determine the extent of this impact, as the company aims to control costs without raising subscription prices.

AppWizard

September 4, 2026

Xbox Cloud Gaming Limits Start in November: 15 Hours on Ultimate

Microsoft will implement monthly limits on Xbox Cloud Gaming starting in November 2026. Game Pass Ultimate members will receive 15 hours of cloud gaming per month, Premium members will have 10 hours, and Essential members will have 5 hours. Additional hours can be purchased, but pricing details are not yet available. Currently, Game Pass subscribers have unlimited access to cloud gaming. Microsoft estimates that only about 4% of subscribers will be affected by these new limits. The service will be accessible on various platforms, and Microsoft plans to expand the library of games available for cloud streaming. The decision to impose limits is attributed to rising infrastructure costs due to increased usage. Specific details regarding the purchase of additional hours and other related information are still pending.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

Microsoft announces cap on Xbox Cloud Gaming hours for Game Pass subscribers, admits most aren’t using it much anyway

Microsoft's gaming division is facing challenges due to layoffs, industry consolidation issues, and controversial partnerships. Xbox is increasing service costs for its cloud gaming service, introducing a monthly cap for Game Pass subscribers starting in November, after which additional playtime must be purchased. This change follows a decline in Xbox revenue, which fell by .7 billion over the past year. Xbox also tested an ad-supported game streaming model to boost revenue. The effectiveness of the new pricing strategy is uncertain, especially after a previous price hike led to a loss of "millions" of Game Pass subscribers. Xbox plans to engage with its player base for feedback on these changes.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

Fable’s story will be ’15-20 hours’ long, according to its game director, although the game’s life systems are ‘limitless’

Fable will offer approximately 40 hours of gameplay, including 15 to 20 hours for the main storyline and an equal amount for side quests and exploration. The game features innovative life-systems that allow players to engage with NPCs, commit various acts, and purchase property, potentially leading to limitless gameplay possibilities. It will also introduce a sophisticated reputation system that is character-specific, allowing for nuanced in-game navigation, and wealth may enable players to bypass certain moral dilemmas.