"Cloud Gaming with monthly time limit": Microsoft's code hints at an Xbox Game Pass 'TRITON' codename and new 'Duet' tier

I’ve previously covered Xbox’s latest backend updates, thanks to @redphx on X, who tracks them through Microsoft’s public-facing backend. Through this, we’ve had early insight into a new project called "TRITON". Based on redphx’s findings, TRITON appears to be a Game Pass tier focused on first-party Xbox games. That includes titles like Doom, Halo, Hellblade, State of Decay, and more.

Not long after, another codename surfaced alongside TRITON, called "Duet". At the time, redphx suggested this could hint at some form of Netflix integration, something Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters have reportedly discussed.

Now, in a new update tied to TRITON and Duet, redphx has uncovered references suggesting users could be limited by a monthly time allowance for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Limiting playtime isn’t unheard of in the cloud gaming space. NVIDIA’s GeForce Now, for example, caps users at around 100 hours of playtime on its highest tier, which costs $19.99.

That said, Xbox currently has no tier with any limits on cloud playtime, so this would be quite a shift in strategy. It does also align with Asha Sharma’s recent comments suggesting she wants to make Game Pass more affordable, after stating the service may be too expensive.

Windows Central's take: Ultimate is still king

For now, at least as far as I can tell, this cloud playtime limit is tied specifically to TRITON and Duet. At this stage, we can only speculate on pricing and what these tiers might actually include. For me, if it included all first-party Xbox games and Netflix, I could see myself paying around $12.99 at most, especially since it'll likely just be Netflix’s ad-based tier. That said, I have no plans to drop my Ultimate subscription anytime soon.

Part of that comes down to game sharing with my Dad, who, for whatever reason, still plays the yearly Call of Duty releases. Interestingly, though, rumors are also swirling that Call of Duty could be making its exit from Game Pass, as Jez Corden explained on the XB2 Podcast.

Are TRITON and Duet starting to sound more interesting as we learn more, or are you not interested at all? Let me know in the comments.

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