Xbox Series X naming scheme leaves door open for Lockhart

Microsoft's new next-gen naming scheme reinforces rumors of a dual-console launch.

Derek Strickland

@DeekeTweak

Published Dec 13, 2019 2:32 PM CST
Updated Nov 3, 2020 12:45 PM CST

8 minutes & 3 seconds read time

As promised, Microsoft's next-gen console come with a new naming scheme the sets the stage for the future of Xbox.

Xbox Series X naming scheme leaves door open for Lockhart 5

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The new Xbox Series X console (formerly Project Scarlett) isn't just the name of a new system, but the name of a new generation. We can expect more Xbox systems to use the "Series" label as Microsoft blurs the lines between generations. More systems like, say, the rumored lower-end Lockhart console that's rumored to release alongside the Xbox SX in Holiday 2020.

Rumor has it Microsoft will release two next-gen consoles in 2020: Anaconda, the codename for the revealed Xbox SX that hits 4K 60FPS, and Lockhart, a disc-less system with lower specs that targets 1440p 60FPS. Microsoft has yet to confirm Lockhart's existence, but the new Series moniker strongly hints that it's possible.

Releasing a cheaper next-gen system makes a lot of sense.

The Xbox Series X sounds like it'll be incredibly expensive thanks to its hardware specs that include 12TFLOP GPU, GDDR6 memory, high-end NVMe SSD, and new Zen 2 CPU. It's even shaped like a mini-ITX PC, strongly hinting it needs some serious ventilation. Based on this hardware it's possible the Xbox SX overshoots its rumored $499 price point.

Not everyone can afford (or wants) an enthusiast grade Xbox, the same way not everyone rushed out to buy an Xbox One X. The cheaper Xbox One S is the sweet spot right now, and Lockhart aims to be the sweet spot of next-gen.

With Lockhart, gamers can theoretically still get the benefits of next-gen like a super-fast SSD, ray tracing, the Navi GPU and Zen 2 CPU combo, and other features like supported adaptive sync. The trade-off is just that everything's been dialed down to a lower spec for 1440p 60FPS versus native 4K 60FPS.

Lockhart will simply be weaker with less RAM and GPU horsepower, thus making it cheaper, and it probably won't come with a disc drive.

Xbox Series X naming scheme leaves door open for Lockhart 3

Gamers are worried that Lockhart will simply complicate development and create instances where developers hold back their next-gen games to cater to Lockhart's lower-end hardware. The truth is this is already going to happen regardless if Lockhart releases or not. Every major first-party Xbox game will release on Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Windows 10 PCs, and the new next-gen systems, meaning scaling is something they're used to and already have to do.

It's also worth mentioning that first-party Xbox Studios devs will have the best-optimized games for next-gen simply because they're closer to Microsoft and the source of the hardware. And they've also been instrumental to shaping the hardware from the get-go, similar to how Turn10 helped shape the Xbox One X back in 2016.

If anything it'll be third-party devs that run into potential issues, which will likely be mitigated by Microsoft's strong and easy-to-use SDK platform.

The only thing I'm worried about is Lockhart's name. Will it be the Xbox Series S? If so...the abbreviation would be Xbox SS, and I don't think that's an image Microsoft wants to embrace.

Microsoft plans to release the Xbox Series X in Holiday 2020. No info has been confirmed or announced on Lockhart, but we could hear more news at E3 2020.

Check below for confirmed specs and details, and a huge content listing of everything we've heard about Xbox Series X and Lockhart so far: