The online-only Xbox streaming device has been shelved by Microsoft, with the company saying it has opted to release an Xbox app for Samsung TVs instead.
In a wide-ranging chat on WSJ Technical ConferenceXbox boss Phil Spencer says Microsoft will likely release a standalone device at some point, but right now that’s “years away.”
Spencer said the console is still under development at Microsoft and will allow gamers to play games available in the Xbox Cloud Gaming library. For now, however, it has been put on the back burner.
“Keystone is something we’ve been incubating internally,” he told the audience in California. “It’s a streaming console. There’s no low price for local play, plug it into a TV and you’ll be able to stream available Xbox games,” he said. “Instead, in late spring, we turned to working with Samsung. We put an app on Samsung TVs so you can play Xbox games.”
Spencer said Microsoft aims to give gamers a choice of where to play, but said there are already plenty of options. The streaming device already exists, as it was pictured in Spencer’s office a few weeks ago. Spencer has admitted that this is the case and says it’s just a prototype.
He added: “Giving people a choice – whether they want to play on their tablet, on their smart TV, on Xbox, PC – we think that’s really critical to where we’re going. Will we make a streaming device at some point? I suspect we will, but that’s years away. I still have the prototype – sitting on the shelf behind my computer.”
Spencer also admitted that Microsoft may be forced to raise the prices of its console and services after the holidays, which is sure to cause a backlash among gamers if it comes to pass.
Xbox ‘Keystone’ streaming device delayed indefinitely and may never arrive
