For years, it has been rumored that Microsoft has an Xbox playback stick in the process. The company has now confirmed that the device is still evolving.
In its current appearance, the device is “a modernized HDMI streaming device that runs Xbox Game Pass and its cloud gaming service,” reports Windows Central (opens in a new tab). Although, it is reported that Microsoft is “exploring additional iterations” of the device, so it may change before it goes on sale.
The device is codenamed Keystone and aims to make games more affordable.
“Our vision for Xbox Cloud Gaming is unwavering. Our goal is to allow people to play the games they want, the devices they want, wherever they want,” Microsoft said in a statement. “As announced last year, we’ve been working on a gaming device, codenamed Keystone, that could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console.”
The gaming giant added that Keystone has changed since its original iteration.
“As part of any technical journey, we are constantly evaluating our efforts, reviewing our learning and making sure that we are adding value to our customers. We have made the decision to move away from the current iteration of the Keystone device. our learning and refocusing our efforts on a new approach that will allow us to offer Xbox Cloud Gaming to more gamers around the world in the future. “
Console-free games have been around for years, from the days of OnLive in the early 2000s. But a gaming giant like Microsoft could be the one to make it a success. It’s a great prospect: a streaming dongle would be much cheaper than a full-fledged gaming console, with most processing done in the cloud. It would also be more portable as it would allow you to take your game console and game library to wherever there is a TV.
In addition to a low-cost streaming device, Microsoft has suggested that it could launch TV applications for Xbox Cloud Gaming, as part of its “Xbox Everywhere” plan. This would eliminate the need for a gaming device – all you need would be a smart TV with the app, an Xbox Cloud Gaming subscription, and a driver.
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