Update: Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball has clarified via his personal social media that GTA 6 will not be streaming to PC upon its launch via the cloud, following a report today that Xbox will be the exclusive place to stream GTA 6 via the cloud at launch.
“While the excitement for GTA VI and Xbox is great to see, it has also led to some misreporting,” Ball states. “We are looking forward to launching GTA VI on Xbox November 19, though the game will not be streaming exclusively or to PC.”
Xbox has reportedly secured exclusive streaming rights to GTA 6, possibly making the game playable on PC at launch via the cloud.
The Verge has reported that Xbox will be the exclusive place to stream GTA 6 via the cloud at launch, though that doesn’t mean you will need an Xbox console. Xbox offers access to its cloud streaming service on a multitude of devices, including PC, smart TVs, and mobile devices. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly told employees during a recent town hall meeting that the company was planning to do something related to GTA 6 that “no other platform holder is doing.”
The deal will reportedly begin with the game’s release in November, though it’s unclear how long it will be in place. However, if true, this would mean that PC players would have the opportunity to play GTA 6 on their device through the cloud. Although it won’t boast any of the performance options, modding, and other unique features native to a PC version, it is a serviceable workaround for those who don’t want to wait until Rockstar releases a port.
Microsoft has made some major changes in recent weeks to the number of hours Game Pass subscribers can stream their games, but The Verge notes that pay-as-you-go plans are going to be introduced in November. This will, in theory, allow users who want to play the game without access to a console to pay for timed access to GTA 6 via streaming.
IGN has reached out to Rockstar Games and Xbox for comment on the matter. The deal is certainly interesting, as The Verge also recently reported that Xbox was concerned about pre-order numbers for GTA 6 on its platform. Xbox CSO Matthew Ball denied these claims and noted that the game was breaking records on the platform, saying it matched the platform’s share of the console market.
PlayStation also secured marketing rights to GTA 6, leading to limited-edition GTA 6 DualSense controllers. Rockstar has also promoted the game by saying footage was captured in real time on PS5 hardware. The PS5 version of the game will also boast unique features, which has led to Rockstar marketing the game with branding that says it will “play best” on PS5.
Xbox’s new streaming deal appears to be its way of directly competing with PlayStation around GTA 6. Given it is exceptionally difficult to get a console right now and they cost a fortune, this may be a huge win for Xbox, so long as they can effectively get the word out to casual gamers.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.