A report from Windows Central confirmed that the rumors of Microsoft building a cloud streaming device were true. Microsoft has continuously pushed the envelope of cloud gaming over many years with programs like Xbox Cloud Gaming and its Game Pass service. Now the company is going to release a device, code-named Keystone, which is solely focused on game streaming.
The motivation behind this project is to meet the need for a “more affordable dongle” similar to a streaming stick like the Amazon Fire TV, according to Windows Central. Like those sticks, the Keystone is an HDMI streaming device, but for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox’s cloud gaming service. An Xbox device codenamed Keystone has been rumored for some time:
XBOX KEYSTONE pic.twitter.com/warAwisfKh
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“As part of any technical journey, we are constantly evaluating our efforts, reviewing our learnings, and ensuring we are bringing value to our customers,” an unnamed Microsoft spokesperson said to Windows Central. “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.”
The learnings spoken of are definitely related to not only Xbox Game Pass’ use of cloud gaming, but the recent launch of Xbox’s free cloud play initiative. This new free-to-stream program made waves by bringing Fortnite back to iOS devices using cloud streaming to bypass Apple’s entire ecosystem.
While it’s clear that Microsoft has been working on Keystone for years now, we don’t know if the device will be shown to the public anytime soon. As such, we aren’t sure that it will make an appearance at the upcoming Xbox showcase next month.
Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 finally has a US release date and price, several months after the company first showed off the handheld in May. The highlight is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip inside, which has been adopted by only a couple of other consoles besides the Atlas 8. This version will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on November 1 for $1,299.99.
Acer originally said the Atlas 8 would arrive in North America in October, but left pricing open at the time. The launch came amid the ongoing DRAM crunch, which has made memory more expensive across the PC industry and complicated pricing for hardware makers.
Gaming laptops and I have a complicated relationship. One of my first gaming rigs was an Acer Predator that was already outdated when I bought it. I was a broke college kid, and that was the best I could afford. So trying out high-end gaming laptops is always fun. But ASUS' ROG Zephyrus G14 is a lot more than a laptop that can run AAA games. It is portable, so you're not lugging around a 2.5kg machine everywhere you go. It is built well, none of that plastic chassis, and can even function as a normal laptop outside of just gaming.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.