GTA 6 Will Run On Xbox One Via Xbox Cloud Gaming — From Day One

A surprise just before launch: Grand Theft Auto VI is indeed coming to Xbox One. Not natively, but via stream: Microsoft has confirmed that GTA 6 will be playable from day one via Xbox Cloud Gaming – on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles. This means you can visit Vice City even on a 2013 console.

When will GTA 6 run on Xbox One?

It kicks off on November 19 at 1:00 AM Eastern Time (ET), which is 7:00 AM for us. The game won't run on your hardware, but on Microsoft's servers; you'll only stream the video feed. According to Xbox Wire, the cloud version uses the graphics settings of the Xbox Series S. Kotaku points out that this means a targeted frame rate of 30 fps – exactly what you'll get on Series X, PS5, and even PS5 Pro. You can find more details in our report on 30 FPS across all consoles.

Digital copy plus Game Pass or Cloud Playtime

Of course, it's not entirely free. Here's what you need to stream GTA 6 on Xbox One:

a digital copy of the game, which Kotaku states costs 80 US dollars – GTA 6 must be purchased separately
access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, either through an Xbox Game Pass subscription
or via purchased Cloud Playtime without a subscription: This will be available starting November 11 in supported markets, with ten hours costing 4 US dollars according to Kotaku

Microsoft emphasizes that availability, purchase options, and supported devices may vary by market. So, you should check the store beforehand to see if the playtime option will be available in Germany at launch.

Can I also stream GTA 6 on PC or mobile?

No. Although Xbox Cloud Gaming typically runs on smartphones, Windows PCs, and smart TVs, GTA 6 is an exception. Rockstar has confirmed, according to Polygon, that the title will not come to PC for its cloud launch, and mobile devices are also excluded, according to Kotaku. What does work, however, is Remote Play on Xbox and PS5, meaning local streaming to another screen on your home network – including PS Portal. Those with a PS4 are out of luck, as there is no cloud option for Sony's last-gen console.

Microsoft also announced that it will bring more Rockstar Games titles to the cloud in the coming months, including GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Lifeline for Xbox One players – with a catch

For a long time, GTA 6 was considered a pure current-gen game, which makes this announcement exciting. Players who haven't purchased a Series X|S or PS5 due to increased console prices will get a legitimate entry point at launch without buying new hardware. But consider this soberly: at 80 dollars for the game plus cloud costs, it won't be a bargain in the long run, and a stream's performance depends entirely on your internet connection. Especially during launch week, when millions start playing simultaneously, the cloud is likely to be under considerable load. For players with a Series console, the native route remains the better choice – and that now means: preload. We've calculated how long the download takes in our guide to preload download times. The corresponding official clip from Rockstar is here: