Microsoft Keystone Is Officially Confirmed to Be an Upcoming Xbox Streaming Stick | Digit

Microsoft has finally confirmed that it is working on an Xbox streaming device codenamed Keystone. The rumor has it that the Redmond-based company has been engaged in the project (which has been heard under names like Hobart before) for a long time now. This time though a Microsoft spokesperson has disclosed about its game streaming stick to Windows Central and here’s the statement —

“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. 

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.”

So, let’s unpack this new revelation.

Microsoft Xbox Keystone Streaming Stick: What we know so far

Some years back, there was chatter about this Microsoft streaming device which then went by the name Project Hobart. As a Windows Central post dated Nov 7, 2016 notes, “Project Hobart would have been a $99 dongle, with low computational power — albeit powerful enough to run UWP apps and even light UWP games”. This would have been over WiFi through Xbox Windows 10 app.

The device was set to hit the production floor in a quantity of about 300,000 units and launch not so long after E3 2016. But then, owing to reasons unclear, things took a left turn, and Hobart got canceled. Some consider Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro leak played a part in this. But, God knows.

Now fast forward to May 2022, we are allegedly hearing straight from the horse’s mouth that such a device exists somewhere in the Microsoft labs.

The Project Xbox Keystone was first discovered in the Xbox OS list. Besides this and the words of the official source, there isn’t much known at the moment. It’s not even clear whether the Keystone device will run on Xbox OS, Windows, or Android. Also, as the spokesperson hints, the company is yet to decide on a final version of the product. So, we may still be in for a long wait.

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