Xbox Secures GTA VI Streaming Rights, but 15-Hour Cap Sparks Controversy
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- Xbox Cloud Gaming dipastikan dapat menayangkan Grand Theft Auto VI sejak hari peluncuran, 19 November, berdasarkan kesepakatan yang diungkap dalam rapat internal Microsoft.
- Kesepakatan ini tidak bersifat eksklusif dan tidak mencakup streaming ke PC, sehingga pemain PC tetap harus menunggu versi native yang belum diumumkan Rockstar Games.
- Microsoft bersamaan itu membatasi waktu streaming bulanan Game Pass, langkah yang oleh sebagian pengguna dinilai sebagai upaya memonetisasi lonjakan minat terhadap GTA VI.
Microsoft is reported to have secured streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) through its Xbox Cloud Gaming service, a deal announced internally by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma during an all-hands meeting. According to sources cited by The Verge, the move will let Xbox Cloud Gaming customers play GTA VI from day one of its launch on 19 November.
The news first surfaced after Sharma said Microsoft was preparing something for the game that "no other platform is doing." However, Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball quickly clarified that the deal is not exclusive and will not bring GTA VI to PC via the cloud. "We look forward to GTAVI launching on XBOX on November 19, but it will not be streaming exclusively or to PC," Ball wrote on X.
Ball's statement confirms that the streaming rights are limited to consoles, not to web browsers or mobile apps that typically also run Xbox Cloud Gaming. The restriction matters because Rockstar Games has yet to announce a PC version of GTA VI. That means PC players hoping to play the game via the cloud will have to wait longer, or buy an Xbox Series X|S or PlayStation 5 console.
Microsoft's decision to overhaul its cloud service in the same month as the GTA VI launch has drawn criticism. The company set monthly streaming time limits for Game Pass subscribers: 15 hours for Ultimate, 10 hours for Premium, and 5 hours for Essential. In addition, starting in November, Microsoft will add a pay-as-you-go payment option, so users do not need a Game Pass subscription to access cloud gaming.
Reactions from the gaming community have been mixed. On platforms such as Reddit, many users suspect the time limits were deliberately imposed to monetize enthusiasm for GTA VI. They argue that a vast open-world game will burn through a monthly quota in a single weekend, forcing cloud players to buy extra hours repeatedly. Some users likened the model to "feeding coins into an arcade machine."
"This streaming deal shows Microsoft wants to strengthen Xbox Cloud Gaming's position, but the tight time limits could erode user trust," said a game industry analyst who asked not to be named.
For the Indonesian market, Microsoft's move could signal that cloud gaming is being taken more seriously, even though internet infrastructure in the country remains a challenge. With Game Pass penetration continuing to grow, streaming time limits could affect local gamers who rely on the cloud to access AAA games without buying an expensive console. If Microsoft stays consistent with this strategy, similar models from other cloud gaming providers in Southeast Asia may well emerge.
Going forward, the question is whether the 15-hour cap will be enough to enjoy GTA VI, which is known for its massive content, or whether it will backfire on Microsoft. While Rockstar remains silent on a PC version, players around the world will soon test for themselves whether the "day one" cloud promise is worth the cost and the limits that come with it.
