A couple of years ago, Microsoft officially confirmed the existence of the Xbox "Keystone", confirming in May of 2022 that the company had decided to "pivot away from the current iteration of the device" and find a new approach.
The Keystone was a streaming box that would let you play Xbox Cloud Gaming titles on "any TV or monitor without the need for a console", and a newly-discovered patent reveals what it might have looked like (thanks, Windows Central).
In the images (more of which are viewable via the patent), the Keystone is shown to be a small, square box that closely resembles the Xbox Series S. It comes with a USB port, power button, ethernet port, HDMI port and pairing button.
As far as we know, the Keystone isn't still in development at Microsoft. Xbox boss Phil Spencer mentioned in late 2022 that the original design was too expensive to make (the goal was to sell at around $99 - $129), but the company was still committed to finding a solution at the time. Since then though, talk about the Keystone has gone very quiet, aside from the device being spotted on Phil Spencer's shelf in a video last yeaar (as you can see above).
This thing may never see the light of day, but it's nice to see what it might have looked like!
Would you have bought the Xbox Keystone? Let us know down in the comments section below.
[source ppubs.uspto.gov, via windowscentral.com]
Comments 19
Would be crazy to only need the stick and Xbox controller
Most wanted IGN vote, game fest. Definitely a positive change for Xbox.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
2 Doom: The Dark Ages
3 Astro Bot
4 Gears of War: E-Day
5 Perfect Dark
6 Mario & Luigi: Brothership
7 Assassin's Creed Shadows
8 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
9. Fable
I still half expect to see a Game Pass streaming stick bundled with a controller and a month of Game Pass for $99-$129 sometime down the line. I see a future where Xbox has hardware ranging from a streaming stick for sub $100, all the way to a premium experience north of $700, with a slew of other devices in-between.
I just want a dedicated handheld that plays games natively.
I'm surprised they couldn't hit the desired price-point — retailers are able to sell Raspberry Pi 4 boards for about $50 USD and it's more than capable of handling Xbox Cloud Gaming, and I'd expect Microsoft to be capable of doing a lot better with a device with similar specs.
For better and for worse, with "high speed internet everywhere" legislation being passed in the UK, USA, Brazil, etc. in the past few years it's clear that cloud gaming will eventually become the norm.
They should absolutely still pursue this with the full digital library available.
Cloud usage is growing.
@Mince
I'm not usually one to jump in and defend the articles on these sites, but did you actually read the headline of that Push Square article, let alone the content? It's clearly reporting that one analyst is predicting an all-digital PlayStation marketplace by the time PlayStation 7 is out. It in no way, shape or form states that PS7 will be all digital.
Reporting is for facts, not opinions.
@Markatron84 & @Mince : To be fair, the PS7 would be released sometime around 2036 to 2038, right? By that time the vast majority of consumers in the developed world (and many in the developing world too) will have 1Gbps internet at a minimum, there's a real possibility the average size of indie video games will exceed 50GB (never mind bloated AAA games), and corporations have plenty of their own motivations for releasing games exclusively on streaming game services (elimination of piracy, total control of mods, monthly revenue, etc.) Does anyone seriously believe we'll have any physical video games by the time the PS7 comes out?
@101Force This was my thought too. They couldn't build a streaming device to retail below $130?
But going further, why is this even a box at all? Xbox cloud exists as an app on TVs and smartphones --- why isn't this a HDMI streaming stick, ala Amazon Firestick? It'd be cheaper to manufacture and sell. Looking at this thing, with an ethernet port, HDMI ports and vents — it just feels like MS is overthinking things.
I already have a Series X. But I'd be very interested in a $35-50 HDMI Xbox cloud stick that I can covertly stick into the back of a TV when traveling or moving between rooms. But another box cluttering up space? No thanks.
I thought by 2024 there would be flying cars … we can’t even make a cheap games streaming device? However on a positive note we are getting so close to robotic killing machines….
@101Force you're probably spot on, but really, who can say? Certainly not me.
My reply wasn't to predict or debunk the possibility of an all-digital PlayStation marketplace either way. It was just to point out how incredibly stupid and inaccurate I found the comment about the Push Square news story. 🤷
@101Force i don't think publishers will go "streaming only" by the ps7 launch. if they do, i would be wishing atari makes a 100% offline console with old delisted games on disks.
just remember there are 8 billion people and counting. its gonna be a while before fast enough internet is wide spread i would think.
@rustyduck : High speed internet will be widespread a lot sooner than you realize.
The UK, USA, China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, and Brazil collectively account for 77% of global video game revenues, and every single one of them has passed legislation within the last four years to ensure high speed internet is available to all their citizens. In the UK, gigabit broadband will be available to 85% of the population by 2025 and 100% of the population by 2030 (as part of the government's "Levelling Up" policy). Several developing nations have recently passed similar legislation as well, such as India, Vietnam, the Philippines, etc.
That would have been awesome. Xbox provides the fridge AND the coasters!
I wonder if there hardware is anything special in the sense if there is game-specific hardware acceleration going on. Because I would think a universal app for TVs and streaming boxes would make a lot more sense. People who want to stream are probably people who don't want another box to worry about
@FarmDog08
I have a ROG Ally and it is pretty good to play all XB PC Games.
Would love to see MS enter the fray and deliver something with stronger battery life and better performance.
Broadband availability I think is a real hindrance. But a stream-only console is likely to happen with the next gen. They'll need to add your personal library as well as GP though. Seems from previous articles they are already working on the latter. MS can offer bundles with GP to reduce up front costs. Many gamers can afford a slightly higher monthly fee vs a large upfront cost. It's a big sell to immediate game play.
One of the best benefits of streaming IMO is no wait time for download and installs. You can just play, especially if you aren't sure you really want to play a game.
Streaming is the future. Nvidia is definitely making strides. Their GForce app is pretty solid. MS is still playing catch up on the quality of streaming.
@TheSimulator With the latest Samsung TV's, you have Game Pass App built in and can hard-wire to a router too if wifi isn't great. TV's have Bluetooth too so can connect a Controller and play all without needing to connect that 'box' to a display.
That would be a solution for older TV's and other brands that perhaps can't/won't allow Game Pass (Sony TV's perhaps), but with modern Displays connected to internet and with Bluetooth to connect a controller, they may not need to release any 'streaming' only box.
I personally was sceptical about the whole idea largely because of the price point. It might resurface in about 5-10 years.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...