It was not that late when Apple announced its investment in the brand’s own AR headsets. It is the new way Apple bringing to replace the traditional iPhones. Now, we have another bang on news coming from Microsoft. The brand is all set to bring its own Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming device. Yes, “Keystone” named Microsoft exclusive gaming serive is in development!

In addition to providing Xbox Game Pass access through Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft said in June that it is working on a dedicated Xbox Streaming stick. A recent Windows Central story also indicates that the gadget, codenamed ‘Keystone,’ delivers a “modernised HDMI streaming device,” akin to Chromecast and Google Stadia. However, Microsoft has said that this version will not be made public.

In a statement to Windows Central, Microsoft says: “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.”

Elaborating further, it stated “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.”

It’s unclear what adjustments Microsoft is planning at the moment, but it’s evident that the Xbox streaming stick isn’t ready yet. Due to a global chip scarcity, Xbox Series X|S consoles are still hard to come by, despite recent stock increases. In the interim, there’s the promise of a dedicated streaming stick.

Microsoft’s foray into cloud gaming is paying off

Xbox Cloud Gaming has grown significantly since its launch in March, when it surpassed 10 million subscribers. It’s a remarkable achievement, yet one that wasn’t achieved fully on its own merits. Cloud streaming is available exclusively with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft’s premium membership service. Hundreds of bundled games are also available via cloud streaming, so users won’t have to pay for them separately.

As a result, it’s succeeding where competitors like Google Stadia and Amazon Luna have failed to do so. It’s available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and mobile devices, so existing subscribers may try it out without spending any money.