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
Long‑requested feature arrives as Xbox App now supports adding non‑Xbox games
Xbox App A new update to the Xbox PC app introduces manual library additions, allowing users to launch apps and games directly from the interface without relying solely on supported storefronts.
Fans push back on Xbox’s development pitch, arguing the platform’s problems lie elsewhere
Xbox Xbox says it is removing friction for developers, but readers debate whether install base, Game Pass, and platform priorities still matter more than tooling.
This is the real story behind Xbox's "Project Moorcroft"
Xbox An interview with ID@Xbox global director Guy Richards sheds light on what really happened to Project Moorcroft and why demos remain part of Xbox’s strategy.
Xbox wants to improve store discovery, and we can thank ID@Xbox
Xbox Xbox says its ID@Xbox program generated hundreds of millions in sales on the Xbox Store. Despite that success, the company is introducing changes to improve how games are discovered.
Xenios Alpha launches, enabling Xbox 360 gaming on Apple devices
Xbox An experimental fork of the Xenia emulator has arrived on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, bringing early Xbox 360 emulation to Apple devices through the new XeniOS alpha.
A reported jailbreak for the original Xbox One appears online after more than 13 years
Xbox One After more than a decade of being considered unhackable, the original Xbox One has reportedly been jailbroken using a hardware glitch during the console’s boot process.
Fallout composer says Bethesda's Todd Howard is a "visionary," Starfield is misunderstood
Xbox Fallout and Starfield composer Inon Zur believes one day, we'll all think Xbox's Starfield is a "legendary" RPG, and that Todd Howard is a "visionary."
Microsoft's Xbox AI Gaming Copilot is coming to consoles soon, and not stopping there
Xbox Nearly a full year after its introduction, Microsoft has announced the Xbox AI Gaming Copilot is coming to consoles later in 2026.
