Xbox Keystone, Microsoft's cloud gaming console, is "years away"
Fans of cloud gaming might come crashing back to earth following the news from CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer that Microsoft has shelved plans for an Xbox streaming stick.
The long-discussed Xbox streaming stick, codenamed Keystone, is no longer a viable option from either a production and utility standpoint, “It was more expensive than we wanted it to be when we actually built it out with the hardware that we had inside,” Spencer told The Verge(opens in new tab). He cited the broader impact of the cost-of-living crisis on consumer habits as one of the deciding factors behind Keystone’s indefinite hiatus – which makes sense, especially as we brace ourselves for the possible Xbox price hikes coming in the new year.
However, those who were looking forward to the cloud-only device aren’t going to be left out in the cold this winter. There are plenty of alternatives that won’t cost you (or Microsoft) the earth.
Microsoft has been expanding its streaming service under the Xbox Cloud Gaming umbrella.
The cloud-streaming service, which is available on smartphones and smart TVs alike, has garnered over 20 million players(opens in new tab) to date. It provides users of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with an easy, portable, totally online way to enjoy their subscription from anywhere in the world, and comes as part of your payment of $14.99 / £20.99 / AU$15.98 a month
The Xbox streaming stick gives you an easy way to take your Xbox Game Pass library with you when you travel. While you can stream games through Samsung Gaming Hub to modern smart TVs, the service doesn't work on older devices. With a streaming stick, you could plug the dongle into any TV with an HDMI port, connect to the WiFi and access the Game Pass catalog.
However,
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