A Microsoft desktop and app virtualization service that runs on Azure. Previously known as Windows Virtual Desktop.
Windows Licensing for Commercial Cloud Gaming on Azure
Hello Microsoft Support Team,
I would like to request clarification regarding Windows licensing for a commercial cloud gaming service hosted on Microsoft Azure.
We are developing a service that allows external customers to rent GPU-powered Windows virtual machines on an hourly basis.
Customers would remotely access their virtual machines using Parsec or our own streaming application, without necessarily using Azure Virtual Desktop.
Could you please clarify the following?
Can Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise be legally used for this commercial service?
Which licensing model would be required for external paying customers?
Is Azure Virtual Desktop mandatory, or can we use third-party streaming software?
Would Windows Server be a valid alternative, and what additional licenses would be required?
Does the Windows 11 multitenant hosting benefit apply to this business model?
We currently use Azure GPU virtual machines for testing and want to ensure full licensing compliance before launching commercially.
Could you please refer this request to a Microsoft licensing specialist and provide written guidance or relevant licensing documentation?
Thank you for your assistance.