Here’s what the cancelled Xbox Keystone would’ve been
Microsoft has been in the console game since it first released the Xbox in 2001, and while it's a little behind Sony and Nintendo, those cuboid consoles have still made quite a mark on the world of gaming. As the Xbox Series continues to sell and we eye the inevitable successor(s), let's look back at the Xbox that could've been.
It's been discussed before that Microsoft typically doesn't make money off its consoles, which explains why we've seen it put such emphasis on its Game Pass streaming model. Some question how the service can make money, but as Xbox boss Phil Spencer remains committed to the cause, that's the business model we're stuck with.
Xbox Keystone design unveiled
A few years ago, Spencer outlined his plans for a cloud console concept to rival the upcoming all-digital Xbox Series X. Lacking the grunt of a full console, the codenamed Xbox Keystone was due to sit under your TV and effectively serve as a gaming Fire Stick.
Originally announced in 2021 as a dedicated streaming device for gaming, Spencer discussed Keystone with Windows Central as late as last April. Despite saying the mini console was still in development, it seems it's now been sent to that great gaming graveyard because Microsoft couldn't get the pricing right.
An update from Windows Central's Zac Bowden suggests that the Keystone is no more while showing off designs of what it could've looked like. According to Bowden's report, Spencer wanted the Keystone to cost between $99 and $129, but Microsoft couldn't get the price down to this.
The site has found a patent for the Keystone, showing how the console was an even square with a circle on the top - similar to the vent on the Xbox Series S. This simplistic design included a power button and a USB-A port on the front, but that's about it.
The back of the Keystone could've featured three ports for HDMI, ethernet, and power, while an Xbox controller pairing button appears to be on the side. Finally, the underside has a circular "Hello from Seattle" plate for the Keystone to sit on.
It's all much of a muchness for a console that will likely never see the light of day, and when it comes to the Keystone's downfall, pricing was likely an issue. Even if Microsoft had managed to get the Keystone down to $99, there were sure to be raised eyebrows for what's effectively a snazzy Fire Stick.
Bowden notes that while cloud gaming is all the rage right now, Microsoft needs to keep its foot in the door in other avenues. The price of admission of $15 Game Pass Ultimate is barely keeping the lights on in terms of server costs, but what move the Green Team makes next remains to be seen.
