Adam Birney / Android Authority
⥠Good morning! Keep reading for weird collabs!
Microsoftâs cloud game streaming device
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
The hot news of today is Microsoftâs Xbox streaming device: and that itâs not following the path documented by rumors.
- At the same time, Microsoft confirmed those rumors. Letâs take a look.
The low down:
- Some kind of Xbox streaming device stick/puck/box/accessory has been a pretty substantiated rumor for a few years now.
- It was given a little more of a push when Microsoft clearly said that it wants people to play Xbox games on any device, not just an Xbox itself, and last year it announced it was making streaming devices.
- A key pillar to that is its GamePass and Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
- Microsoft calls this Xboxless-gaming âXbox Everywhere,â and itâs something like watching Netflix on whatever device you have, but youâre gaming.
- And now, a device is confirmed â itâs just that we wonât be getting it.
Whatâs new:
- The latest is that a âKeystoneâ codename device was on its way but a Windows Central report reveals things are changing.
- Microsoft reveals in a statement that itâs a real thing but that it needs more time.
- Quotes from a Microsoft spokesperson: âOur vision for Xbox Cloud Gaming is unwavering, our goal is to enable people to play the games they want, on the devices they want, anywhere they want. As announced last year, weâve been working on a game-streaming device, codename Keystone, that could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console.â
- âAs part of any technical journey, we are constantly evaluating our efforts, reviewing our learnings, and ensuring we are bringing value to our customers. 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.â
- Okay! So nothing coming out soon, it would seem.
- Whatever pivot is going on here might be something to do with hardware or software, we donât know, but this will need to be a better launch than poor old Google Stadia.
- Other hints Iâm seeing suggest that this doesnât mean weâll wait another few years, but just that Microsoft is iterating and trying to get things right over the months to come.
- Itâs not clear what OS it would run or the UI involved, yet. (Probably not Windows 11!)
Whatâs next:
Roundup
đ´ Your Android phone could soon get snore and cough detection abilities, with some kind of eventual goal being more sleep insights (Android Authority).
đ Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro is on the way, the rugged phone might have a big processor boost this time around (Android Authority).
đ By the way, Iâm having a great time reading Andy Weirâs Project Hail Mary. Yes, it came out in 2021, but Iâm not speedy about these things! He wrote The Martian. Anyway, itâs enjoyable hard science fiction, just like The Martian.
And now there are fresh collaborations that make little sense to me but here we are:
- First, Oura and Gucci have partnered on a âluxuryâ wellness ring, which is the normal Oura Gen 3 but for $950!
- It features black-coated titanium, the Gucci logo âŚand the same features and sensors as a standard Gen 3.
- Thatâs about $600 more than the normal titanium metric tracker but you apparently also get a lifetime Oura membership. That normally costs $6 a month. So if you plan to wear one for 100 months or just over 8 years, itâll pay itself off?
- Also: Incredibly, Gucci built a persistent town inside of Roblox.
And then thereâs VW and its ID Buzz electric vans which did a collab with Star Wars and the new Obi-Wan TV series, a Disney Plus show which dropped a little earlier than expected with two episodes on the platform out now.
- For whatever reason, VW made a dark side and a light side edition of the vehicles (that you canât buy):
The two unique ID. Buzz show cars for the new Star Wars series “Obi-Wan Kenobi”.
Have a great weekend,
Tristan Rayner, Senior Editor.