History of Xbox in Timeline
Xbox is a video gaming brand by Microsoft Gaming, encompassing home video game consoles (four main lines), games, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services like Xbox network and Xbox Game Pass. It represents Microsoft's presence in the gaming industry, offering hardware, software, and online services.
1920: Monitor Resolutions Available
The Xbox supports various monitor resolutions including 1920x1080 available via VGA and HDMI/DVI.
1996: Atari Jaguar Discontinuation
In 1996, the Atari Jaguar stopped sales. The Xbox later became the first console offered by an American company after this event.
1999: PlayStation 2 Announcement
In 1999, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the PlayStation 2, positioning it as a centerpiece for home entertainment, capable of playing video games, audio CDs, and video DVDs.
2000: Windows 2000 Based Software
The original Xbox and the Xbox 360 system software are based on Windows 2000.
November 15, 2001: Xbox North America Release
On November 15, 2001, the original Xbox was released in North America, marking Microsoft's debut in the gaming console market.
November 2001: Launch of the original Xbox console
In November 2001, the Xbox brand was first introduced in the United States with the launch of the original Xbox console, marking Microsoft's entry into the console market.
2001: Original Xbox Controller Release
In 2001, the Xbox control pad, the first controller for the original Xbox, was released. It featured analog sticks, a pressure-sensitive D-pad, analog triggers, Back and Start buttons, accessory slots, and six analog action buttons. The initial controller, nicknamed the "Fatty" or "Duke," was bundled with Xbox systems, except in Japan, where the Controller S was included. The Controller S later became the standard controller in all territories.
February 22, 2002: Xbox Japan Release
On February 22, 2002, the original Xbox was released in Japan.
March 14, 2002: Xbox Australia and Europe Release
On March 14, 2002, the original Xbox was released in Australia and Europe.
November 15, 2002: Xbox Online Gaming Start
Online gaming on the Xbox first started on November 15, 2002, worldwide.
November 2002: Xbox Live Service Launch
In November 2002, the integrated Xbox Live service launched, allowing players to play games online with a broadband connection.
2002: Xbox Live Launch and Communicator Headset
In 2002, when the Xbox Live online service was launched, the Xbox Communicator headset was included with the Live Starter Kit. The Communicator, enabling in-game voice chat, featured a wired headset and interface module, compatible with cellular phone headsets.
2002: Xbox Network Integration
Since 2002, the Xbox Dashboard has been integrated with the Xbox network, providing online functionality and storefront options.
November 2004: Halo 2 Release
In November 2004, Halo 2 was released, becoming the best-selling Xbox video game and the most popular online game for the original Xbox system.
May 12, 2005: Xbox 360 Unveiling on MTV
On May 12, 2005, the Xbox 360 was officially unveiled on MTV, with detailed launch and game information divulged later that month at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).
November 2005: Xbox 360 Wireless Headset Release
In November 2005, Microsoft announced the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, a first-party single-ear headset accessory designed for and released with the Xbox 360 console.
November 2005: Xbox 360 Release
In November 2005, the Xbox 360 was released as the successor to the original Xbox, competing with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii.
2005: Xbox 360 Release
In 2005, Microsoft's second console, the Xbox 360, was released.
May 2006: Xbox original sales milestone
By May 2006, the original Xbox had reached over 24 million units sold.
September 2007: Halo 3 Themed Wireless Headset Release
In September 2007, a special edition of the Xbox 360 wireless headset was released with colors themed for Halo 3 (green/orange).
2009: Gamerscore Shutdown
In early 2009, Microsoft shut down Gamerscore. Xbox Wire was Microsoft's first Xbox-focused blog since this shutdown.
September 2010: Halo: Reach Themed Wireless Headset Release
In September 2010, a special edition of the wireless headset was released with colors themed for Halo: Reach (silver).
November 4, 2010: Kinect North America Launch
On November 4, 2010, Kinect was launched in North America. Purchase options included a bundle with the game Kinect Adventures and console bundles with either a 4 GB or 250 GB Xbox 360 console and Kinect Adventures.
