Phil Spencer Teases Microsoft TV Streaming Sticks With xCloud Support

The idea of a Microsoft streaming stick that offers xCloud support might be in the works according to a hint from Xbox Chief Phil Spencer.

With Microsoft pushing its new streaming service, it is possible to hop into the Xbox ecosystem without ever owning an Xbox or a PC by using xCloud. It sounds like Phil Spencer wants to make that step even easier by introducing Microsoft streaming sticks that can plug into a TV.

In an interview with Stratechery, Phil Spencer hinted at the idea of a streaming stick similar to a Roku device or Amazon Firestick. He stated: “I think you’re going to see lower-priced hardware as part of our ecosystem when you think about streaming sticks and other things that somebody might want to just go plug into their TV and go play via xCloud. You could imagine us even having something that we just included in the Game Pass subscription that gave you an ability to stream xCloud games to your television and buying the controller.”

On top of the streaming stick, he also teased a top tier Xbox Game Pass membership that would guarantee access to new Xbox hardware. Microsoft has already played around with bundling subscriptions and hardware together. Xbox All Access includes access to Xbox Game Pass and an Xbox Series X or S.

Per The Verge, A streaming device like the one described above wouldn’t be a first for the company. It did toy around with a lightweight Xbox streaming device all the way back in 2016, but the hardware was canceled.

With Microsoft wanting to put Xbox games on every device, this doesn’t come across as a very surprising thing to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if they took it a bit further and released apps on Rokus or other similar streaming devices. Phil Spencer has made it crystal clear that as long as people are buying into the Xbox Game Pass ecosystem, Microsoft will be very happy.

[source: DualShockers]