If I buy a game to own that requires cloud gaming but don’t want the whole ultimate...

There are no games that have that requirement currently. If you're playing it on an Xbox One, it may day that because that game is not available for the Xbox One. So even if you were to buy it, you would need the cloud to play it on that console. If you're using a Series S/X or PC, you would not need Game Pass Ultimate.

Cloud gaming doesn't have owned games just requires game pass ultimate...

Owned games hssnt comedy to cloud and yes in order to use cloud you still need ultimate but buying a game to use on cloud will be coming soon they are testing it atm but cloud other then fortnite still requires a subscription

There is no way to avoid that fee

Unless you have a console then remote play it

The cloud version runs on Xbox consoles

It doesn't require you to purchase it, as it is included in Xbox game pass ultimate, which you are required to purchase to access the cloud. If you want extra plans, you can buy them in the endgame store, all of them are available individually

nope gamepass ultimate is not required for cloud saves on PC. you don't even need gamepass for cloud saves on PC as i have many games that save to the cloud without any subs and are usable on console.

but that game is a play anywhere game and the whole deal with that is you get to play your game on console and windows 10 pc and your save goes with you, regardless of sub.