Xbox has locked up the exclusive streaming rights to Grand Theft Auto VI, giving Microsoft a marquee title for its cloud service when the game arrives. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told employees about the arrangement during an all-hands meeting, describing it as something no other platform holder is doing around the game. People familiar with Microsoft's plans confirmed the streaming exclusivity.
The agreement means Xbox Cloud Gaming will be the only service able to stream Grand Theft Auto VI at launch. How long the arrangement lasts has not been disclosed. Rockstar Games has not announced a PC version of the game, so the deal gives Xbox a way to pitch its cloud service to computer players who would otherwise need an Xbox Series X or S, or a PlayStation 5, to play it.
The rights take effect alongside a change Microsoft is making to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Starting next month, the service will offer a pay-as-you-go option instead of requiring a Game Pass subscription. That structure lines up with the Grand Theft Auto VI launch, since players who do not own an Xbox, or who mostly play on a phone, could stream the game by buying a bundle of hours.
Sharma also used the all-hands to discuss Project Helix, the next generation of Xbox hardware. She told employees it will be a family of devices, and that Microsoft will partner with other companies on some of them. She had already described Helix that way last month in an interview, following a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD announced last year covering a portfolio of devices, including Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console.
The streaming deal hands Microsoft a high-profile exclusive at a moment when it is trying to broaden who can reach Xbox Cloud Gaming. Details on pricing for the pay-as-you-go hours, the length of the exclusivity window, and any PC release plans for Grand Theft Auto VI remain unannounced. Microsoft has not commented publicly beyond what Sharma told staff.
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