Microsoft executives are focused on , and some of their recent business decisions seem focused on drawing more people into its subscription service. One of those projects was called Keystone, a dedicated streaming device that would allow Game Pass customers to play Xbox titles without an Xbox console. After the initial, the project was eventually scrapped. The team shifted its focus to smart TV streaming apps instead, and Keystone disappeared. Today, I found a patent that shows what the Keystone looked like.
this This is more information than we’ve heard so far from Xbox executives about the project, as all we’ve seen so far is Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer in a teaser image. It was announced in 2022, but now we can see that the chunky, boxy device has a circular pattern on top and a circular plate on the bottom, along with the expected cable ports and what appears to be a pairing button for the controllers.
Microsoft has been developing new hardware lately, but few have seemed to land well. The company announced an Xbox hardware refresh at its latest Summer Games Fest after leaks hinted at bigger plans. Hopefully, Xbox can hit the big time on the hardware front soon. For now, a glimpse into the company and its development process provides some interesting background information.