Xbox streaming console prototype gets accidently leaked

Redmond, Washington - Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, may have accidentally leaked a photo of a prototype for a new streaming console, and the internet is losing its mind.

Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, shared a photo to social media (r.) that contained an old prototype of a streaming device the company has been working on.
Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, shared a photo to social media (r.) that contained an old prototype of a streaming device the company has been working on.  © Collage: Bethesda & Screenshot / Twitter / @XboxP3

Monday marked the 25th anniversary of the Fallout gaming franchise, and to commemorate the event, Spencer shared a photo on social media of a statue of the series' iconic Vault Boy character placed upon shelves with other random gaming memorabilia.

But what really captured gamers' attention was a small white box on the top shelf beneath a samurai sword, with the unmistakable Xbox logo in its left corner and what looks to be a USB port to plug in a controller in its right.

"What is it meant to be?" one user wondered. "Looks like a series S?"

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But the tiny mystery machine looks far too small to be a series S console, leading many to suggest the theory that it is the streaming device the company has been teasing for some time – which has been code named "Keystone."

A Microsoft representative later confirmed the rumors with Digital Trends, saying it was indeed "an old prototype of Keystone" on the boss' shelf.

"Earlier this year," the rep explained, "we announced that we made the decision to pivot away from the current iteration of Keystone and are taking our learnings to 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."

"We have nothing more to share today," they added.

It may be a while until Keystone sees the light of day, but Xbox fans can expect cloud gaming and Game Pass will likely be much more accessible in the near future.

Cover photo: Collage: Bethesda & Screenshot / Twitter / @XboxP3

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