Microsoft's latest video games console, the Xbox One X, is arriving in the hands of the public, with the promise of delivering high fidelity 4K gaming in the living room. Though supplies are limited at launch, those who preordered their consoles are receiving their reservations across the globe – most notably in the form of a special "Project Scorpio Edition," which saw limited availability for early adopters.
The main draw of the Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition is its exclusive design, which pays homage to the console's original codename first unveiled back at E3 2016. Both the console and packaging sport unique designs made to appeal to long-time fans, with throwbacks to the brand's history throughout the years. The most obvious of these is the outer box design, which draws heavy influence from the original Xbox console of nearly two decades ago.
Upon taking a closer look at both the console and packaging, the Xbox One X Project Scorpio edition also showcases a mysterious string of numbers, "0105101317." Although discreet, this small aspect builds on the idea of being an edition for loyal fans, referencing launches of previous products throughout the Xbox brand's lifetime.
Breaking this number down into two-digit segments, each of these refers to the years of key Xbox product launches. Starting with the original Xbox launch back in 2001, this was followed by 2005's debut of the Xbox 360. Microsoft's ambitious yet ill-fated Kinect sensor followed in 2010, with the Xbox One release following in 2013. Although not a new console generation, the Xbox One X marks a major step for the Xbox brand, which rounds off the number with 17. Putting the last two digits of these years together you'll end up with "0105101317" – a number that subtly encases the brand's history.
Although hard to identify at first glance, this is one of the several nods to Xbox history across the Xbox One X. As uncovered ahead of launch, Xbox One X circuit boards also feature Master Chief riding a scorpion – a pointer to the console's codename and its most prolific video game franchise.
Despite its somewhat clean exterior, subtle secrets behind the Xbox One X hardware continue to emerge. Make sure to leave your thoughts on the Project Scorpio console so far in the comments section.
Matt Brown is Windows Central's Senior Games Editor, Xbox & PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Microsoft's gaming efforts. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.
