Have you ever lost sleep trying to figure out the right collective noun for all your Xbox consoles? Xboxes just doesn't cut it, and it turns out, there was almost an even weirder name in the works for the Microsoft console. According to Seamus Blackley, the creator of the original Xbox in 2001, there was a strong case against sticking with the internal name DirectXbox, as he found the plural form to be "most awkward."
But eventually, Microsoft's first home gaming console was named Xbox, a moniker that has continued through the Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S generations. The story behind the development of the first console is still captivating, and if you haven't seen it yet, the documentary series Power On: The Story of Xbox is now available for free on YouTube.
The Xbox Series X|S has reached its third year, and 2023 brought exciting developments for the console. Standout Xbox-exclusive games such as Forza Motorsport, Hi-Fi Rush, and Planet of Llana were released, with the highly anticipated titles Avowed, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, and Hideo Kojima's OD on the horizon.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I find the naming dilemma of the first Xbox console both amusing and relatable. The struggle to find a suitable collective noun for multiple Xbox consoles is something I can personally relate to, as I often find myself using awkward phrases like "my Xbox collection" or "all my Xboxes." The fact that Microsoft almost went with the name "DirectXbox" is particularly amusing, and I can't help but imagine how strange it would have been to refer to multiple consoles as "DirectXboxes."
The story behind the development of the Xbox console is also fascinating, and I appreciate the transparency of Seamus Blackley in sharing his thought process behind the naming decision. The fact that the documentary series Power On: The Story of Xbox is now available for free on YouTube is a great opportunity for gamers to learn more about the history of this iconic console. Overall, I find this article to be an entertaining and informative read, and it has given me a new appreciation for the naming process behind the Xbox consoles.
