The Xbox 360 is a home video game console created by Microsoft. It is the next version of the original Xbox and the second console in the Xbox series. It was officially introduced in a program called Xbox: The Next Generation Revealed on May 12, 2005. More details about its launch and games were shared later that month at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). As a seventh-generation console, it mainly competed with Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii.

The Xbox 360’s online service, Xbox Live, was improved from the original Xbox version. It received regular updates throughout the console’s lifespan. Xbox Live offers free and paid options for users to play games online, download games (through Xbox Live Arcade), and try game demos. It also lets users buy and stream music, TV shows, and movies through Xbox Music and Xbox Video. Additionally, it allows users to stream media from computers connected to the same network. Accessories such as wireless controllers, extra hard drive storage, and the Kinect motion-sensing camera were released for the console. These features helped the Xbox brand expand from just gaming to include multimedia, making it a central device for entertainment in living rooms.

The Xbox 360 was launched globally mostly between November 2005 and December 2006. It was in short supply in many areas, including North America and Europe. Early versions of the console had a high failure rate, shown by the "Red Ring of Death," which led Microsoft to extend the warranty period. Microsoft later released two redesigned models: the Xbox 360 S in 2010 and the Xbox 360 E in 2013.

The Xbox 360 is the ninth best-selling home video game console in history. It is also the best-selling console made by an American company and by Microsoft. Although it was not the top-selling console of its generation, TechRadar called it the most influential due to its focus on digital media distribution and multiplayer gaming on Xbox Live. The Xbox 360’s successor, the Xbox One, was released on November 22, 2013. On April 20, 2016, Microsoft announced it would stop making new Xbox 360 hardware, but the company would continue to support the platform. On August 17, 2023, Microsoft announced that on July 29, 2024, the Xbox 360 game marketplace would stop selling new purchases, and the Microsoft Movies & TV app would no longer work. However, users would still be able to download previously purchased content and join multiplayer sessions.

History

The Xbox 360 was first planned in early 2003. It was known by other names during its development, such as Xbox Next, Xenon, Xbox 2, Xbox FS, and NextBox. In February 2003, Microsoft began planning the Xenon software platform, led by J Allard, the company’s Vice President. That same month, Microsoft invited 400 developers to an event in Bellevue, Washington, to get support for the system. Also in February 2003, Peter Moore, who used to lead Sega of America, joined Microsoft. On August 12, 2003, ATI agreed to make the graphics processing unit for the new console. This deal was announced publicly two days later. Before the Xbox 360 launched, some early development kits used Apple’s Power Mac G5 hardware. This happened because the system’s PowerPC 970 processor used the same PowerPC design as the Xbox 360’s Xenon processor, which was made by IBM. The Xenon processor’s cores were based on a slightly changed version of the PlayStation 3’s Cell Processor PPE design. IBM employees, including David Shippy and Mickie Phipps, worked on the Xenon processor without telling Sony and Toshiba, their partners in developing the Cell Processor. Jeff Minter made the music visualization program Neon, which came with the Xbox 360.

The Xbox 360 was released on November 22, 2005, in the United States and Canada. It launched in Europe on December 2, 2005, and in Japan on December 10, 2005. Later, it was sold in countries like Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Russia. In its first year, the Xbox 360 was launched in 36 countries, more than any other console in a single year.

In 2009, IGN ranked the Xbox 360 as the sixth-best video game console of all time, out of 25. Even though it was not the best-selling console of the seventh generation, TechRadar said it was the most influential. This was because it focused on sharing digital media and online gaming through Xbox Live and helped popularize game achievement awards. PC Magazine called the Xbox 360 a model for online gaming, as it showed that online communities could work well on consoles. Five years after its release, the Kinect motion capture camera came out. It was the fastest-selling consumer electronic device ever and helped keep the Xbox 360 popular longer. Edge magazine ranked the Xbox 360 as the second-best console from 1993 to 2013. It had its own social network, cross-game chat, new indie games every week, and the best versions of many games. Edge said Microsoft’s choices, like using a PC-like design, helped the Xbox 360 succeed.

The Xbox 360 started being made only 69 days before its launch, on September 14, 2005. Microsoft could not supply enough systems to meet demand in Europe and North America. It sold out completely in all regions except Japan. During the first week of release, 40,000 units were sold on eBay, which was 10% of the total supply. By the end of the year, Microsoft had shipped 1.5 million units, including 900,000 in North America, 500,000 in Europe, and 100,000 in Japan.

