Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Xbox confirms Phil Spencer shared an old prototype of streaming device

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.

Vault Boy left the shelter and stopped by my office to celebrate the #Fallout25 Anniversary. Congratulations to the @Fallout @Bethesda teams on this major milestone for an iconic franchise. pic.twitter.com/hGoN1sAQRK

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) October 10, 2022

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. 

Editors' Recommendations

Tomas Franzese
Gaming Staff Writer
Tomas Franzese is a Staff Writer at Digital Trends, where he reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
The best Xbox Series X games for 2024
Key art for Starfield

After an uneven console cycle with the Xbox One, Microsoft's latest consoles are aimed at getting the ship back on course. The Xbox Series X is a next-generation powerhouse that rivals gaming PCs, while the Xbox Series S is an affordable stopgap for those who are curious about trying new games.

There's no shortage of games to play on either console thanks to Xbox Game Pass, which gives players immediate access to a library of titles old and new. That built-in catalog is an extra value on top of all the new games available on the system that take advantage of its impressive technical specs. When it comes to first-party exclusives, the Series X is still growing. Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 gave a good boost to the console's library following a somewhat sparse first year. More games are also on the way. Microsoft's Bethesda acquisition will bring exclusives like Starfield and the potential addition of all Activision Blizzard games would further bolster that list, but the console's real strength lies in third-party support.

Read more
Madden 24 is coming to Xbox Game Pass just in time for the Super Bowl
Players make a tackle in gameplay action of Madden NFL 24.

Xbox revealed a new batch of library additions coming to its Game Pass service. The list includes some heavy hitters in Resident Evil 3 and Madden 24, as well as some indie hidden gems.

Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft's subscription service that gives players access to select games for a monthly fee, will add eight new games in the first half of February. The rollout will start today with Anuchard and continue until February 20 with the sci-fi title Return to Grace.

Read more
Xbox teases a new future for Xbox as multiplatform rumors circulate
Phil Spencer at BlizzCon 2023

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, announced that Xbox will hold a "business update event" sometime next week in response to a flurry of discourse online about Xbox exclusives going multiplatform.

Leaks and rumors about games that were previously Xbox-exclusives, like Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves, going multiplatform have been circulating for a couple of weeks, but they hit a fever pitch over the weekend. An XboxEra report claimed that a PlayStation 5 version of Bethesda Game Studios' Starfield is in the works, and that was followed by other Xbox insiders claiming that they heard everything from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to Gears of War was going multiplatform. Because Microsoft is one of gaming's three major console manufacturers that have garnered a loyal fan base through a variety of exclusive games, these rumors proved quite divisive.

Read more