ESPN May Stream Sporting Events via Xbox Live

By Dena Cassella January 18, 2010

It appears that ESPN is looking to branch out into even more venues. A few weeks ago, DailyTech reported that ESPN is working on a 3D-only network which will launch on June 11. The network is set to air at least 85 sporting events drying its first year of availability.

Now, according to the New York Times, ESPN streaming may be coming to Xbox Live. That means that roughly 20 million Xbox Live users will have access to the service which is said to be similar to ESPN 360. Unfortunately, those of you looking to get a freebie will be disappointed — the Xbox Live ESPN service will require a separate fee in addition to your Xbox Live Gold subscription.

The reported streaming ESPN service would join other non-gaming features of the Xbox 360 including native Netflix streaming, Twitter, and Facebook integration.

“For both of the big guys, it’s about extending the value of the hardware platform,” said Garnet VP Mike McGuire. “The devices are hooked to TVs and have broadband connections, and there are more and more opportunities to license movies and TV shows and deliver them in over-the-top models.”

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer noted during this keynote at CES that Microsoft has sold over 39 million Xbox 360s since its introduction and roughly $20 billion has been spent on games.

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Your 2021 Samsung TV may get Xbox Game Pass and more game apps next week

A tv shows the new Xbox Game Pass that comes to Samsung Gaming Hub soon.

Samsung is expanding its Gaming Hub by adding the cloud-based streaming app to some 2021 smart TV models starting next week. The service itself is getting more enticing, as the app will soon support 4K cloud game streaming at 60 frames per second (fps) on select games via Nvidia GeForce Now.

Samsung Gaming Hub launched this summer on the company's line of 2022 smart TVs. At launch, the service allowed TV owners to stream games on their TV through cloud services like Xbox Game Pass and Amazon Luna. With its latest update, Samsung has made it clear that the service is only growing as it looks to retroactively put it in front of even more smart TV users.

Gaming

Xbox confirms Phil Spencer shared an old prototype of streaming device

Xbox Series S placed on a white table with the controller just in front of it

Xbox chief Phil Spencer seemed to reveal the design of Xbox's upcoming cloud-focused game-streaming device in a tweet celebrating Fallout's 25th anniversary, but a Microsoft spokesperson explained in a tweet to Digital Trends that this is just an old prototype.
“The device on Phil’s shelf was an old prototype of Keystone," the Xbox representative explained. "Earlier this year, we announced that we made the decision to pivot away from the current iteration of Keystone and are taking our learnings to 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. We have nothing more to share today.”
In the tweet, Spencer congratulated Bethesda and its Fallout team for hitting this milestone and included a picture of his shelf that contains some Fallout merch. Spencer's followers quickly spotted a small, never-before-seen white Xbox device on the top shelf underneath a large sword. This small piece of technology is the old version of a game-streaming device Microsoft was developing code-named Keystone.
https://twitter.com/XboxP3/status/1579495370786496512
Microsoft affirmed that Keystone was in development to Windows Central earlier this year, but also mentioned that Xbox decided to "pivot away from the current iteration" of the device. "We've been working on a game-streaming device, code name Keystone, that could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console," a spokesperson told Windows Central in May 2022. "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."
According to Microsoft, the device in Phil Spencer's photo is what Xbox planned on releasing before deciding to "refocus our efforts on a new approach." It's not a surprise that people thought this was going to actually be what Microsoft released, as Spencer also teased the Xbox Series S and Kojima Productions collaboration by hiding them on his shelf. For now, we'll just have to wait until Microsoft decides to share more about its new approach.

Gaming

Xbox again teams up with the Special Olympics for inclusive esports event

Xbox Series S

Xbox will once again partner with the Special Olympics for its second annual Gaming for Inclusion Esports event. It will take place on September 10 and 17.

In 2021, Xbox partnered up with Special Olympics to create the Gaming for Inclusion Esports tournament. This first event was the culmination of nearly a decade of Xbox and Special Olympics working together to empower differently abled athletes to compete and commentate on games. It partnered athletes and celebrity partners in competitions featuring games such as Rocket League, Madden NFL 22, and Forza Motorsport 7. In 2021, the event saw Jayson Tatum, Jamaal Charles, and many WWE Superstars compete alongside Special Olympics athletes.