Spencer revealed why Microsoft Xbox cloud game "set-top box" Keystone delay: because the price is too high

CTOnews.com, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)-- Microsoft Games CEO Phil Spencer has revealed why the company has delayed plans to launch Xbox cloud game "set-top box" Keystone, mainly because of price, according to The Verge.

KeystoneCTOnews.com on Phil Spencer's shelf learned that Spencer said while discussing the Keystone prototype that recently appeared on his office shelf: "when we actually built it out of the hardware inside, it was more expensive than we wanted. We decided to focus the team's work on providing smart TV streaming applications."

Microsoft has instead partnered with Samsung to launch the Xbox TV app, but that doesn't mean the Xbox cloud game "set-top box" is over. "We are still watching Keystone and watching when we can reach the right cost," Spencer revealed.

Microsoft wants the Xbox streaming device to be priced at around $129 or $99, Mr. Spencer said, implying that, including game consoles, the price has been pushed up to nearly $299 for the Xbox Series S.

Spencer also said that the Keystone prototype interface "looks like the Xbox user interface, everything works." now the device is on the shelf in his office. "it's on my shelf because the team rolled up their sleeves and built this thing in nine months, and a group of us brought it home, and it worked very well," he said.

Now, it seems that it will be a long time before Keystone is actually launched. "will we make a streaming device at some point? it should be, but I think it will be a few years later," Spencer said at a recent Wall Street Journal live meeting.