There were many Game Awards 2019 rumors leading into the show, but none of them claimed that Microsoft would be revealing its next-generation Xbox at the event. However, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer was on hand to officially reveal the next-gen Xbox design and name.
Project Scarlett is now known as Xbox Series X. The next-generation Xbox will be available in the holiday 2020 season, and it has a design that is quite the departure from what fans expect from a home video game console. As it turns out, Xbox Series X actually looks like a computer tower. However, it seems as though Xbox Series X players will have the option of turning the tower on its side, which should make it possible for people to still keep it on their living room entertainment centers.
Aesthetically, the Xbox Series X appears to look very similar to the Xbox One X. The new Xbox Series X wireless controller seen in the Game Awards 2019 announcement video also looks almost identical to the Xbox One controller. Perhaps Microsoft is taking the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" approach when it comes to its next-generation gaming hardware.
So far, reactions to the Xbox Series X has been mixed. Many have already started making fun of its physical appearance, reminiscent of the old "Xbox One VCR" memes from back when that console was first revealed to the world. Online comments have called the Xbox Series X everything from a refrigerator to a trash can, but ultimately its appearance is secondary to the quality of its software library.
As far as Xbox Series X games go, we know that Halo: Infinite will be a launch title, and we also learned of one other game that will be coming to the next-gen console. Ninja Theory announced Hellblade 2 at The Game Awards 2019, which will be an Xbox Series X console exclusive game.
There's still a lot left for Xbox gamers to learn when it comes to the Xbox Series X. We still don't know its price or an exact release date, and it's unlikely that those details will be coming any time soon. Fans will likely have to wait for E3 2020 to learn more concrete information about Microsoft's next-generation Xbox.