November 10, 2010: Kinect Europe Launch
On November 10, 2010, Kinect was launched in Europe. Purchase options included a bundle with the game Kinect Adventures and console bundles with either a 4 GB or 250 GB Xbox 360 console and Kinect Adventures.
November 18, 2010: Kinect Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore Launch
On November 18, 2010, Kinect was launched in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Purchase options included a bundle with the game Kinect Adventures and console bundles with either a 4 GB or 250 GB Xbox 360 console and Kinect Adventures.
November 20, 2010: Kinect Japan Launch
On November 20, 2010, Kinect was launched in Japan. Purchase options included a bundle with the game Kinect Adventures and console bundles with either a 4 GB or 250 GB Xbox 360 console and Kinect Adventures.
2010: Updated Xbox 360 Headset Release
In 2010, an updated Xbox 360 Headset with black cosmetics was released, bundled with the Xbox 360 S. This revised wired headset featured mute/volume controls moved to an inline position along the cable.
2010: Launch of Xbox 360 S
In 2010, the Xbox 360 S (Slim) was launched. Also in 2010, a cheaper Xbox 360 S unit, removing the 250 GB drive while adding 4 GB of internal storage, was released.
June 16, 2011: Kinect SDK for Windows 7 Release
On June 16, 2011, Microsoft released the Kinect software development kit for Windows 7. The SDK was designed to enable developers to write Kinect apps in C++/CLI, C#, or Visual Basic .NET.
2011: Xbox 360 Wireless Headset with Bluetooth Release
In 2011, the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset with Bluetooth was released, replacing the previous model. It could be used with the console (using the Xbox wireless protocol) or a phone (using Bluetooth).
January 2012: Kinect Sales Milestone
In January 2012, it was reported that the Kinect claimed the Guinness World Record of being the "fastest selling consumer electronics device" after selling a total of 8 million units in its first 60 days. 24 million units of the Kinect sensor had been shipped as of January 2012.
February 1, 2012: Kinect for Windows Release
On February 1, 2012, the version of Kinect for Windows was released. Kinect is a motion sensing input device by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 video game console and Windows PCs.
October 26, 2012: Xbox App Release
On October 26, 2012, coinciding with the release of Windows 8, the Xbox app was released. It is a companion application available for Windows, iOS, and Android.
2012: Xbox replaces Zune as digital media entertainment brand
In 2012, the Xbox branding replaced Zune as Microsoft's digital media entertainment brand.
May 2013: Xbox Wire Launch
In May 2013, Microsoft launched Xbox Wire, Xbox's news blog, in preparation for the announcement of the Xbox One.
May 21, 2013: Xbox One Announcement
On May 21, 2013, the Xbox One was announced, with an emphasis on internet-based features.
June 6, 2013: Xbox One Kinect Information Release
On June 6, 2013, additional information about the Xbox One Kinect was released, including details on how to turn off the "always on" feature.
November 2013: Xbox One Release
In November 2013, the Xbox One was released.
November 22, 2013: Xbox One Release
On November 22, 2013, the Xbox One was released in North America as the successor to the Xbox 360.
2013: Release of Xbox 360 E
In 2013, the Xbox 360 E was released. It featured a case style similar to the upcoming Xbox One.
2013: Xbox One Chat Headset Bundled
Starting from launch in 2013, Microsoft bundled the Xbox One Chat Headset with each console. The headset was permanently wired to an interface module that plugged into the controller's expansion port and provided microphone mute and volume controls.
March 2014: Xbox One Stereo Headset Release
In early March 2014, Microsoft released the Xbox One Stereo Headset, bundled with a Stereo Headset Adapter. This allowed players to listen to in-game audio blended with chat simultaneously. The Adapter connected to the controller's expansion port and headset jack, and the Headset connected to the Adapter through a 3.5mm plug.
March 2014: Phil Spencer Succeeds Marc Whitten as Head of Xbox
In late March 2014, Phil Spencer succeeded Marc Whitten as the head of Xbox.
