A rumor had circulated earlier this month that Microsoft was ready to release a game streaming device very similar to Chromecast for its Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
The companyconfirmed the rumors and said that such a device, codenamed Kyestone. However, it said that it may not be released anytime soon.
"As announced last year, we are working on a game streaming device called Keystone, which will be able to connect to any TV or monitor without the need for a console," a Microsoft spokesperson told Windows Central.
He also said:
"We have made the decision to move away from the current iteration of the Keystone device. We will learn our lessons and focus on a new approach that will allow us to deliver Xbox Cloud Gaming to more players around the world in the future."
Last year, Microsoft confirmed that it was making Xbox video game streaming sticks and building the technology into Smart TVs. "We're developing standalone streaming devices that you can plug into a TV or monitor. So if you have a strong internet connection, you can stream your experience to Xbox," the company said at the time.
Stadia didn't shake up the market as Google had hoped. Microsoft can take stock of its own work. "As part of any technical journey, we constantly evaluate our efforts and re-evaluate our insights to ensure we're delivering value to our customers," the spokesperson said.
Almost a year after its general release, Xbox Cloud Gaming is still in Beta. Xbox Cloud Gaming has been available on PC, mobile, and consoles as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate $15 per month
Stadia can run on Google's relatively inexpensive Chromecast devices , as well as NVIDIA's Shield TV and many smart TVs. Microsoft is apparently cautious about its own streaming devices, so it doesn't look like it'll be released anytime soon.
Information source: engadget.com
