Don't Worry, Josef Fares Also Doesn't Understand Xbox Series X|S Naming Conventions

Two months after the Xbox Series X and Series S launched, Microsoft's naming conventions for this console generation are still confusing for those outside the know or unfamiliar with the industry. But even prominent developers have a hard time wrapping their heads around Microsoft's new Xbox names, and Hazelight Studios founder Josef Fares is one of them.

In an interview with IGN discussing Fares' ambitions and Hazelight's games, Fares delivered some choice words about the Xbox Series X|S, calling the names a "total f**king mess."

"That's a f**king confusing name," Fares said. "What the f**k's going on with Microsoft? They're losing it, man. What the f**k is going on? Like Series S, X, Mex, Next. I mean, who knows this? Come on. Madness. Call it the Microsoft Box and that's it. I don't know. It's a total f**king mess. Trust me, even them, they're confused in their offices. What is this X, S... I don't know, what the f**k."

According to Fares, both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S arrived late in the production of Hazelight's upcoming co-op narrative adventure, It Takes Two. While he's glad the consoles are out in the wild because they are "more powerful," he ultimately doesn't agree with Microsoft's decision to scrap previous naming conventions to call this generation "Xbox."

Elsewhere in the interview, Fares talks about A Way Out and the industry's skepticism of such an aberrant experience. According to Fares, even publisher EA was wary that it wouldn't sell. Despite the reservation, though, A Way Out has sold an estimated 3.5 million units to date, a statistic Fares reiterated in his interview with GameSpot in December 2020 about It Takes Two. He attributes these sales to following his passion regardless of the obstacles in his path.

"Now it's proven but, for me, the important thing was to follow your passion and what you believe in," Fares told IGN. "I do believe that there might be someone in the industry who wanted to try this kind of game, but they didn't really dare to because they were afraid of what could happen. I just think that sometimes you need to f**k s**t up and really go with what you truly believe in. That's the only thing that matters, you know?"

Hazelight Studios' forthcoming title, It Takes Two, was officially unveiled during The Game Awards in December 2020. The adventure game follows a couple on the brink of divorce who must save their failing marriage--by working together after getting transformed into dolls of yarn. It Takes Two drops on March 26 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S for $40. With it being a co-op game, anyone who purchases It Takes Two on any platform can invite a friend for online cooperative play for free through the Friend's Pass.