Expected to be one of the cheapest game consoles ever and designed to offer cloud-based usage, Xbox Keystone (whose name was said to be subject to change) has been detailed for the first time with the emergence of patents obtained by Microsoft.
According to information from Microsoft, Keystone was expected to be priced between $99 and $129, but it was canceled due to uncertainties about production costs and whether the market was ready for a cloud-based console.
Xbox Keystone was initially seen on Phil Spencer’s shelves
Details of Microsoft’s canceled cloud-based game console, Xbox Keystone, emerged through a revealed patent. These patent images, uncovered by WindowsCentral, provide significant clues about the device’s design, features, and appearance.
Microsoft first announced the console in 2022 with a goal of streaming Game Pass games via the cloud. However, it was canceled toward the end of last year due to rising costs and the inability to launch the device at the desired price point.
As evident from the patent documents above, Keystone was planned to have a design similar to Xbox Series X. The console would feature a front panel with space for the Xbox logo, and a minimal design on the back housing power input, HDMI port, and other connections.
Although the console has been canceled for now, Microsoft continues to make serious investments in Xbox Cloud Gaming. Considering that the future of gaming is predicted to be in cloud-based systems, we can expect to see a different Microsoft Xbox console even if not Keystone.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Feel free to share your opinions with us.
{{user}} {{datetime}}
{{text}}