Overview
The Xbox is Microsoft’s first home video game console, introduced to consumers in November 2001. It marked Microsoft’s entry into the console market and combined game playback with multimedia features such as DVD support and hard-drive storage. The system helped popularize online console gaming through an integrated network focus and a dedicated online service launched after the console’s debut.
Design and main components
The original Xbox used an x86-compatible processor and a dedicated graphics chip, making its internal architecture more similar to a personal computer than many earlier consoles. Notable hardware features included:
- Built-in hard drive for saved games, downloadable content and faster loading;
- An optical drive capable of reading game discs and commercial DVDs;
- A broadband Ethernet port that enabled online play and networking;
- Wired controllers, initially large and later replaced by a smaller revised controller.
History and development
Microsoft developed the Xbox to compete with established console makers and to create a platform for both games and online services. The development emphasized PC-like components to simplify game development. After launch, Microsoft expanded the console’s capabilities with an online multiplayer service that allowed players to match up and download new content. Production shifted when Microsoft prepared and released the next-generation system Xbox 360.
Software, notable games and impact
The original Xbox was the platform for several influential and commercially important titles. A key launch title became a franchise-defining first-person shooter, helping to drive console sales and establish strong third-party and first-party support. Other notable franchises appeared on the system, spanning racing, role-playing and sports genres. The combination of exclusive games, hard-drive features and online play changed expectations for console capabilities.
Legacy and distinctions
The console’s internal hard drive and Ethernet connectivity set it apart from many contemporaries and influenced later console design. The first controller, often called the "Duke," was large and controversial; a smaller revision became the standard. Microsoft phased production as it transitioned to the next generation, and retail availability gradually diminished in different regions. For an official product overview see original Xbox information, corporate background at Microsoft, media capabilities such as DVD playback, and the successor platform at Xbox 360.