June 2014: Xbox 360 Sales Milestone
As of June 2014, 84 million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold worldwide.
November 2014: Microsoft Stops Releasing Xbox One Sales Numbers
Since November 2014, Microsoft has stated that it will not release sales numbers for the Xbox One line.
June 2015: Backward Compatibility Added to Xbox One
In June 2015, backward compatibility with Xbox 360 titles was added to Xbox One, a year-and-a-half after its launch. Specific titles requiring Kinect or USB peripherals were not supported.
October 2015: Xbox 360 Sales Milestone
As of October 2015, the Xbox 360 had sold 86 million units.
2015: End of Xbox as digital media entertainment brand
In 2015, Microsoft stopped using the Xbox branding as their digital media entertainment brand, ending its run that began in 2012.
September 2016: Xbox FanFest Sydney
In September 2016, Microsoft held an Xbox FanFest in Sydney.
2016: White Xbox One Stereo Headset Special Edition
In fall 2016, a white-colored special edition of the Xbox One Stereo Headset was released.
June 1, 2017: Xbox Game Pass Launch
On June 1, 2017, Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service from Microsoft for use with the Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows 10 and Windows 11, was launched.
2017: Xbox One X Unveiling
In 2017, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One X, a high-end model with improved hardware designed to facilitate the playing of games at 4K resolution.
June 2019: Xbox Game Studios Renaming and Strategy Shift
In June 2019, Microsoft renamed Microsoft Studios to Xbox Game Studios. Phil Spencer stated that the business is about how many players are playing the games that they buy.
July 2019: Xbox Network User Count
As of July 2019, Xbox network (formerly known as Xbox Live) has over 65 million users worldwide.
2019: Content Filtering Release
In 2019, Microsoft released a content filtering to stop toxicity in online gaming. The service enables players to report messages, Gamertags, photos, and any other toxic content on its platform.
May 2020: Xbox Parental Control App Preview
In May 2020, Xbox presented a preview version of an app that allows parents and guardians to set daily limits for their children's playing time, provides weekly activity reports, filters out age-restricted games, and places limits on online communication.
November 10, 2020: Xbox Series X and Series S Launch
On November 10, 2020, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S were launched, marking the fourth generation of Xbox models.
November 2020: Release of Xbox Series X and Series S
In November 2020, the fourth line of Xbox consoles, the Xbox Series X and Series S, were released.
February 2021: Xbox Wireless Headset Introduction
In February 2021, a new Xbox Wireless Headset was introduced, designed for use on the Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows computers. It features rotary controls on each earcup for volume and game/chat mix, and it's equipped with Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth radios.
August 2021: Xbox Stereo Headset Introduction
In August 2021, a corresponding Xbox Stereo Headset was introduced with a reduced price. It omits the wireless connections in favor of a standard 3.5mm plug and also omits the game/chat mix control dial.
November 15, 2021: Xbox 20th Anniversary Celebration
On November 15, 2021, Microsoft held a 20th anniversary celebration stream for the Xbox. During the stream, they announced "Power On: The Story of Xbox", a documentary behind the history of the Xbox.
December 13, 2021: Power On: The Story of Xbox Documentary Release
On December 13, 2021, the documentary "Power On: The Story of Xbox" was released in six parts. This documentary chronicles the history of the Xbox.
March 2022: Xbox Wire Japanese Version
In March 2022, a Japanese-language version of the Xbox Wire site was published as part of Microsoft's focus on the Japanese gaming market.
2022: Xbox Reorganization under Microsoft Gaming
In 2022, Microsoft expanded its gaming business and reorganized Xbox to become part of its newly formed Microsoft Gaming division.
July 2023: Xbox One Line Sales Revealed
In July 2023, Microsoft revealed that the Xbox One line has sold over 58 million units.
February 2024: Microsoft's Commitment to Xbox Console
In February 2024, Phil Spencer stated that Microsoft remains committed to the Xbox console, with its first party studios through Microsoft Gaming supporting day-one releases on the Xbox first and foremost.
Mentioned in this timeline
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