Will the XBOX 360 Successor Simply be Named 'XBOX'?

Joel Taveras writes, "If you’re familiar with the going ons at Microsoft, then I’m sure you’ve heard a little something about Windows 8. It’s a new direction for the company and something that Microsoft hopes will bring true convergence to their products and services across every category. The Xbox brand is playing a major role in this company-wide transformation, and I think that a minor (unannounced) update made on their Windows Phone platform today may revel some small yet significant info about the Xbox brand moving forward."

[Relientk77]

There is already an Xbox, it came out in 2001. Isn't that confusing, then theres 2 Xboxes

[nrvalleytime]

Mind blown.

Suggestions for the new console:

Xbox 2x.
Xbox 520 - the middle years
Xbox x Xbox = Xbox squared
Future Xbox
Xbox Now
N4GBox

[guitarded77]

It will be XBOX ______ (insert something). Microsoft has too much invested in xbox.com as far as players being able to access their accounts and make purchases. Also, XBOX is not just a name, it's a brand which they make a lot of money on. They will not take a chance with a billion dollar brand by naming it something stupid.

[dalibor]

I like the sound of Xbox Zeta or Xbox Sonarus. It will be interesting if they stick with Durango but I doubt it.

[RustedMan]

X²

[Nexgensensation]

lets see
Xbox
Xbox 360
Xperience
Console X
Micro X
X-soft
Xinect
Xube( sounds like Cube )
The new M$ Xrossover!
jinx?

[TheFinalEpisode]

No no no that was Xbox, this is XBOX!

[MerkinMax]

So you scream the name? That will definitely be a successful marketing strategy.

[ConstipatedGorilla]

I know you're joking, but I would just call it Xbox. iPad is just iPad again and nobody got confused. It's not like the old Xbox will be on the shelves to confuse customers with.

[Summons75]

Xbox 360 U

.....of course I only kid

[Getowned]

Lmao!

[NegativeCreepWA]

Xbox 360 O, got to make another full circle.

[wastedcells]

Xbox easy bake oven RROD edition.

[ZoyosJD]

X+BOX+O+TRIANGLE = XBOX363

[colonel179]

My guess is that it will call Xbox 8 to go along Windows 8. If not, it might be called Xbox Play or something like that which unifies MS line up of gadgets.

Definitely not Xbox 3, because of PS4. Even thought I am 100% the next PS won't be called PS4, but PS (something).

[Laxman]

How are you 100% on that?

[colonel179]

Because of the Vita. They could have easily called it PSP 2 and keep the tradition, but they chose not to. The same will happen with the PS4. There is no way they will call it PS4, because of marketing strategy.

Also, if MS names the next Xbox with some number, like Xbox 8, it would make the PS4 "lesser". That's the same reason MS didn't name the Xbox 360, Xbox 2.

[Mr Tretton]

I'm in agreement that game companies are dropping numbers unless they have symbolic quality, in which most don't.

I can see an 'Xbox 8' but using it as the symbol for infinite. Sony will not release a PS4. That's an easy bet. They need to release a catchy name (like 'Wii') where it just becomes that, rather than a PS 'something.' Everyone knows the PS brand. But a catchy hip name will do wonders like it did for Nintendo.

[Qrphe]

Plus the number 4 is Japan's unlucky 13.

[EeJLP-]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

There will be a PlayStation 4. The home console brand is plenty strong and well known enough to overcome any 3rd grade "OMG 8's bigger than 4" talk.

You mention the Vita deviating for the traditional naming scheme. And how exactly did that work out for the Vita?

Did Vita work better than PSP2 vs. the 3DS? Nope. It (the Vita) is still being outsold by the PSP and being destroyed sales-wise by the 3DS.

Vita getting destroyed by a 3. Wii beat out two 3s hardware sales-wise. And you draw a solid conclusion that they 'need' to go with a name instead of a number from the real world examples showing both completely opposite ends of the spectrum?

I don't think Sony is dumb enough to not call their next console the PlayStation 4 (PS4).

People want a PS4. They'll be looking and googling for a PS4. Nobody knows what the heck an Orbis is or any other name. They'd have to waste a ton of time and money to get the name recognition that PlayStation 4 already has.

PlayStation 4 makes PS5, PS6, PS7, etc. stronger and stronger in name recognition from the start.

[EeJLP-]

@Qrphe
@Japanese superstition of the number 4.

Don't start that lame nonsense again.

グランツーリスモ4
http://www.gamechoiceclub.c...

Yes, that's Gran Turismo 4, not Gran Turismo Orbis.

Sony model XBA-4 headphones:
http://store.sony.com/p/Son...

