Xbox denies GTA VI will stream to PC at launch

Update (Oct 7): Xbox denies it. Matthew Ball, Xbox's Chief Strategy Officer, said on X that GTA VI "will not be streaming exclusively or to PC" and that it launches on Xbox on November 19. What this story reported, based on The Verge's information, is not correct. The Verge has since corrected its article (Windows Report). We're keeping the original text below for transparency.

What still stands: GTA VI launches November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. There's no PC date, and it's unclear whether the game will be on Xbox Cloud Gaming in any form.

Original text (published Oct 7, before the denial):

Status: Report. The Verge reports it citing internal Microsoft sources. Neither Xbox nor Rockstar has announced it yet.

If you only have a PC and had made peace with waiting a year for Grand Theft Auto VI, you might not have to. According to The Verge (via VICE), Xbox has landed a deal for exclusive GTA VI streaming rights at launch: Xbox Cloud Gaming would be the only service able to stream the game on November 19.

How it came out

The scoop comes from The Verge's Tom Warren, one of the best-sourced reporters on Microsoft. According to his reporting, Xbox chief Asha Sharma told staff in an internal meeting on October 6, boasting that it's something "no other platform holder is doing" (Notebookcheck).

What it means

GTA VI launches November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only, and the PC version isn't expected for at least a year. With streaming, you could play on:

• PCs and laptops, no powerful hardware needed.
• Handhelds like the ROG Ally.
• Phones and smart TVs.
• Xbox One, which has no version of the game (Pure Xbox).

How you'd get in: sources disagree

This is the least clear part:

• Pure Xbox says you'd have to buy the game on Xbox to play it in the cloud.
• Notebookcheck points to a new pay-as-you-go plan arriving in November with no subscription required.

Most likely you'd buy the game and then choose how to pay for streaming, but until Microsoft explains it, that's our guess.

What it isn't

This is not the PC version. It's streaming: the game runs on Microsoft's servers and you get the video feed. Quality depends on your connection, there's some input lag, and you won't get mods or PC graphics settings.

Still unconfirmed

• An announcement from Microsoft or Rockstar.
• How long the exclusivity lasts. The Verge says it doesn't know.
• Pricing, and whether you need Game Pass, the game, or both.
• Whether it'll be available in every country where Xbox Cloud Gaming works.

Would you play it streamed on day one, or wait for the PC version? Let's talk about it in the forum.