Last year, Microsoft officially confirmed years of rumors and announced plans for “standalone streaming devices” that could stream Xbox games through the company’s xCloud service. Now, though, the company says it’s essentially going back to the drawing board and “pivot[ing] away from the current iteration” of that streaming-focused hardware.
In a statement to Windows Central, a Microsoft spokesperson reconfirmed that the company has “been working on a game-streaming device, codenamed Keystone, that could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console.” At the same time, that spokesperson suggested that it may be a while until we see that hardware being finalized and released:
Microsoft’s statement comes weeks after a GamesBeat report suggested that Microsoft’s game-streaming device would be released “in the next 12 months,” citing “people familiar with [Microsoft’s] plans.” That report also said that certain Samsung smart TVs would be getting an Xbox cloud streaming app in the same time period.
Data miners have recently uncovered the Keystone codename amid OS lists in certain Microsoft code, leading to some speculation that the product line was nearing a final release or announcement. Despite the increased focus on game streaming on multiple devices in recent years, Microsoft said last year that “console remains our flagship experience. We want to deliver the most powerful, capable consoles in the world, devices that empower our players to enjoy amazing games for years to come, including gameplay we can’t even imagine yet.”
