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
Xbox Paul Tassi of Forbes has acquired an official statement from an Xbox spokesperson to address rumors of Xbox Game Pass being restructured next year
Gaming Going over budget, not meeting deadlines, and fear of investment are major potential reasons why Sony has recently tried to cancel Hideo Kojima's new IP, 'Physint', according to an anonymous tip via Bloomberg
Xbox Microsoft has announced that it will be hosting a Tokyo Game Show 2026 Xbox broadcast to showcase several upcoming Xbox games, including Minecraft Dungeons 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
Xbox In a major coup, Xbox has confirmed that it will be publishing Hideo Kojima's long-awaited action-espionage title "PHYSINT."
XBOX In today's Insider update, Remote Play upgrades, cloud gaming improvements, and deeper personalization aren't headline features on their own, but together they reveal where Xbox is headed next.
Gaming Toys for Bob is showing off a brief new look at Spyro: A Realm Beyond's first level, while celebrating the Spyro franchise's 27th birthday with fans for Spyro Community Day.
Xbox The fan-made 360sona web app rebuilds the Xbox avatar creator and features over 20,000 authentic items in pixel-perfect detail.
Xbox Some outlets were highlighting Ubisoft's lack of involvement in Xbox's disc-to-digital program. Perhaps we should remind ourselves that it's still in Alpha testing.
