You'd think jin of all people would know what options are since ps4 has an options button but ig not. Xbox streaming isn't a console replacement like what stadia is trying to do. Just another way to play, there is no "this or that" it's a "this and that if you'd like"

I use remote play all the time and it's good for being able to play games away from home. It's not a replacement for all your gaming, but serves its purpose providing you have a half decent connection.

True Sega. I've had hit and miss over the years doing it. But it's FREE.

But what Microsoft is doing, that's promoting Game Pass. A subscription. Remote Play has been free for 14 years. It doesn't need to be behind a paywall of a subscription service or bundled with it. Just a standard feature.

It's like, Microsoft takes something free, then monetizes it. Possibly leading others to not make it free anymore.

Online was free. Monetized with XBL.
Playing F2P games was free. Monetized where it's required to have XBL.
Playing Game Pass games online. Requires XBL.

X cloud which is Remote Play, is free. But they bundled it with Game Pass. Which isn't free. And again, requires XBL to play online.

Remote Play is FREE. PS Plus is not required for your own single player games streamed. Playing PS Now games online is FREE. No additional charge after the sub for single or multiplayer. Playing F2P games online is FREE. PS Plus is not required. And we only have to pay for online to play with others is because Microsoft led us there. They monetized it.

The more they keep monetizing free things, it's going to cost everyone and possibly lead Sony and Nintendo to do the same. And make some excuse on why they are doing it. I'm just seeing the future just like I was during PS2 and OG Xbox days.

Xcloud isn't remote play though, I can be used for that, but that isn't exactly what it is. You talk about a subscription, but you will only need that if you don't own the console. Xcloud will be free to use if you own the console and if you already own the games.

I don't want to get into what Microsoft has and hasn't yet monetised, that isn't what this topic is about. All I will say is that, yes, Microsoft did start all of that crap pay to play online, but nobody forced Sony and Nintendo to follow the same path. Microsoft didn't force their hand, they just wanted more money. As they say, vote with your wallets. If you don't like something, don't buy into it, it's your fault for accepting it. Paying to play online was one of the major reasons why I moved to pc gaming, I was sick of what these companies were doing to console gaming.

I went the other way. Bought it cheap at $25, $40 and $40 for the discounts. Then killed it altogether. Sales were cheaper than the discounts. Or the retail copy was cheap. Like Sairento was $37. I got it for $15 new at Gamestop and had to go through the nonsense of someone asking me if I want insurance on a non scratchable Blu-ray. And instead of $59, I got Ace Combat 7 for $15 at Target.

Basically, I'm promoting subscription free. How it should be. Like when you moved to PC. All good.

@apocalypse
Remote play has not been free for years! You needed to spend a couple hundred on a portable console for it to even be an option