The Xbox series of consoles has a very troubling naming scheme. It’s not like Nintendo or Sega’s efforts where they just put a brand new name for each console (and when they didn’t, it didn’t sell well- see the Wii U). Sony has it all figured out- the lame, but effective naming scheme of sequels like the upcoming PS5.
Xbox revealed at The Game Awards 2019 their next-gen console, the Xbox Series X. Of course, reaction is mixed- from the similarities to the Xbox One X to the way you can abbreviate it in an indecent manner. But apparently, that’s not the name of that specific console we see. The next-generation Xbox is actually just called… Xbox.
Speaking to the Business Insider, a Microsoft spokesperson told them this:
“The name we’re carrying forward to the next generation is simply Xbox. And at The Game Awards you saw that name come to life through the Xbox Series X.”
The “Series X” is a designation to that specific console we saw- the black towering monolith that can be placed horizontally or vertically. And Microsoft is saying to expect more than one variant of the new Xbox.
“Similar to what fans have seen with previous generations, the name ‘Xbox Series X’ allows room for additional consoles in the future,”the spokesperson added.
Just like the current Xbox One X and the rechristened Xbox One S, we should be expecting a similar case for the new Xbox. An Xbox Series S sounds like with the naming convention, and the rumours of a lower-powered, lower-priced variant might be coming.
Naming the next console just Xbox is both bold and will make people feel confused. We’ve gone from the original Xbox, to Xbox 360, to Xbox One, to Xbox.
But if the naming convention put a stop of this confoundingly too similar names, maybe it’s for the better. Just call the next-next-gen Xbox the Xbox Series 2, with the Xbox Series 2 X being the top-end console, for example. Though it is arguably still not a good naming convention.
Either way, prepare to read console names like phone and car names in the future.
Source: Business Insider