It's been days since PlayStation UK posted a tweet saying that the X button is actually pronounced 'cross', but the debate is still raging across the internet. Well, we say debate, but the reality is that most people never call the X button cross. Countless fans have responded to our site poll and social media posts on the matter, and the vast, vast majority say that they simply call it 'X'. You know, like normal people.
We've included the aforementioned poll below -- just check out the results if you don't believe us.
Meanwhile, the internet's been having a good laugh with the whole thing. We received some pretty funny takes on the topic:
So, the official name for the X button may well be 'cross', but hardly anyone wants to use it. Sony, you should have made it clear from the start if you didn't want to be in this mess. It's been almost 25 years since the original PlayStation launched -- it's way too late to rewire people's brains now.
Comments 30
The Internet forgot the crossbox 1 xD
Oh, not again! I don't think my brain can handle another 197-strong comment section this week!
We need to cross out this nonsense.
Wh... why is this still a thing?
It's Sony's platform. It's been like that since the beginning of PlayStation. They can name the button whatever they please, and they did just that. You know, intellectual property and all that.
There are much more serious things to get upset about, like the state of the economy, or if you'll have a job tomorrow.
Come on, internet. Do better.
I usually can't stand all that meme/gif trend culture but those 3 above are alright.
@Turismo4GT Sony can call it what they want but after years of voice acted lines saying X instead of Cross, and no visual written way of saying it....what do you want people to think? That they're wrong after 20 years when no one gave a hint otherwise?
It's really not a big deal. Call it whatever you want.
P.S. - It's the 'X' button !!
It's funny that this very site and @get2sammyb and no issues with it being called cross nearly 10 years ago
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2010/08/triangle_circle_cross_square_what_does_it_all_mean
@JoeBlogs Thank you for X-plaining your joke. I'm always cross with myself when I don't get people's comments.
@carlos82
And burn thread problem solved pushsquare is loving the clicks
It's a cross, the other face buttons are shapes. You don't call the circle button 'O' do you? huh? huh?
When used as it was originally intended in Japan (to signify cancel or no), it would be an Ex Mark or Cross Mark so both can be used, and are officially interchangeable.
Circle could also therefore be considered a Tick Mark, as the Japanese regularly use a circle in place of a tick as we do in the West.
X (ex) marks the spot
Noughts and Crosses (X)
The word used varies depending on the situation. The same applies to zero, nought, and O (oh).
If you wanted to be really obscure, you could call it a Saltire.
It's X, Sony has the right to remain wrong, it's OK I won't judge them
It's amazing what people can get cross about these days.
Someone's probably made that joke already but it's the best I've got.
Said it last week and will say again, its a Cross not an X because they are symbols.
Anyway, no where near as bad as Gif (with a G) actually supposed to be pronounced as Jif, that's proper madness.
@Knuckles-Fajita Fair enough point. However, I'm just stating the obvious, really: some people get 'triggered' way too easily nowadays and make controversy out of stuff that really isn't that important. Note the following virtual conversation:
Person 1: "Hey, did you know that Sony calls the 'X' button on PlayStation controllers the 'Cross' button?"
Person 2: "Really? Huh... did not know that. Cool."
Unfortunately, we seem to have devolved to this in some respects:
Person 1: "Hey, did you know that Sony calls the 'X' button on PlayStation controllers the 'Cross' button?"
Person 2: "They do?!! OMG, like this totally destroys the enjoyment I've received from gaming in the last 25 years!! I must immediately jump upon the internet and complain profusely! REVOLUCΔΊON!!!11!!"
Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but it's kinda ridiculous that people are getting their knickers in a twist over the name of a plastic button...
Because being upset/offended is more important than being logical nowadays... What a sad sad world.
Yay more articles about it.
My go: it says X on the controler.
Et voillla!
Yeah, but the internet is full of morons who get angry at trivial things, or when facts contradict their opinions.
I myself call it "ex" in conversation, purely because it's quicker to say.
But it IS actually called 'cross', because it is a symbol, not a letter. Just as the cross of Christianity is not a letter t.
As I commented on the other article...
It's always been 'cross' to me, because they're symbols. not letters. They have actual meaning in Japan.
Had this discussion somewhere a while ago, and found these links at the time...
https://www.technologizer.com/2010/08/26/why-playstation-controller-buttons-are-symbols-not-letters/
http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Playstation_symbols
Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but opinions don't change facts. And the fact is, it's 'cross'.
Also in Uncharted 4 Elena says press X to jump in the Crash segment sooo
Jezus what a meltdown about the name of a button... π
Surely it's the Roman numeral for 'ten', in contrast to the 'zero' button?
I will forever call it a X button
Are people actually upset about this? Almost always in Japanese, the X is pronounced Cross. Xenoblade X (Cross), Monster Hunter X (Cross) and Monster Hunter XX (Double Cross). Project X Zone (Project CROSS Zone), people should be used to this by now.
NO ONE CARES! Seriously π³
I mean... It's just PlayStation UK.
https://twitter.com/BoffKnight/status/1169966589942411265
Insomniac also didn't accept the "cross". The tutorial woman in ratched & clank says "X", not "cross".
@Lyonjak except that X is a symbol. So where does that get your argument? You're back to boxy shape one.
It's always been the X button to me and shall remain so until it stops working....at which point it shall be called an ex-button.
I'll say it again, the fact this shocked anybody is shocking. For gaming journalists and the media as well, if you didn't know it's been cross since the beginning, you're in the wrong business. Same goes for fans. How can you be a fan and not know the proper, correct terminology? Either way I suppose that can be excused, what can't be excused however is the ignorance like "I've always called it X so that's how it'll stay" or "no normal person called it cross". Wrong is wrong, and you're simply wrong. Get over it, the button is a cross, Sony has always called it that, and that's just the way it is. Nothing worse than a person who refuses to admit they're wrong and won't change to accept reality.
@Nintyfan How can I be a fan and not know the correct terminology? π Oh dear lord. That's like asking a guy if he's read the instruction manual. I'm just picturing you getting your first PlayStation and not allowing yourself to open it till you've got a full understanding of terminology and know Sony's history. π I get the feeling you don't have many friends.
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