Windows Central Insider
Xbox is Microsoft's gaming division. Launched in 2001 with the original Xbox console (presented by Bill Gates and The Rock, no less), the division has gone through multiple permutations on its journey to its current form. Originally envisioned as a device that could bring Windows to the living room, Xbox eventually competed more directly with PlayStation targeting core gamers.
Xbox had solid success in the United States and other English-speaking markets, buoyed by heavy hitters like Halo and Forza, alongside various heavy hitting third-party exclusive titles. Microsoft's Xbox is responsible for various gaming innovations that are now commonplace. Online live infrastructure, "games as a service" titles, subscription services, and cloud-first business models owe at least something to initiatives spearheaded by Microsoft (for better or worse).
Essential Xbox reading
Latest about Xbox
PS5 owners can now play Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in a way Xbox players cannot
Gaming Microsoft Flight Simulator adds PlayStation VR2 support on PS5 and PS5 Pro, highlighting Xbox’s continued absence from virtual reality and raising questions about missed opportunities.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Rain dev addresses a lack of Japanese Xbox presence
Xbox A Japanese developer behind Sakuna: Of Rice and Rain explains why the game is not on Xbox, citing limited manpower and the platform’s lack of retail presence in Japan.
Xbox CEO addresses growth concerns candidly, fans respond
XBOX Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has acknowledged that player and revenue growth are falling short of expectations following Microsoft’s latest earnings report, offering a candid response as fans react.
Analysts react to Xbox's Game Pass price drop, believe it "should help subscriber numbers grow"
Xbox Following Microsoft's huge Xbox Game Pass price drop last week, industry analysts have reacted to the cut and say they believe it will lead to growth.
OG Xbox dashboard rebuilt using retail code for PC
XBOX The original Xbox dashboard has been reverse engineered and rebuilt using retail code, now running on PC as a launcher with early access limitations and manual setup required.
Microsoft Gaming is out, and Xbox is back: Employees are getting a new identity
XBOX Microsoft is continuing its Xbox rebrand by introducing @xbox.com email addresses for employees, signaling a wider effort to strengthen identity and unify branding across the company.
Xbox glitch "steals" free Wasteland copies—but gives you a permanent one instead
XBOX Wasteland Remastered briefly appeared free on Xbox due to a store error. Players who claimed it will receive a full working copy as compensation.
How new automated verification helps Xbox game devs fix bugs before they go live
XBOX Xbox is rolling out Game Package Manager, a new developer tool designed to simplify game publishing, improve version management, and streamline updates across the platform.
