Microsoft’s long-running xCloud streaming device is undergoing some changes, according to Windows Central. The company first announced the June 2021 streaming dongle, but in a statement to Windows Central, the company said it was based on the “current iteration” of the device, which says it has the name in Keystone key.
Here is the full Microsoft statement shared with Windows Central:
Our vision for Xbox Cloud Gaming is unwavering, our goal is to allow people to play the games they want, the devices they want, anywhere they want. As announced last year, we have been working on a gaming device, codenamed Keystone, which could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console.
As part of any technical journey, we constantly evaluate our efforts, review our learning, and make sure we add value to our customers. We’ve made the decision to move away from the current iteration of the Keystone device. We take our learnings and focus our efforts on a new approach that will allow us to offer Xbox Cloud Gaming to more gamers around the world in the future.
It is unclear what these changes might be, and Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But there are many promises for a dedicated Xbox streaming device. Although the Xbox Series X has been more available than the PS5, it is still not the easiest console to get and costs hundreds of dollars. A (probably) cheaper playback stick could be a more affordable way for many to check out the games Microsoft is offering through the cloud, including, starting this month, Epic Games’ Fortnite.
And Microsoft isn’t just working on a streaming device; it also has an Xbox TV app in the works. In November 2020, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer told The Verge that “I think you’ll see it in the next 12 months,” and although the company has not met that deadline, VentureBeat reported on May that an Xbox game playback app for Samsung smart TVs “should debut in the next 12 months.” VentureBeat said the streaming device is also set for sometime in the next 12 months.
While we don’t know exactly when Microsoft plans to share more information about these projects, it does have a big showcase for June 12th.