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Microsoft XBox (Games) Windows Technology

Microsoft Continues To Iterate on an Xbox Cloud Streaming Device Codenamed 'Keystone' (windowscentral.com) 29

Windows Central: For a few years, rumors have persisted that Microsoft was exploring building some form of streaming stick to offer Xbox Cloud Gaming via a more affordable dongle, similarly to Chromecast and Google Stadia. The first hint was Project Hobart. More recently, a code name "Keystone" appeared in an Xbox OS list, lending fire to rumors that Microsoft was continuing to explore additional hardware for the Xbox lineup. We can now confirm that that is indeed true, and it pertains to a modernized HDMI streaming device that runs Xbox Game Pass and its cloud gaming service. Microsoft is, however, taking exploring additional iterations of the product before taking it to market. In a statement provided to Windows Central, a Microsoft spokesperson described its commitment to lowering boundaries to Xbox content via low cost-hardware, while acknowledging that the existing version of Keystone needs a little more time to bake before going live.
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Microsoft Continues To Iterate on an Xbox Cloud Streaming Device Codenamed 'Keystone'

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  • ... thanks to generation mmo and steam our pc's will now be converted into locked down mobile devices dripped signed bytes from the mothership where you will own nothing.

    windows 11 is the beginning of trusted computing and the end of local applications that are text based binaries, they are building denuvo levels of drm into the os and hardware in future intel/amd cpu's and plugging the "digital hole" (i/o) to finally kill piracy, they are turning the PC into an iphone.

    They are changing the executbale model

    • ... thanks to generation mmo and steam our pc's will now be converted into locked down mobile devices dripped signed bytes from the mothership where you will own nothing.

      You seem to be arguing opposite things, if you're streaming interactive content (i.e. not things like movies, music) from a server then you don't need to trust the client because the computations are done on the server. For example how can you pirate games from Geforce NOW? You don't have to lock down the client to prevent that.

      Now if you're trying to prevent piracy while also giving everything to the client then yes, you would have to trust the client. We have of course seen this attempted for decades, rem

    • Do you have any sources that aren't 20 years old? I can still do literally whatever the fuck I want to on my PC. How long will this transition take? 20 years hasn't been enough?
  • There were some mocks of this particular device's design.

    If correct, they looked like a scaled down version of "Series S". With the same block design with front USB ports and white color scheme.

    If I read it right, it would just replace the onboard CPU+GPU with something much lighter, but still able to run local apps (for Netflix, or maybe even for Windows UWP(?) development). Add in keyboard and mouse support, it would be a mini console by itself. (And of course it would support Xbox controllers).

    But it is

    • They can afford to lose money on this type of hardware for ongoing subscription revenue. Imagine bundling this device with a controller for $50-$60 with a monthly fee of $10-13. Under $100 will be able to compete with Xbox One S.
    • They don't need to make a profit on the hardware. The whole idea is subscription based revenue from gamepass. The few local apps installed would just be a bonus rather than the core selling point. It has a lot of potential as peoples internet access and bandwidth increases.
    • The big problem with cloud gaming is that if your budget is too tight to afford a $299 gaming console, you probably also have a shitty broadband connection.

      Especially when Series S itself is sometimes down to $250 now.

      The Series S is starved for storage space, and the official upgrades aren't cheap (3rd party USB storage only supports running older backwards compatibility titles). Again, we're back to if you don't have a lot to spend, your gaming experience is going to kind of suck. That's the problem with trying to market your products to people with lesser incomes

  • Microsoft continues to work on probably profitable thing Microsoft has been working on

    Be still, my throbbing balls.

  • When will MICROS~1 go after Google for a license /s
  • They'll finally figure out how to crack the limits on the speed of light transmission of data. And with that final, essential plank in place, their system will finally be usable!
  • Lazy gibberish thread title even by msmash "sabotage Slashdot with space filler" standards.

Your own mileage may vary.

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