Xbox has secured exclusive streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto VI, according to a report from The Verge. The agreement means Xbox Cloud Gaming will be the only service able to stream the game at launch. The report notes that the length of the exclusivity is unclear, and Rockstar has not announced a PC version of the game.
The timing lines up with Microsoft's upcoming changes to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Starting in November, the same month GTA 6 is expected to release, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will get 15 streaming hours per month, Premium subscribers 10 hours, and Essential subscribers five hours. Microsoft is also opening up cloud gaming with a pay-as-you-go option next month, letting people buy bundles of hours without a Game Pass subscription.
The streaming rights give Microsoft a way to market its cloud service to PC players who would otherwise need a console. During an all-hands, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma also linked the effort to Project Helix, Microsoft's next-generation Xbox hardware, which she described as a "family of devices" developed with partners. This article relies solely on The Verge's reporting; no other source has independently confirmed the deal.}