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Microsoft Tests Free Xbox Cloud Gaming With Ads Amid Game Pass Price Hikes

Microsoft is testing a free, ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming that could provide an alternative to its increasingly expensive Game Pass subscription service. The move comes as the company faces declining console sales and subscription cancellations following recent price increases. This ad-supported model follows similar strategies adopted by streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+.

Testing a New Gaming Model

Microsoft has confirmed it’s conducting internal tests of a free, ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming, according to reports from The New York Times. This development arrives at a crucial moment for the company’s gaming division, which recently announced that Xbox Game Pass subscription prices will increase starting November 4th.

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Ethereum’s Institutional Push Faces Market Headwinds, Analysts Say

Ethereum’s deepening institutional integration through ETF approvals and bank adoption could set the stage for significant price movements, according to market analysts. However, current sideways trading patterns and recent liquidation events have dampened trader sentiment across crypto markets. The coming months will test whether institutional momentum can overcome broader market headwinds.

Institutional Adoption Meets Market Reality

Ethereum investors should keep a close watch on the cryptocurrency’s accelerating institutional integration, as this trend could ultimately determine its price trajectory through 2026, according to recent analyst commentary. Zach Friedman of Secure Digital Markets points to what he describes as “rapid institutional integration” – from record ETF inflows to major banks now accepting ETH as loan collateral – as crucial developments for the digital asset’s future.