Halo Infinit
Credit: Microsoft
For better or worse, the gaming industry is slowly but steadily moving in the direction of ubiquitous streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Disney +. The practical transmission of games seems limited only by the acceptable speeds of the Internet at the moment, and it seems that we are directly headed for a future in which the old-fashioned notion of console console hardware will be a thing of the past.
In recent years, Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming have ushered in a new era for on-demand subscription gaming, altering the traditional ways we access and play games. Stadia, despite its lack of a library and a virtually universal poor reception, also showed consumers what was possible and where the game was headed.
PlayStation is also gradually moving in a similar direction, as Sony is currently in the process of completely overhauling PS Plus to look much more like Game Pass. PlayStation Now, Sony’s oldest gaming service, is being incorporated into PlayStation Plus Premium so that gamers can play PS3 and PS4 titles.
Even Nintendo, with its Switch Online subscription program, offers downloadable content such as SNES and N64 titles, although there is no playback on the platform yet. Nintendo has always dragged itself behind the competition in the online space, so if the Switch transmission is up and running, I’m sure it’s a long way off.
However, all of these developments, in addition to the release of an interesting recent Windows Central exclusive, point to a fundamental evolution that is actively taking place: one day, maybe a little soon, you will no longer need an Xbox, or maybe even a PlayStation or Switch. , for this reason.
Halo Infinit
Credit: Microsoft
Games will be broadcast from the cloud, and the revolution is likely to occur in the way that digital gaming stores are slowly approaching people’s daily gaming habits, one stealthy download at a time, eliminating the need for games physical, little by little. Now, it will be one stream at a time.
According to the aforementioned Windows Central article, Microsoft confirmed a long-rumored HDMI streaming dongle that aims to “lower the limits of Xbox content using low-cost hardware.”
The supposed TV / monitor connection device, now shrouded in mystery and known simply as Keystone, will probably not contain abundant terabytes of onboard storage or dedicated graphics processing power. A simple operating system that can connect to Xbox Cloud Gaming and selected applications may be the only electronic inhabitants.
For reference, here is the full Microsoft representative statement:
“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’ve been working on a gaming device, codenamed Keystone, that could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console.
“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. “
Halo Infinit
Credit: Microsoft
Windows Central is quick to point out that the Keystone project is unlikely to hit store shelves in the coming months or even next year, but I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if we see something announced in late 2022. , “moving away from the current iteration” could mean that Keystone is being completely discarded and returned directly to the drawing table.
The convenience and convenience of launching a Chromecast-style Xbox dongle seems obvious to Microsoft, as Xbox Cloud Gaming already works great on computers and smartphones. Plus, there’s a lot to be gained by removing the annoying and expensive entry barrier that comes with not only finding, but ultimately buying, an elusive $ 500 Xbox Series X.
Fast internet access is still a challenge for much of the world, especially in rural areas, and you need adequate data performance to get the most out of something like Stadia or Xbox Cloud Gaming.
On a shocking note, about a quarter of a million people still use dial-up access, while about 22.5% of American households do not even have internet access at home. Obviously, Microsoft is not targeting these demographics, and physical media and native hardware will continue to be absolutely essential to these consumers, perhaps indefinitely.
But for gamers who are lucky enough to have fast broadband internet and have not yet boarded the Xbox console train due to cost or availability, the developing Keystone could offer a (hypothetically) much cheaper option to enjoy. of Game Pass.
Hopefully we will learn more about a potential price and a release date, that is, if it ends up coming out. Microsoft has to finish building the damn thing first, though.
[Edit – 5/30]: I mistakenly said that Nintendo Switch does not include online game playback. Apparently, there are a handful of “Cloud Version” titles currently available, such as Resident Evil 7 and Control Ultimate Edition.