On December 29th 2020 (Cheers, TT), Microsoft filed an application to trademark the phrase “Xbox Series XS.”
The details of the trademark, which can be read in full here, are very similar to those of the Xbox Series X trademark filing on the same site though don’t really make clear whether this is the name of a new console, service, or something else entirely.
It could be a new console but such a name would cause even more confusion amongst consumers who have trouble telling the difference between the Xbox One X, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
A more likely scenario is that Microsoft is simply covering their bases to prevent other groups from using the phrase. Another possibility, and one that makes a lot of sense, is that this phrase is being trademarked so that it can be used more when referring to video games or accessories designed for both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. Microsoft already uses “Xbox Series X|S” when describing some video games after all and this phrase is essentially the same.
Curiously, the same site also shows a new application for the “Xbox Series S” trademark that was made on the same day as the “Xbox Series XS” one. The Xbox Series S console has obviously already been released which makes this application very curious indeed and suggests that this whole thing is just Microsoft dotting the ‘I’s and crossing the ‘T’s to prevent any future legal troubles with competitors.
What do you think about this filing? Is it a hint at something big or is Microsoft just playing it safe? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more Xbox gaming news.
