Xbox has reportedly secured exclusive streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto VI through its cloud gaming service, according to a report by The Verge. The information was shared by Xbox head Asha Sharma during a company-wide meeting.
This agreement will allow users of Xbox's cloud gaming platform to stream Grand Theft Auto VI upon its release on November 19. Notably, this exclusivity extends to PC players, enabling them to stream the game on their computers even though a PC version will not be available at launch. The duration of this exclusive streaming window remains unclear, suggesting that other cloud services might gain access to the game in the future.
The acquisition of these rights comes amid several changes to Xbox's cloud gaming strategy. The company is set to implement hourly caps for cloud streaming on its Game Pass service, limiting users to 15 hours per month for Game Pass Ultimate, 10 hours for Game Pass Premium, and 5 hours for Game Pass Essential. Xbox stated that this change would affect only approximately 4% of its Game Pass subscribers, attributing the decision to the rising costs associated with providing cloud gaming services, a cost likely influenced by the anticipated demand for streaming a title as significant as Grand Theft Auto VI.
In addition to these changes, Xbox is also preparing to launch a standalone pay-as-you-go option for its cloud gaming service, separate from the Game Pass subscription, in November. Concurrently, the company is testing a free, ad-supported tier of its cloud gaming service with Xbox Insiders.