To what extent do console characteristics like name and appearance matter

[Zkuq]

I would probably have got a PS5 sooner if it didn't have such a hideous controller. The console itself has some redeeming qualities to its appearance, but I don't think it really looks good in a regular living room, so its appearance was also a negative thing when I considered whether to buy it. But overall, the appearance and the name of a console matter little to me. Even in the PS5 case, I was hoping the slim version would improve the appearance or perhaps there could be a better-looking controller, but I always thought I'd get one eventually.

I don't think it's possible to have a console look too ugly to significantly impact sales. I mean, technically it's possible, but no serious company would give a green light to a design that bad. As for the name, I guess Wii U proved that name does matter, although it probably does so only rarely.

I'm also a bit unsure if Xbox has had some names that have detracted from sales. I feel like having an Xbox One followed by Xbox One S and Xbox One X followed by Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X is pretty confusing. "One" isn't necessarily a terrible name, but if it's followed by "Series" and letter that stay the same between generations, it's hard to remember what's what. It's a really generic word followed by some letters that also don't identify the generation, so there's no proper identity. I really have to give it a thought every time I want to remember what the latest Xbox is, and I don't really have to do that with other consoles - and I'm someone who's well familiar with gaming. Imagine someone that's not as familiar, and you might accidentally buy a previous-gen console instead. I reckon Xbox naming hasn't had a huge effect on sales, but I would also be really surprised if it didn't cause at least some confusion. Terrible names - they look and sound kind of cool, but they lack identity.