Xbox History Walk
The history of Xbox
Check out the vibrant history of Xbox from the first console to the Adaptive Controller at the Xbox Plaza.
XBOX
2001
The first console designed for a broadband world combined a powerful processor, hard drive, and built-in Ethernet port. Its introduction thrilled developers and gamers alike and would change the direction of the industry.
HALO: COMBAT EVOLVED
2001
Halo's combination of first-person mechanics, storytelling, and cutting-edge graphics revolutionized a new style of gameplay and became a cultural touchstone for console games to come.
XBOX LIVE
2002
Xbox Live was the first online console gaming service that combined matchmaking, voice, high-speed downloads, and friends lists across all games under the vision that “within five years every important game will be online.”
HALO 2
2004
Halo 2’s online matchmaking and Xbox Live integration made it the most popular online game on the original Xbox, setting the foundation for modern multiplayer gaming.
FORZA MOTORSPORT
2005
Forza invited everyone to push the world’s greatest cars to their limits. With Xbox One, it would become the best-selling racing franchise and a leader in automotive entertainment.
XBOX 360
2005
The Xbox 360 combined the connectivity of Live with the industry's first-ever HD graphics. The 360-theme abounded with circular design cues throughout the hardware and interface – an invitation to “Jump in.”
GEARS OF WAR
2006
Designed specifically for the Xbox 360, Gears of War ushered in the era of HD gaming and became the fastest-selling exclusive Xbox game ever.
MINECRAFT
2009
Thanks to its global community, Minecraft has become one of the most popular games in history. Every day, millions of players come together to create, explore, and survive.
KINECT
2010
For the first time, this hands-free gaming device allowed games to be played using only body movements, gestures and voice – with no controller required.
XBOX ONE
2013
Xbox Game Pass, console-to-PC streaming and back-compatibility were all introduced on Xbox One, allowing the choice to play the games you want, with the people you want, on the devices you want.
1M GAMERSCORE
2014
The first person in gaming history to reach this milestone goes to ‘Stallion83’. Xbox pioneered this achievement-based system in 2005. Since then the development of the Gamerscore system has created a new niche in the internet economy.
XBOX GAME PASS
2017
This service features unlimited access to over 100 titles to download and play. It now includes backward-compatible games and first-party titles arriving day-and-date with the retail release of the game.
XBOX ONE X
2017
Introduced as the world’s most powerful console, the Xbox One X takes full advantage of ultra-high definition TVs, featuring high dynamic range and true 4K visuals.
XBOX ADAPTIVE CONTROLLER
2018
The first-of-its-kind controller was created to accommodate gamers with limited mobility and was recognized as one of the year's “best inventions” by Time Magazine.