Next-gen Xbox's name will reflect its function, Microsoft boss says

Xbox consoles aren't named arbitrarily. The first one was named after Direct X, the Xbox 360 was named because it represents a circle that orbits your living room, and the Xbox One was billed as an all-in-one solution for gaming and multimedia. So what will the next-gen Xboxes be called?

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Microsoft is currently working on two next-gen consoles, reports say. Project Scarlett is a duo of systems: Anaconda, the high-end version that belts out native 4K 60FPS, and Lockhart, a pared-down system with reduced RAM that hits 1440p 60FPS. Both will use similar hardware like a new AMD SoC with a Zen 2 CPU and Navi GPU, a proprietary SSD to supercharge loading times, and GDDR6 memory. They're aimed at two different markets, though. Anaconda is for enthusiasts, and Lockhart is for gamers who want to experience next-gen without the higher price.

So what will they be called? According to Microsoft's Phil Spencer, each console is named accordingly based on its function and role. This strongly hints Project Scarlett will break the Xbox One moniker and forge ahead with a new naming scheme. The Xbox One family has served its purpose across three separate consoles, the last two of which saved the Xbox One brand itself.

There's really no need for more Xbox Ones.

In a recent interview with Stevivor, Xbox's Phil Spencer explains how Xbox consoles are named, and hints Project Scarlett is a new family with a brand new name.

"Our naming convention has been around what we think the capabilities are.

"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."

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Read Also: Next-gen Xbox Scarlett specs: 12TFLOPs, 16GB RAM, 3.5GHz Zen 2 CPU

Expect a similar sub-naming scheme as the Xbox One family. For example, Anaconda could be Xbox Ultra X, whereas Lockhart could be Xbox Ultra S. Something along those lines.

What do you think the next-gen Xboxes will be called?

The Project Scarlett family is due out by Holiday 2020. No pricing has been announced.

Check below for confirmed specs and details, and a huge content listing of everything we've heard about Project Scarlett so far:

Lockhart

• 1440p 60FPS
• No disc drive
• Super-fast SSD that can be used as VRAM
• 7nm AMD SoC w/ scaled-down 8-core, 16 thread Zen 2 CPU at 3.5GHZ and Navi GPU
• Lower GDDR6 memory pool (Possibly 12GB)
• ~6-8 TFLOPs of power?
• Aims to rival PS4 Pro/Replace Xbox One S
• Full backward compatibility with all Xbox One games
• Cheaper MSRP

Anaconda/Project Scarlett

• 4K 60FPS
• Disc drive with 4K UHD playback
• Super-fast SSD that can be used as VRAM
• 7nm AMD SoC with 8-core, 16 thread Zen 2 CPU at 3.5GHz and Navi GPU
• 16GB GDDR6 RAM
• 12 TFLOPs of power
• 4x as powerful as Xbox One X/aims to replace Xbox One X
• Full backward compatibility with all Xbox One games
• More expensive MSRP

Project Scarlett confirmed details:

• 8-core, 16-thread Zen 2 CPU
• Navi GPU
• Highly customized 7nm SoC from AMD
• GDDR6 memory
• 4x as powerful as the Xbox One X's 6TFLOPs of perf
• Can deliver up to 40x more performance than Xbox One in specific use cases
• Adaptive sync supported
• Super-fast SSD that can be used as VRAM
• Supports 8K resolution (likely media playback)
• 120FPS gaming
• Variable refresh rate
• Raytracing confirmed with dedicated raytracing cores
• Backward compatible with Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games
• Compatible with Xbox One accessories

Project Scarlett coverage:

• Next-gen Xbox Lockhart has 'significantly less RAM' for 1440p gaming
• Next-gen Xbox Scarlett specs: 12TFLOPs, 16GB RAM, 3.5GHz Zen 2 CPU
• Cheaper next-gen Xbox Lockhart targets 1440p 60FPS
• Cheaper next-gen Xbox Lockhart targets 1440p 60FPS
• Project Scarlett devkits aren't widely available yet
• PS5, Xbox Scarlett SSD may use Optane-like ReRAM to supercharge speeds
• NVIDIA G-Sync monitors to improve PlayStation 5 and Xbox Scarlett
• Project Scarlett won't get VR gaming, Microsoft doesn't care about VR
• Next-gen Xbox Scarlett plays four generations of Xbox games
• Microsoft teases next-gen Xbox: 8K, 120FPS, super-fast SSD
• Xbox Scarlett CPU: 'no compromises', allows for 4K 120FPS gaming
• Microsoft: Xbox Scarlett will kick PlayStation 5's ass in perf/price
• Next-gen Xbox may hit 4K 60FPS in every game
• Project Scarlett to hit 1080p 120FPS gaming
• Project Scarlett trade-in program announced, but there's a big catch
• New Viking Assassin's Creed may be next-gen console launch game
• Next-gen Xbox may get room-scale VR gaming
• PS5 and Xbox Scarlett will both handle ray tracing differently
• Gears 5 developer says Xbox Scarlett has dedicated ray tracing cores
• GTA 6 on PS5, Project Scarlett to have insane hyper-realistic visuals
• AMD 'Flute': Xbox Scarlett SoC: Zen 2 8C/16T @ 3.2GHz on 7nm
• Project Scarlett's price isn't locked in yet
• Project Scarlett isn't the last Xbox console