Xbox One Designer Responds to Claims That Console Is Too Bulky

Carl Ledbetter, who led the team responsible for designing the Xbox One, has responded to claims that the console is too bulky. In a new interview, he said he understands the frustrations some might have about the Xbox One's size, but gave his reasons for why it had to have "some size" to it.

"Everybody gets frustrated, because what we want is for everything to be wafer thin, not get hot and just be a snap to put together," Ledbetter told MCV. "But the reality is that there are very real issues around cooling when you're pushing some number of watts in the processor, therefore the thing has to have some size to it. There's always an interesting dynamic between engineering and design, and constraints around performance."

Though the Xbox One is bigger and heavier than its predecessor, the Xbox 360, it is not some kind of hulking beast that will require you to buy a new media center. It is, however, also larger than the rival PlayStation 4 and the Wii U.

Also in the interview, Ledbetter reveals that the Xbox One's patchwork squares were purposefully designed to mirror the console's dashboard. The MCV interviewer never noticed this, and neither did I or anyone I've talked to about the Xbox One's design. So was it truly worth the extra effort, the site asked.

"It really does matter," Ledbetter replied. "For us, it is about creating a very consistent and seamless experience that is reliable, so that when you see it, it is already starting to communicate aspects of the brand, and when you go into the user experience, it fulfills your expectations."

The Xbox One just recently celebrated its first birthday. For more on how far the console has come in its first 12 months, check out GameSpot's Year One Review of the system.