Xbox has secured unique GTA 6 streaming rights

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma informed workers that Microsoft is on the brink of do one thing round Grand Theft Auto VI that “no different platform holder is doing” throughout an worker all-hands this morning. According to sources conversant in Microsoft’s plans, Sharma’s transient teaser was truly about Xbox managing to land a deal for the unique recreation streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto VI.

The deal will imply solely Xbox Cloud Gaming can stream Grand Theft Auto VI to gamers at launch, however it’s not clear how lengthy the settlement shall be in place. Rockstar Games nonetheless hasn’t introduced a PC model of Grand Theft Auto VI, so this deal will permit Xbox to market its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to PC gamers who would in any other case want an Xbox Series X / S or PS5 console.

News of the streaming rights comes round a month after Microsoft introduced some major changes to Xbox Cloud Gaming. From November, the identical month Grand Theft Auto VI releases, Microsoft is limiting streaming hours to only 15 hours for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, 10 hours for Premium subscribers, and simply 5 hours for Game Pass Essential.

Microsoft can also be opening up entry to Xbox Cloud Gaming with a pay-as-you-go choice subsequent month, reasonably than being restricted to Game Pass subscriptions. The pay-as-you-go choice is completely timed for Grand Theft Auto VI, permitting those that don’t personal an Xbox, or who primarily play from a cellphone, to stream the sport by paying for a bundle of hours.

During the Xbox all-hands, Sharma additionally informed workers that Project Helix, the subsequent era of Xbox {hardware}, shall be a “household of gadgets” and that Microsoft will companion with others on a few of these gadgets. Sharma first referred to as Helix a family of devices final month in an interview, after Microsoft and AMD introduced a “strategic multi-year partnership” final 12 months to work collectively on “a portfolio of gadgets,” together with Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox console.