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).
In 2013, Microsoft's push to turn Xbox into a digital-first entertainment center saw widespread pushback from the gaming community. Despite predicting trends that are now commonplace, the way Microsoft positioned Xbox back then has seen it struggle to regain the relevance it once enjoyed as a brand in a universe of increased competition from other platforms, in addition to always-on forms of entertainment and smartphone-delivered social media algorithms.
As Xbox enters its 25th year, Microsoft is once again reinventing what Xbox is with its new approach, doubling down on Windows' openness, and returning to the original vision of Windows gaming in the living room. It'll be fun to see how it pans out.
Essential Xbox reading
Latest about Xbox
Gaming Microsoft has revealed a Halloween-themed line-up of Xbox titles free to play this weekend for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, and these titles are WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, Dead by Daylight, Spirittea, Darkwood, and Everspace 2
Xbox Catch up on the Metro storyline before Metro: 2039 hits with the Metro Redux bundle, now with improved 4K graphics, a 120 FPS boost, and Xbox Play Anywhere support on Xbox Series X|S.
Deals Newegg has a special promo code offer for a $100 Xbox Gift Card, taking its price down to $90 to save on Xbox Game Pass plans, apps, movies, and expensive titles like Grand Theft Auto 6.
Xbox A year after the 2025 Tokyo Game Show trailer, the indie JRPG Threads of Time has uploaded a new trailer revealing a release date and a Nintendo Switch 2 port to the Xbox and PC versions.
Gaming Xbox player @redphx has uploaded images of a new system that will reveal your total playtime, achievements, and more accomplishments for Xbox's 25th anniversary,
GAMING Droid Deck now lets Android users play Xbox Game Pass PC games locally, without relying on Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Gaming It seems Microsoft is preparing to implement OG Xbox achievements soon, as some games have been getting them early (albeit incomplete) on Xbox players' profiles
XBOX US T-Mobile customers can now get Xbox Game Pass with their cellular plans
