Community Reports
Unverified reports from The Verge indicate that Xbox has secured streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto VI. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly informed employees during an all-hands meeting that Microsoft is preparing to do something unique regarding GTA VI.
Sources familiar with Microsoft's plans suggest that Sharma's comments were about Xbox landing a deal for game streaming rights for GTA VI. This would allow Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream the game to players at launch, although the duration of the agreement remains unclear.
Despite the initial report suggesting exclusivity, Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball later clarified on X that the streaming deal is not exclusive and that GTA VI will not be streamed to PCs. This implies that the deal may only cover Xbox console streaming.
The news of the streaming rights comes just a month after Microsoft announced significant changes to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Starting in November, the same month GTA VI releases, Microsoft will limit streaming hours for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to 15 hours, 10 hours for Premium subscribers, and 5 hours for Game Pass Essential subscribers.
Additionally, Microsoft is introducing a pay-as-you-go option for Xbox Cloud Gaming, allowing players who do not own an Xbox or primarily play on mobile to stream GTA VI by purchasing a bundle of hours. This could be particularly beneficial for those looking to access the game without a console.
During the same meeting, Sharma also discussed Project Helix, the next generation of Xbox hardware, describing it as a 'family of devices' and mentioning potential partnerships with other companies.
