Microsoft is officially making Xbox video game streaming sticks

Just days before Microsoft's big ol' E3 livestream, executives from the company sat down to talk -- er, read remarks prepared by the communications team -- about the future of Xbox. In a pre-recorded media briefing, Xbox head Phil Spencer, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and others bragged about how well Game Pass and Azure are performing, and also dropped some news about the company's cloud gaming and subscription strategies. First, Xbox is working with global TV manufacturers to get Game Pass on smart televisions. Considering a Game Pass Ultimate subscription unlocks cloud capabilities, this feature will allow folks to play Xbox titles with just a controller, no console required. Additionally, Microsoft is officially building a video game streaming stick, as Spencer teased late last year.