Unreleased Xbox Mini “Keystone” design appears in a patent

Microsoft had cancelled this streaming device before it was ever revealed.

Rumors of a smaller Xbox console dedicated exclusively to cloud streaming are gaining traction once more. This time, evidence comes from a filing with the US Patent Office detailing a new Xbox product design that has not been released before.

Xbox Keystone Design, Source: USPTO/Microsoft

The patent filed in June 2022 and published in December 2023 appears to depict a device that is approximately 15 cm wide, slightly larger than most NUC-sized Windows Mini-PCs. However, Microsoft has never confirmed the specifications of the device or whether it would support local gaming. The primary goal for this unreleased device was game streaming through Xbox Game Pass while connected to a screen.

Xbox Keystone Design, Source: USPTO/Microsoft

The device was briefly seen in an Xbox video where a similar device can be spotted on a shelf behind Xbox Chief Phil Spencer. However, Spencer revealed that the device has been cancelled, as it was expected to cost less than $129, a goal that couldn’t be met, leading to the project’s cancellation.

Xbox Keystone appears on Xbox video, Source: Xbox

The front of the device features one USB Type-A connector. At the back, there appears to be an Ethernet connection, HDMI connector, and power cable input, indicating it also had an integrated power supply, potentially contributing to its size.

Given the recent chatter among Xbox insiders, the company currently has no plans to reintroduce a streaming device in any form. Perhaps the main issue is not the hardware but the software, which was not ready.

Source: USPTO via Windows Central