In recent documents that have leaked from inside the FTC vs. Microsft trial, countless key details have surfaced, revealing an all-new batch of consoles, controllers, and games. In one slide on a leaked document, there’s a breakdown of what has and hasn’t been funded internally, and sitting at the top of the ‘funded’ table sits the Cloud Console – otherwise known as Project Keystone.
It was over a year ago that Microsoft reportedly shelved the development of Project Keystone, citing a production path that was simply too expensive. It was floated by Phil Spencer that the console would cost between $99 to $129, and it’d be a simple device bundled with a controller that would connect to Xbox’s Cloud service – and nothing more.
Is Project Keystone Still On The Way?
It was in May 2022 that Microsoft went public with the news that it had shelved the development of Keystone – but they never said it would be shut down forever. In a statement, it was said:
We have made the decision to pivot away from the current iteration of the Keystone device. We will take our learnings and 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.
With that in mind, the latest leaked documents (provided by The Verge) seem to tell a different, updated story. In one slide on a leaked deck, a pyramid matrix was revealed, showcasing what has and hasn’t been funded internally at Microsoft. At the base of that pyramid sat the ‘Funded’ list, and at the top of that list sat Project Keystone – the Cloud Console.
Now, it’s important to bear in mind that it just means the company is prepared to float the cost of the development if it’s pursued – it could still mean that it is shelved for the time being but it remains a viable option with some solid business justification.
However, given that it’s in the same section as Project Brooklin – the new Xbox Series X – and Project Sebile – the new Xbox controller – it seems quite likely that it’s back on the table. Here’s another point to back up that claim – it’s in a section that’s designed to break down goals leading up to 2030.
Would you consider picking up a small, lightweight, internet-dependent Xbox Cloud Gaming console?
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I really hope Keystone is a portable Xbox and would love if it allowed not only cloud but connectivity to home Xbox.