Microsoft Phil Spencer has shelved Xbox game streaming devices, giving priority to Samsung Video Game Center

CTOnews.com, Nov. 1, Microsoft revealed that it is still "a few years" before the cloud game streaming host (called "Keystone") it is developing will become a reality. Microsoft Game CEO Phil Spencer said at the Wall Street Journal technology live conference that the company is developing a Xbox game streaming device that allows users to play Xbox games without having to download them. This is a cheap plug and play device, but it has been put on hold.

Phil Spencer further pointed out that the decision was made at the end of this spring as Microsoft shifted its focus to working with Samsung to develop Gaming Hub (Game Center). Samsung high-end TVs are equipped with Gaming Hub features and are developed in cooperation with Microsoft, allowing users to play Xbox games smoothly through cloud strings. Microsoft may still make Xbox streaming devices in the future, but it will take years to reach users, Phil Spencer said.

Microsoft Xbox Keystone was revealed last year and plans to launch the device soon, but it didn't come soon. CTOnews.com learned that in a picture released by Phil Spencer, Keystone was placed on the back shelf and looked like a scaled-down version of Xbox Series S.

Because users can now use plug-and-play devices such as Google Chromecast, Microsoft describes Keystone as a streaming device rather than a TV stick. Although Microsoft has successfully launched the Xbox TV app on Samsung TV, it only supports 1080p@60fps streaming games.

Compared with competitors such as Google Stadia (which will stop operating) and Nvidia GeForce NOW, they all support 4K game streaming. As a result, Microsoft still has a lot of work to do on Xbox cloud games to prepare for the TV community.