Console-Like Box Resembling Xbox Keystone Appears On Phil Spencer’s Shelf

Phil Spencer, the CEO of the Xbox, whose shelf is not foreign to revealing something that ignites fumes of rumors later on. And it just so happens that today Phil has done it again.

While tweeting a congratulatory tweet to Bethesda for Fallout’s 25th anniversary, he accidentally revealed what the internet believes to be an Xbox Keystone cloud gaming and streaming console.

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

MAJOR TAKEAWAYS

1. Console-like box, resembling Xbox Keystone, Microsoft’s cloud gaming console, seemingly appears on Phil Spencer‘s shelf in a photo that tweeted on his Twitter account.
2. The box resembles the concept designs posted on Twitter in 2021.
3. Xbox Keystone will seemingly cost less than Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X and will support all games available on Xbox Game Pass.
4. Its launch date is alleged to be in 2023.

Xbox Keystone is one of Xbox’s newest projects. It was first rumored to be in development in late May. It is supposedly focused on cloud gaming and streaming rather than conventional gaming.

Described as “much cheaper than Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X,” it will rely on the Xbox Game Pass cloud subscription to allow gamers to excess games.

Xbox Keystone users will supposedly have excess to all Xbox Game Pass games. While the prospect of the console exclusive games remains open. As exclusives are used as a lure to get more users.

Later in early June, Microsoft confirmed the project’s existence to WindowsCentral. They further revealed that, while the Xbox Keystone was “ready to be launched“, they had delayed it for the development of “develop a few more unknown features and capabilities.” Which meant its launch got pushed from 2022 to 2023.

The console-like box on Phil Spencer’s shelf amazingly had an uncanny resemblance to the concept photos of the Xbox Stream Box that were posted more than a year ago on Twitter.

👀 The Xbox Stream box is coming! pic.twitter.com/t3NY0QnCcu

— Post Up (@PostUp_SOG) July 31, 2021

The launch of Xbox Keystone will help Microsoft tap the cloud gaming market. And this, geared with Xbox Game Pass, is surely going to put Microsoft a step ahead of other competitors like Logitech.

Just recently Google’s cloud gaming service, Google Stadia, was announced to be shutting down in Jan 2023, suggesting an already fierce competition in the market.

To put this into perspective, a few days ago Jez Corden, a respected Microsoft insider and a columnist for WindowsCentral, had asked his followers not to buy Logitech Cloud G. Cryptically suggesting at the supposed announcement and then launch of Xbox Keystone.

If you were interested in buying a Logitech G Cloud…

… Don't.

There's something better on the way.

— Jez (@JezCorden) October 8, 2022

This lends even more authenticity to the rumors suggesting the console’s imminent announcement. Xbox Keystone will allegedly cost around $99 in addition to the Xbox Game Pass subscription.