Xbox has secured GTA 6 streaming rights

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told employees that Microsoft is getting ready to do something around Grand Theft Auto VI that “no other platform holder is doing” during an employee all-hands this morning. According to sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans, Sharma’s brief teaser was actually about Xbox managing to land a deal for game streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto VI .

What happened

According to sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans, Sharma’s brief teaser was actually about Xbox managing to land a deal for game streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto VI .

Where the sources line up

The deal will mean Xbox Cloud Gaming can stream Grand Theft Auto VI to players at launch, but it’s not clear how long the agreement will be in place. Rockstar Games still hasn’t announced a PC version of Grand Theft Auto VI , and a streaming deal would normally also allow Xbox to market its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to PC players who would otherwise need an Xbox Series X / S or PS5 console.

Practical impact for readers

After The Verge originally reported that the deal would be exclusive, Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball revealed on X that Microsoft wouldn’t be streaming Grand Theft Auto VI exclusively, nor to PCs. That suggests the deal is simply for Xbox console streaming, and may mean the web browsers and apps that can usually access Xbox Cloud Gaming will not be able to stream Grand Theft Auto VI .

Who should pay attention now

News of the streaming rights comes around a month after Microsoft announced some major changes to Xbox Cloud Gaming . From November, the same month Grand Theft Auto VI releases, Microsoft is limiting streaming hours to just 15 hours for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, 10 hours for Premium subscribers, and just five hours for Game Pass Essential.

What is still unclear

Microsoft is also opening up access to Xbox Cloud Gaming with a pay-as-you-go option next month, rather than being limited to Game Pass subscriptions. The pay-as-you-go option is perfectly timed for Grand Theft Auto VI , allowing those who don’t own an Xbox, or who primarily play from a phone, to stream the game by paying for a bundle of hours.

Source notes

The Verge