Xbox 720: Microsoft Trademarks “Marlow Briggs,” Most Likely for Next-Gen

Could one of Microsoft's new IPs for the Xbox 720 be "Marlow Briggs?" If a recent trademark filing by the publisher is any indication, then that could very well be the case.

On January 24, Microsoft filed a trademark application with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) for "Marlow Briggs;" which it has listed as "game software," but that's as warm as the trail gets. To date, Microsoft has not announced any game or future product with the name "Marlow Briggs" attached to it.

Here's the info from the actual filing:

Word Mark MARLOW BRIGGS

Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Game software

Standard Characters Claimed

Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK

Serial Number 85832005

Filing Date January 24, 2013

Current Basis 1B

Original Filing Basis 1B

Owner (APPLICANT) Microsoft Corporation CORPORATION WASHINGTON One Microsoft Way Redmond WASHINGTON 980526399

Attorney of Record Lisa M. Martens

Type of Mark TRADEMARK

Register PRINCIPAL

Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

In a statement to GameSpot, Microsoft issued the following response regarding the filing:

Microsoft often acquires various trademarks as part of its ongoing business strategy, but beyond that we have no comment.

This isn't the first filing by Microsoft this month. Just last week, the company also filed a similar gaming-related trademark application for "Gunpowder," which will be used for "entertainment services, namely, providing online video games."

While no details has been shared, I think it's safe to assume that any game just in the trademark application process this late in the Xbox 360's life cycle means it will most likely be a next-gen title. Could Marlow Briggs be the name of a new character for an RPG? Maybe a new protagonist for a new shooter? Your guess is as good as mine at this point. Regardless, though, don't expect a game announcement regarding it anytime soon, nor should you dismiss it completely either.

For more Xbox 720 reading, take a look at the next-gen console's purported tech specs, or rumors that it will have 50% less raw power than the PS4, and news that the company's Xbox 720 motion-control dev kits are already in circulation.