Microsoft announced last year that it was working on a streaming device for Xbox games. Right after the announcement, speculation swirled that it would be a stick, like the Amazon Fire TV Stick, that would plug into a TV or monitor’s HDMI port. Refuting all this, Microsoft’s head of Xbox, Phil Spencer revealed the first look of the Xbox streaming device and it looks like a miniature version of the Xbox Series S console.
Spencer shared a photo of the streaming device sitting atop a shelf next to several other Xbox-related things. It looks like a white box, which can best be described as a small Xbox Series S, confirming that there will be no stick to stream Xbox games. Microsoft’s Xbox streaming device is codenamed Keystone and will connect to monitors, TVs, and other large screens using the HDMI port. The larger size may be a result of advanced internals, which are needed to process high quality games without dedicated machinery such as those inside a full blown console.
Vault Boy left the shelter and stopped near my office to celebrate #result25 Anniversary. congratulations @Conflict @bethesda Teams on this major milestone for an iconic franchise. pic.twitter.com/hGoN1sAQRK
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) 10 October 2022
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
In addition to supporting streamable games, Xbox streaming devices will also include support for streaming apps like Netflix. It may have a watered-down Xbox interface for launching games. Microsoft’s Keystone streaming device is still in development, according to The Verge, quoting the company. Microsoft confirmed the device last year, so to quell speculation that the project may have been abandoned, the company also told the publication that streaming devices are a part of its plans to hit markets.
For a while now, Microsoft has already had an Xbox TV app that lets users stream games on the big screen. However, this is limited to only 2022 models of Samsung TVs and monitors. The Xbox TV app launches games from Xbox Cloud Gaming with support for 1080p 60fps resolution. The upcoming device could also feature similar features, but nothing is confirmed yet. Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed what the Xbox streaming device looks like, but the Xbox account responded to Spencer’s tweet by saying, “Now what about putting old prototypes on your shelf boss.”
Post Microsoft reveals Xbox streaming device that looks like a Mini Series S console first appeared on BGR India.
