🙌 Microsoft has announced GTA 6 is coming to Xbox Cloud Gaming on release day
🎮 It’s available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, meaning you don’t technically need a current-gen console to enjoy the game
💪 When cloud streamed, Microsoft says GTA 6 will run with graphics equivalent to an Xbox Series S
💰 You won’t need Game Pass either, given the paid access to Xbox Cloud Gaming for non-subscribers is also available from today
It turns out you won’t necessarily need a current-gen console to enjoy GTA 6 on release day, as it’s going to be available on Xbox Cloud Gaming, albeit with an interesting caveat.
As announced in a new Xbox Wire post, GTA 6 is going to be available through Xbox Cloud Gaming on day one at 1am ET to those using an Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
When the game is cloud-streamed with Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft says it’ll be using graphical settings equivalent to an Xbox Series S.
The interesting thing here is that GTA 6 will now be playable on older hardware, meaning you don’t need a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S to play Rockstar’s newest title. If you’re one of the 58 million or so who purchased an Xbox One, then you’re off to the races.
Microsoft’s post also explains that it’s excited to bring GTA 6 to “more Xbox players at launch”, and that it’s adding more of Rockstar’s titles to cloud gaming, including GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2 and more “in the coming months”.
This is good news in the main for getting even more people to play GTA 6, and you won’t necessarily even need an Xbox Game Pass subscription to do so.
That’s because Microsoft’s changes to Xbox Cloud Gaming that it announced in October are in place from today, as per the Xbox Wire post. This allows non-Game Pass subscribers access, as long as you’re willing to pay. Prices start at $3.99 for ten hours, rising to $7.99 for 25 hours and up to $11.99 for 50 hours of playtime.
If you don’t want to pay for the privilege, then it has also been testing a free tier supported with ads with Xbox Insiders for the last few weeks – it’s unknown when this is going to experience a wider rollout, though.
Back in September, Microsoft announced it was introducing monthly limits for Xbox Cloud Gaming based on your Game Pass tier and that it would be possible to purchase additional hours if you ran out – this appears to be that scheme in action.
If you’re a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, you get 15 hours a month, while Premium members get ten, and Essential subscribers get five hours of playtime a month.
Up next: GTA 6 PS5 Pro enhancements revealed – and there’s going to be some disappointed gamers
Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.