In May 2008, Microsoft said 10 million Xbox 360s had been sold. It was the first current-generation console to sell 10 million units in the United States. The Xbox 360 led in current-generation home console sales in the U.S. until June 2008, when it was overtaken by the Wii. By March 2011, Xbox 360 sales in the U.S. reached 25.4 million units. Between January 2011 and October 2013, the Xbox 360 was the best-selling console in the U.S. for 32 months in a row. By the end of 2014, Xbox 360 sales had surpassed the Wii, making it the best-selling 7th-generation console in the U.S. again. In Canada, the Xbox 360 sold 870,000 units by August 1, 2008. According to Circana, total Xbox 360 sales in the U.S. reached 42.7 million units.

In Europe, the Xbox 360 sold 7 million units by November 20, 2008. It took 110 weeks for the Xbox 360 to sell 2 million units in the UK, earning £507 million in revenue. By January 2009, sales in the UK reached 3.2 million units. The Xbox 360 sold 8 million units in the UK by February 2013. Sales surpassed the Wii later that year, making the Xbox 360 the best-selling 7th-generation console in the UK and the third best-selling console of all time in the region, after the PS2 and Nintendo DS. Over 1 million units were sold in Spain.

In Japan, the Xbox 360 sold 1 million units by March 2009 and 1.5 million units by June 2011. Total sales in Japan reached 1,616,218 units. While sales in Japan were lower than expected, they were better than the original Xbox, which sold 474,992 units. The Xbox 360 sold more units than the PlayStation 3 and Wii in Japan during weeks when exclusive games like Infinite Undiscovery and Star Ocean: The Last Hope were released. However, Edge magazine said Microsoft struggled to compete with Sony and Nintendo in Japan, and some retailers stopped selling the Xbox 360 completely. Sales in Japan may not be as important as overall international sales.

The Xbox 360 sold much better than its predecessor. Even though it was not the best-selling console of the seventh generation, it helped Microsoft become a major force in the console market. The inexpensive Wii sold the most units but later had weak support from third-party developers, and some called it a fad because the Wii U had a poor start in 2012. The PlayStation 3 struggled at first because it was too expensive and had few good games, making it less popular than the PlayStation 2. It took time for the PlayStation 3’s sales and games to match the Xbox 360. TechRadar said the Xbox 360 became the top console, putting pressure on its successor, the Xbox One.

The Xbox 360’s success came from high-profile games made by both Microsoft and other companies. At the 2007 Game Critics Awards, the platform had 38 nominations and 12 wins, more than any other platform. By March 2008, the Xbox 360 had 7.5 games per console in the U.S., 7.0 in Europe, while competitors had 3.8 (PS3) and 3.5 (Wii). Microsoft said it expected over 1,000 games for the Xbox 360

Hardware

The main part of the Xbox 360 has a slightly curved shape and is available in matte white or black. The white version is officially called Arctic Chill. It has a port on the top when held vertically (on the left side when held horizontally) where a special hard disk drive can be connected.

On the Slim and E models, the hard drive slot is located on the bottom when held vertically (on the right side when held horizontally). A hidden door must be opened to access it. This does not affect the warranty. The hard drives used in these models are standard 2.5" SATA laptop drives, but they have a special case and software to work with the Xbox 360.

The Xbox 360 uses a CPU called Xenon, designed by IBM. This CPU has three cores, and each core can handle two tasks at the same time. This allows the console to manage up to six tasks simultaneously. The graphics are handled by a chip called Xenos, made by ATI. This chip has 10 MB of eDRAM. The console has 512 MB of main memory.

At first, the Xbox 360 had only 256 MB of RAM. However, Epic Games, the company that made Gears of War, showed Microsoft that 512 MB of RAM would improve performance. In 2006, Mark Rein, an executive at Epic Games, said that Epic was the first developer contacted about this change.

Hard disk drives for the Xbox 360 have been made in several sizes: 20, 60, 120, 250, 320, or 500 GB.

Many accessories are available for the Xbox 360, including wired and wireless controllers, faceplates for personalization, headsets for chatting, webcams for video calls, dance mats and Gamercize for exercise, memory units in three sizes, and hard drives in six sizes (20, 60, 120, 250, 320, and 500 GB). All accessories are designed to match the console’s style.

In 2006, Microsoft released an HD DVD Player for the Xbox 360. This accessory was stopped in 2008 after Blu-ray became the preferred format.

