Rumours of Microsoft developing their own streaming dongle have been confirmed, according to a report from Windows Central. The new device, known as Microsoft Keystone, will expand on the cloud gaming footprint they have already developed with Xbox Cloud Gaming and Games Pass.
The Keystone, like the Amazon Firestick and Google’s Chromecast, is an HDMI dongle, but targeted at the gaming market. Rumours and speculation suggest that the product has been in development for some time now but was finally confirmed after it was confirmed by a company spokesperson.
“Our vision for Xbox Cloud Gaming is unwavering, our goal is to enable people to play the games they want, on the devices they want, anywhere they want. As announced last year, we’ve been working on a game-streaming device, codename Keystone, that could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console.”
While the device has been confirmed, there s no news to suggest when the it will actually be available, other than a comment that says that the Microsoft Keystone is not quite ready for release.
“As part of any technical journey, we are constantly evaluating our efforts, reviewing our learnings, and ensuring we are bringing value to our customers. We have made the decision to pivot away from the current iteration of the Keystone device. We will take our learnings and refocus our efforts on a new approach that will allow us to deliver Xbox Cloud Gaming to more players around the world in the future.”
For Microsoft to introduce their Cloud Gaming and Games Pass services to televisions makes sense, as it allows players to access games without needing to purchase a console, expanding their market even further.