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
Fallout creator Tim Cain plans to make one last game after joining Xbox's Obsidian last year
Xbox Tim Cain, co-creator of the Fallout series, believes he'll make one final game before retirement — and said this after returning to Xbox's Obsidian.
Ex-The Elder Scrolls Online lead reflects on Xbox canceling his new MMO amid layoffs
Xbox The director of the canceled Xbox MMO Project Blackbird has reflected on the project and its unfortunate death in a new interview. Here's what he said.
Xbox is "actively investigating" a rampant issue for backwards compatible Xbox 360 games
Xbox Many Xbox Series X owners are unable to play backwards compatible Xbox 360 games right now due to a major issue Microsoft is "actively investigating."
Did PlayStation just adopt the hated Xbox DRM policy from 2013?
Xbox When set as your home Xbox console, digital Xbox games can be played indefinitely. On PlayStation though, it seems there's now a 30-day mandatory online check in.
Xbox players are putting more hours into this Sony game than PS5 owners
XBOX Circana data reveals Xbox players are spending more time in a first party PlayStation title than PlayStation or Steam users, highlighting a clear gap between reach and engagement.
Former colleague of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says her non-gaming background doesn't matter, here's why
Xbox As Xbox's CEO Asha Sharma wins faith from fans with beneficial changes, her former Meta colleague says her drive is "exactly what Xbox needs."
Xbox CEO says "memory costs will impact pricing" of the next-gen console
Xbox Xbox CEO Asha Sharma highlights how rising memory costs could impact pricing and availability for the next-generation Xbox, Project Helix, while confirming development kits are planned for next year.
Inside Xbox's "exclusive" conundrum: Will Microsoft pull games like Halo from PlayStation?
Xbox The big conversation right now revolves around whether or not Xbox will return to "exclusive" games. It's a big decision, much bigger than perhaps most people realize.
