Decade in review: 12 stories that changed Microsoft, Windows and Xbox forever in the 2010s

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Microsoft saw many momentous developments during the past decade. These are the events, changes and announcements that were most impactful for the company, Windows, and Xbox in the 2010s.

July 2015: Microsoft launches Windows 10

Surface-Pro-3-windows-10

Source: Dan Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Dan Rubino / Windows Central)

Microsoft's Windows 8 was met by a tsunami of complaints from customers and the media. Microsoft chose to include a tablet-friendly interface and forced it on the desktop, which didn't go down too well. It was a shame since the underlying OS was pretty good. With the lackluster adoption rate for Windows 8 and complaints from the community, Microsoft had to knock it out of the park with Windows 10. And it did.

Windows 10 took the traditional (and familiar) desktop environment, turned it up to 11 and improved performance across the board. This version of Windows was a huge boon for Microsoft's OS against the competition, allowing both desktop and notebook PCs to boot in a matter of seconds consistently, handle even more demanding PC games without issue, and offer a vastly more efficient user experience as a whole.

Fast-forward to the latest rollout of updates for Windows 10, and you've got an incredibly stable platform for creators, gamers, general computing, and everyone in between.

WinC Staff
WinC Staff

Home to the most invested and passionate Microsoft fans, Windows Central is the next generation destination for news, reviews, advice and buying recommendations on the Windows, PC and Xbox ecosystems, following all products, apps, software, AI advancements, and accessories. We've been around for more than decade, and we take our jobs seriously. Windows Central writers and editors value accuracy and editorial independence in everything we do, never receiving compensation for coverage and never pulling punches.