Xbox Scarlett’s Final Name Will Be Based On System’s Capabilities, Says Phil Spencer

While everyone is still using the codename for the next Xbox, Project Scarlett, the system obviously won’t be called that. While there’s been tons of stuff coming out from both official sources as well as rumors and leaks about the guts of the system, the simple fact of the name still remains a mystery. What will it be called? Well, actually to one man in the know, it’ll all depend on what the selling capabilities of the system will be

Sitting down with Stevivor, Spencer said it all comes down to capabilities. While Xbox has never followed the traditional and straightforward naming conventions of Sony (1, 2, 3, etc.), they have kept the Xbox branding unlike Nintendo who throws out its brand every few years. Each one has been named after what defines its main selling point and Scarlett will be the same.

“Our naming convention has been around what we think the capabilities are,” he said. “Xbox 360 was about the entertainment experience around the box and the box being in the center of that entertainment experience. Xbox One, if you remember our branding early on, was ‘always on input, all in one’. Those names were really built around the purpose of the box.

“I don’t feel like I need to follow in their footsteps because they’re kind of self-contained.”

What will be the defining feature of the next Xbox? It’s hard to say, though it will definitely revolve more around digital and subscription services than ever before. It’s always fun to speculate, and we won’t have a lot longer until we know for sure. We’ll let you know as soon as the official name is revealed.