During the internal meeting with employees, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced that Microsoft is preparing to do something around Grand Theft Auto VI that no other platform is doing.” The reference, which remained deliberately vague, would concern an agreement for the streaming rights of the new chapter of the Rockstar Games series, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans.
The agreement would allow Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream the game to players at launch, though it’s unclear how long it will remain in place. Rockstar has not yet announced a PC version of Grand Theft Auto VI and an agreement of this type would normally allow Microsoft to promote its service also among PC users, who would otherwise have to equip themselves with an Xbox Series X/S or a PS5.
Matthew Ball, chief strategy officer of Xbox, however, clarified on X that Microsoft will not broadcast the title either exclusively or on PC. What emerges is an agreement limited to streaming on Xbox consoles, which could leave out browsers and apps normally used to access Xbox Cloud Gaming.
The news comes about a month after the announcement of important changes to the cloud service. From November, the same month in which Grand Theft Auto VI will be released, streaming hours will be limited to 15 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, 10 for Premium subscribers and just five for the Essential level. Next month Microsoft will also open access to Xbox Cloud Gaming with a pay-as-you-go formula, without the obligation to sign up for a Game Pass subscription. An option that seems designed for the occasion: those who don’t own an Xbox, or play mainly on smartphones, will be able to purchase a package of hours to play the Rockstar title.
During the meeting, Sharma finally said that Project Helix, the next generation of Xbox hardware, will be a “family of devices” and that Microsoft will work with other partners to create some of them. The definition had already been used by the CEO in an interview last month, after Microsoft and AMD announced last year a “multi-year strategic partnership” to develop “a portfolio of devices”, including the next generation Xbox console.