They have no issue making 4GB memory cards.
They have no issue having Android 4.0 on their phones.
Or having mp4 music players.

Sony is a 4 letter word. Whoa!!!

VAIO is a 4 letter word.

They sell batteries in packs of 4:
http://www.poundland.co.uk/...
http://www.poundland.co.uk/...
http://www.mcmelectronics.c...
http://ecx.images-amazon.co...

And VHS tapes:
http://ecx.images-amazon.co...
http://images.bestbuy.com/B...

And markers:
http://ecx.images-amazon.co...

Sony VPL-EX4 Projector:
http://www.projectorcentral...

And whatever these 8mm tapes are that look like cassettes maybe:
http://ecx.images-amazon.co...
http://ecx.images-amazon.co...

Walkman WM-4:
http://news.cnet.com/2300-1...

Not Metal Gear Solid: Orbis
http://i197.photobucket.com...

SOCOM 4
Twisted Metal 4:
http://www.gaminggeneration...

Sony LTO Ultrium 4:
http://www.image-nation.com...

Sony Xperia J with a 4 inch screen, running Android 4.0, releasing Q4 2012:
http://www.mobileburn.com/2...

etc. etc. etc.

End that lame 'Japan is afraid/superstitious of the number 4' argument.

[nukeitall]

My guess is Xbox Infinite makes the most sense, as the marketing can slightly suggest Windows 8, or just 8 before making it horizontal.

Xbox Loop is also a good choice in my opinion.

Xbox Play would sound too much like Google Play and is kind of stupid in my opinion. It is now an entertainment box, not just to "play" games, but who knows what MS plans are.

[PinkFunk]

@EeJLP

Ahh. I had a good laugh waking up. Consider the '4' myth debunked today.

[Pillsbury1]

You're kidding right. RIGHT?! Why wouldnt it be called ps4??? Of course it is!

[dark-hollow]

It won't create confusion because nobody knows about the original Xbox.....

[neoMAXMLC]

Zing!

[ALLWRONG]

Accept the 24 million who bought it.

24 to 70 million is pretty good.

[TENTONGUN]

yeah but that was 10 years ago and i dont think anyone will confuse it givin the fact that it was discontinued when the 360 released. i dont think nothin is wrong with calling it just xbox

[IAMERROR]

Someone better call Sega! They know how to name a console!

[sofresh412]

True. Dreamcast is still my favorite name for a system. I mean come on. Dreamcast.. Dreeeeamcast. It just has that certain ring to it.

[MariaHelFutura]

Xbox Infinity.

[Irishguy95]

8 = Windows 8

And they can stick it sideways for Infinity/ So Windows 8 and Infinity are thrown together/

[Tsar4ever]

How about XBOX 8/X-Infinity for it's Windows 8 os it'll be running off of.

Than there's my personal name, the NeXBOX, remove the "T" and the word flows more naturally as one word than if you keep the t, with the T it'll sound like 2 words.

[Beastforlifenoob]

hahah its good if you want to destroy the marketing for that console

[PopRocks359]

I like Nextbox. No dice there?

[nrvalleytime]

It's too forward thinking. I'm thinking all of my above suggestions need a number so that everyone knows which version I'm buying.

Because the fact that it's new isn't enough.

...

[Knight_Crawler]

I like Nextbox name too but Rogers beat MS to the name

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012...

[peowpeow]

seXbox to accomodate the ability to watch porn

[Pillsbury1]

I like XXXbox better. ;)

[BeAGamer]

1337Box

[Griffin4871]

How about not call it a box at all?

[NoFanboyRequired]

If it wasnt xbox, it would be the DirectX-box. That was the original name for it, but they took the "direct" out of there for reasons.

DirectX-box because its based off of the DirectX technology.

Glad they changed it, because that just sounds retarded.

But Xbox Infinity/Infinite do sound like great names.

[Rockoman16]

What about XB3?

[Broburger]

Xbox 3
Xbox Prime
Xbox Orb
Kinectbox

[Yodagamer]

I wouldn't be surprised if the simply called it kinect 2, since kinect is a strong name with casuals since microsoft has clearly been trying to get them on board. Is it the best name? No, but i could see where it would make sense in microsoft's mind

[StrawHatPatriot]

It will be one of the following:

XBOX (Like, market it "The all new XBOX" like the iPad)
XBOX 8/Infinity (Use either the infinity symbol, or spell it out simple as that)
xBOX (the small x will be in Itallics to indicate a variable, thus promoting it as an "xBOX" that can do anything entertainment (Game Box, Cable Box, Skype Box, Netflix Box, DVD Box, etc.)

