It is looking increasingly likely that the Xbox Series X will not be Microsoft's only next-generation game console.

Software developer @bllyhlbrt tweeted a photo of the code names "Edinburgh" and "Count" in Microsoft's latest game development kit code. The code also includes a reference to Xbox Lockhart, which is believed to be the codename for the upcoming Xbox Series S, a cheaper version of the Xbox Series X. Not quite; Twitter user Kirby0Louise is believed to be a developer working on the Void3D game engine for the Xbox Series X. Lockhart is the codename given to the development kit for the Xbox Series S, while Edinburgh is the codename for the expected retail version of the console.

Kirby0Louise said this is consistent with Xbox using the capital as the name of the S variant of the Xbox console, such as Xbox One S. On the other hand, "deadly animal" has been used as a codename for the Xbox's powerful X variants, for example, the Xbox One X's codename was Scorpio.

However, the codename Count has no game console associated with it. This is only speculation, but it may be a codename for a future slimmed-down Xbox Series X, as both Microsoft and Sony have previously released more compact versions of their consoles after the initial release of a major next-generation console.

Alternatively, it could be an all-digital version of the Xbox Series X, which, unlike the Xbox Series S, would offer the full power of the flagship console but may remove the disk drive. Again, it should be emphasized that this is simply following what Microsoft has done with previous Xbox consoles, and there is no evidence to support this.

If nothing else, these codenames add further fuel to the rumor that an Xbox Series S is in the works. Microsoft is planning an Xbox 20/20 event on July 23, and while that showcase is expected to include announcements about first-party games, the Xbox Series S is likely to be revealed in August.

We expect the all-digital Xbox Series S to be positioned as a potential competitor to the PS5 Digital Edition, which Sony will release at the same time as the PS5 with a disc drive.

As the holiday 2020 release of the Xbox Series X and PS5 approaches, it is not surprising that leaked information and small stories about both models continue to emerge. And these pieces of information paint an interesting picture of the next generation of consoles and what they mean for the future of gaming.