Microsoft plans to release its Xbox Streaming Stick for smart TVs in the next 12 months as part of a new project called Xbox Everywhere, reports VentureBeat.
This over-the-top device will allow Xbox Game Pass subscribers to stream games directly to their smart TVs, excluding the need for a console or gaming PC.
Additionally, Microsoft has partnered with Samsung to develop an exclusive app that will allow the same functionality as the Streaming Stick, meaning that Samsung smart TV owners won’t need to buy the physical device.
Microsoft is calling the new project the Xbox Everywhere initiative, and it is likely the company’s way of expanding its existing cloud gaming services to a new audience.
The Xbox Streaming Stick’s initial reveal was during last year’s E3 event, where Xbox gaming experience and platform corporate vice president Liz Hamren confirmed the development of “standalone streaming devices that you can plug into a TV or monitor.”
While the Xbox Streaming Stick won’t rival an Xbox’s performance or complete range of functionality, it will lower the barrier for entry into cloud gaming and encourage consumers to buy Microsoft’s consoles.
Microsoft hasn’t revealed any details regarding a showcase of the new hardware, but there’s a possibility that we will learn more at the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase on 12 June.
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