Or something that has to do with Kinect to market it better aroumd the world. Because I think Microsoft didn't too well in Japan because the original XBOX logo and start-up represented a green, nuclear-like bomb, which could trace back to WWII:

For info on what I mean, scroll down to the logo section of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[FarCryLover182]

Xbox 4
Xbox GO
Xbox Extreme

[Hazmat13]

dick in a box

[Oh_Yeah]

Nig In a Box, Slave Box, Restricted PC Box, Jew Box, Pay 60$ to play the other half of your game box

[StrawHatPatriot]

What's with the first two?

[blumatt]

I like that last one. LoL. Pay 60 for the other half of your game box.

Lmao

All jokes aside, I think Xbox 8 or infinity would be cool.

[ChunkyLover53]

The leaked factual Microsoft documents called it the Xbox 720, I highly doubt they would call it Xbox 8 because that is confusing and Windows 9 would be out before the end of the lifecycle of the console.

I think I've just gotten used to Xbox 720 at this point.

[Bigpappy]

The only guaranty it that it will have "Xbox" in its name. That is the platform for the entertainment side of M$, no matter which device it is delivered on. "Xbox" is to M$ what "i" is to Apple.

[Bathyj]

I think anything other than Xbox 3 is stupid. Stop being so insecure MS. Just call it what it is.

Unless they dropped the name altogether and went with something new. Consoles didnt start having sequels until the Playstation 2 afterall.

[StreetsofRage]

What? Sequels to consoles been around way before Playstation 2.

If you're talking about the Ps2 being the first to just add a simple number to its successor than that is correct. Personally, I think that's just plain lazy. Ps1, Ps2, Ps3, Ps4, etc... That is boring. How about some imagination and creativity? Genesis, Saturn, and Dreamcast were all awesome and imaginative names.

[sofresh412]

By your logic the Wii U should be the "Nintendo Entertainment System 6"

[soundslike]

Xbox 1080 is a likely candidate. They can't go with 720 because they'll likely want to show off the fact that it can do 1080p games and 720 would be confusing to mom and pop customers, so if they were to go with any increases in degrees, 1080 is the logical choice

[TheColbertinator]

ButtfuX

[xXBlondieVanHarlowXx]

hmm.... Xbox 361? o_-

[LiquidSword93]

Xbox 3? No chance. This is ms. 720 is most likely their pick IMO.

[aviator189]

Xbox Infinity works out pretty good, imo.

[NoWayOut]

Microwave Box

[dalibor]

How about Boom Box? You wouldn't even need a bookbag this sucker can be mounted on your shoulder for easy transportation.

[iNFAMOUZ1]

Xbox Infinity or Xbox Infiniti

[3-4-5]

That would be more confusing than Wii / wii U.

Everytime you type Xbox in google you would get like 40 million hits from everything since 1999.

[Axonometri]

Hopefully they don't pull a fruity name convention and call it The New Xbox.

[BrizzyE]

Bestbox 47

[arabiensoldier]

FPS - Box? just kiddden

[ALLWRONG]

Wont work because the PS3 and PC would line up right next to it.

[taquito]

call it shitbox for all i care, just get the freaking thing out already, console games are really, really, REALLY showing thier age.

[NoFanboyRequired]

Halo 4, Beyond and The Last of Us, all say hello to you :)

[DwightOwen]

All in "glorious" (read: makes my eyes bleed) 720p!

[NoFanboyRequired]

If it makes your eyes bleed, then why dont you just move over to pc gaming? Plenty of 1080p or higher for you over there.

[nevin1]

Xbox Kinect

[SKUD]

KinectBox

[urwifeminder]

Dont care what its called or what it looks like ill get one.

[StreetsofRage]

Xbox T-1000!

Winner!

[ninjahunter]

Xbox 8, because windows 8 sure as hell wasnt made with pc in mind.

[bangshi]

I did wonder this myself.

In their job postings they refer to the 360 as Xbox 360. No surprise there.

And in job postings where it hints at next-gen it will say you will be working on the XBOX console.

Now obviously if they were going to call it the Xboxinator, they wouldn't put Xboxinator on their job postings, as it would give the name away.

So you probably can't read too much into it, but none-the-less. In their job postings, they call the next console the XBOX console.

I don't see there being an original Xbox called Xbox as being a problem given its age.

[Mkai28]

XBOX OTTO, Means Italian for eight;)

[iamnsuperman]

It will be Xbox (insert random next generation sounding word here). I don't think it will just be called Xbox because it is too similar to what Apple did with the New ipad and they got stick for that. I do not think it will be called xbox 3 because it actually sounds more of a step back