2014 has barely begun but already the Xbox One has been given a “Product of the Year” award by…Parade magazine.

Founded in 1941, Parade has a readership of over 60 million people and is the “most widely read magazine in America.” For Parade, those are impressive numbers, for Microsoft, this award might not mean much. The magazine isn’t what one conjures up when video games are being discussed.

Parade gave “Product of the Year” awards to 23 different products in varying categories; Microsoft is sharing high honors with the likes of The Vintage Soap Factory glass cleaner, Woolite carpet cleaner, Starburst fruit-flavored candy, Dial body and hair wash, and Huggies baby wipes.

But, Parade’s “Product of the Year” award is consumer voted, and while the rules for being nominated and voted on aren’t given, to be included amongst the top-23 products by such a large audience is impressive, even if that audience reads Parade.

My Opinion

My biggest issue isn’t that this is by Parade Magazine (that’s my second biggest issue), but that the award is for a 2014 product. It’s late February and 2014 has a long ways to go before everything is said and done. Companies are constantly innovating and putting out new products, and I have the feeling that 2014’s version of the iPhone will be a more sought-after item than the Xbox One.

Plus, the Xbox One came out in late 2013, so to put it on a 2014 list seems wrong.

The whole thing feels like it should be meaningless, but an award is an award and Microsoft found this compelling enough to post on their Xbox website. And because an award is an award, I suppose a congratulation is in order.

Congrats, Microsoft.

Sources:

Parade
Xbox.com