Branding can sometimes be more important than the hardware itself. Microsoft started strong with an edgy approach to a generation of teenagers seeking grittier content. Enter the original Xbox in 2001.
Even late to the party, the Xbox made a splash, essentially splitting the demographic for generations to come. Competing head-to-head with household name and eventual bitter rival Sony’s PlayStation, it was clear Microsoft was aiming for the big leagues.
The new-millennium hype is starting to die down, and corporations panic, trying to follow social trends like flat design and a slick aesthetic. That is when both consoles really defined what their brands were trying to express. Sony kept it simple, adding one digit to each release all the way to the PlayStation 5 we know and love to hate. Xbox decided to take the scenic route.
Following up on their smashing debut, the Xbox 360 sought to encompass all aspects of gaming. It was marketed for the casual, the tryhard, the sports fan, and the families. But when you sell it to everyone, it’s hard for everyone to hear. So they tried again in 2013, now named… the Xbox One?
“This must definitely be the definitive version, right?”, we all wrongly thought, as the Slim, X, S, Series X, and Series S all released since the Xbox One reveal. With the Nintendo Switch 2 out and the GTA 6 release creeping closer and closer, it’s only a matter of time before both studios force us into the next generation of consoles. PlayStation 6 for GTA 6 has a nice ring to it, but what about Microsoft? Where do they go from here? Here are three possible names the new Xbox might drop with.
1. The Xbox Magnus: from leak to fact
Magnus, Latin for Great, is the official leak name for the next Microsoft project. Though we know internal code doesn’t always reflect what the final product will look like, I don’t hate the direction for the most powerful Xbox to date.
The Xbox Magnus project is allegedly thought out as a PC-console hybrid with native PC game support for platforms like Epic Games, Steam, emulators, and whatnot. A strong word like Magnus really serves it justice, though I would be really sad to say goodbye to the funky-looking number line-up they have built over the years. Sayonara, Xbox 720 hopes.
2. The Xbox Home: the real 360
Microsoft and Sony both have plenty of electronic options to offer besides gaming consoles. With this in mind, it wouldn’t be the craziest thought to turn your next-gen console release into a full-blown everyday digital companion. Now would be the perfect time to compete directly with voice-powered AIs, home security software, and streaming TV devices, integrating gaming and reality into one device.
Imagine the smartest version of Cortana, Windows’ response to Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, welcoming you home. Able to turn on the console's power even while off, boot up your favorite game or app, dimming the lights – all with voice commands.
Plus, it keeps it simple for the next generation of Xbox Home users, something Magnus can’t control in its pretentious name. “Hey, did you get the new GTA for the Xbox Magnus?” Yeah, it doesn’t sound right.
3. The Xbox Sky: complete digital experience
A last cringe-worthy attempt at romanticizing chips and cables will be to go all out on the digital possibilities of gaming. Players have discussed for years what the future could look like if physical games are left behind. Microsoft could put an end to this discussion with Xbox Sky.
Entirely dependent on the cloud (get it?), the Xbox Sky would pride itself in syncing all your data from previous consoles, streaming accounts, and internet profiles to become an extension of your desktop or phone – making it as effortless for the user as possible.
This, of course, can generate vast criticism amongst all gamers. Still, if done correctly, you can boast for a full console’s lifespan that you took a brave pioneering step in the right direction, with players always in the foreground. If we were to talk about console shapes, though, I’d say keep it a box.
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