Before it was even released, the Xbox Series X was marketed as having a heavy emphasis on honoring Microsoft's past by making the console run thousands of titles from previous Xbox generations. The backward compatibility options on the system are unmatched by any home console and Microsoft seems to be really doubling down on the idea that their newest generation hardware is the definitive place to play the vast library of Xbox games. While the company has paid plenty of homage to the original Xbox, the 360 feels a little underrepresented on the Series X, but that could all change if Microsoft added the 360 Blades as a dynamic theme.
The official Xbox website is currently celebrating the brand's 20th anniversary by showcasing the Xbox 360 Blades design and fans have been calling for it to be made into a dynamic theme for the Series X. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem like it's going to be happening anytime soon as Xbox engineering lead Eden Marie shot down the idea on Twitter. That said, just because it isn't currently in the works, doesn't mean that the company should abandon it forever.
Celebrating Xbox's History
Microsoft is currently going all out for the celebration of Xbox's 20th anniversary, but it doesn't seem like the end of 2021 will mark the end of the company's celebration of its brand. As mentioned above, the Xbox Series X was essentially pitched to consumers as a next-gen console that also played all of their favorite older titles, so the celebration of Xbox and its history hasn't just been relegated to this year. While the original Xbox is getting its time in the spotlight, the 360 seems to be getting the short end of the stick in terms of recognition.
This is likely because it was the original Xbox that started it all but waiting to recognize the company's second console for a different anniversary feels like Microsoft is missing a big opportunity to be celebrating all of its history at once and capitalizing on the marketing buzz that's been created as a result. Although Microsoft doesn't seem like it's trying to purposefully exclude the 360 from its branding as the console has certainly been recognized, it hasn't been paid nearly as much attention to as the original Xbox, but all that could change if a 360-era Blades dynamic theme were to be added to the new console.
Remembering the Xbox 360's Blades
While the original Xbox put Microsoft on the map in terms of being a serious competitor for other console giants at the time like Nintendo and Sony, it was the Xbox 360 that proved that the company's success wasn't just a lucky break. Including a dynamic Xbox 360 Blades theme for the Series X would do a lot to help players celebrate one of the most iconic modern consoles of all time by allowing them to really soak in the aesthetic of the system.
It would be nice for the menus to work exactly as they did back in the day, by having the player navigate through them horizontally instead of vertically how they are now, but that wouldn't even be necessary as long as the theme included the proper sounds and general look. A good example of something Xbox could do can be seen in the video listed below: nothing too fancy, but still capturing the essence of the Blades enough to allow fans to reminisce and enjoy it on the Series X. It would be a similar theme to "The Original" dynamic theme that was made to celebrate the original Xbox just a few months prior.