Kinect is an accessory that allows users to play games and use the Xbox 360 without a controller. It was first announced in 2009 as Project Natal. Kinect uses body movements, voice commands, and visual recognition to control the console. It works with all Xbox 360 models, connecting to newer models with a special port and to older models with a USB and power adapter. Microsoft announced in 2010 that Kinect would be released during the holiday season and work with all Xbox 360 consoles. It was released on November 4, 2010.

The Xbox 360 has different types of ports depending on the model:
– HDMI (available only after 2007)
– S/PDIF (only on the Slim model)
– Stereo audio and composite video (3.5 mm jack, only on the Slim E model)

Other ports include:
– Composite video
– S-Video
– SCART RGB
– VGA
– YP B P R
– D-Terminal
– S/PDIF
– RCA stereo audio

At launch, the Xbox 360 was sold in two versions: the "Xbox 360" package (also called the 20 GB Pro or Premium), priced at $399 or £279.99, and the "Xbox 360 Core," priced at $299 or £209.99. The original version included a simplified Media Remote as a promotion. The Elite version was released later at $479. The "Xbox 360 Core" was replaced by the "Xbox 360 Arcade" in 2007, and a 60 GB version of the Pro was released in 2008. The Pro version was later sold for $249, and the Elite was sold for $299.

Two major updates to the Xbox 360 followed the original models: the Xbox 360 S (called the "Slim") replaced the original Elite and Arcade models in 2010. The S model has a smaller, more modern design with a redesigned motherboard to fix overheating issues. It also has a special port for the Kinect sensor. The Xbox 360 E, a newer version of the S model with a two-tone rectangular case, was released in 2013. It has one fewer USB port and no longer supports S/PDIF.

The original Xbox 360 model had many technical problems. Since its release in 2005, users reported issues with reliability and frequent failures.

To help customers with faulty consoles, Microsoft extended the warranty to three years for hardware failures that caused a "General Hardware Failure" error. This error is shown by three flashing red lights around the power button on older models. This error is often called the "Red Ring of Death." In 2009, the warranty was also extended to cover failures related to the E74 error code. This extension does not apply to other types of failures.

To improve reliability, Microsoft redesigned the console. Changes included reducing the number and size of components, adding glue to secure the CPU and GPU, and adding a second GPU heatsink to reduce heat. The newer Xbox 360 S and E models do not have the three-year warranty for "General Hardware Failures." These models show overheating by flashing the power button red. If the system overheats, it warns the user before shutting down. A flashing power button that alternates between green and red indicates a "General Hardware Failure."

Software

The Xbox 360 launched with 14 games in North America and 13 in Europe. The most popular game in 2005, Call of Duty 2, sold more than 1 million copies. Five other games also sold over 1 million copies in the console's first year: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Dead or Alive 4, Saints Row, and Gears of War. Gears of War became the best-selling game on the console in 2006, with 3 million copies sold. In 2007, Halo 3 sold over 8 million copies and became the top-selling game on the console.

Six games were available in Japan when the Xbox 360 launched. Games like Dead or Alive 4 and Enchanted Arms were released shortly after the console's launch. Other games made for Japan, such as Chromehounds, Ninety-Nine Nights, and Phantasy Star Universe, were also released in the first year. Microsoft worked with a Japanese game company called Mistwalker, which was founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy. Mistwalker's first game, Blue Dragon, was released in 2006. A special version of the game sold out quickly, with over 10,000 pre-orders. Blue Dragon was one of three Xbox 360 games to sell more than 200,000 copies in Japan, along with Tales of Vesperia and Star Ocean: The Last Hope. Mistwalker's second game, Lost Odyssey, sold over 100,000 copies.

In 2007, the Xbox 360 platform received 38 nominations and won 11 awards at the Game Critics Awards.

By 2015, game developers focused more on the Xbox One, and fewer new games were made for the Xbox 360. The last official game released for the system was Just Dance 2019, which came out in October 2018 in North America, and October 2019 in Europe and Australia.

In 2020, Microsoft added a new feature for Xbox 360 users. Even without an Xbox Live Gold membership, users could now save game progress in the cloud. This update was released after the Xbox Series X and Series S launched. The new consoles can play all Xbox 360 games that are already compatible with the Xbox One and can use cloud saves from those games, making it easier to switch to the new consoles.

The original screen layout for the Xbox 360 was called the Xbox 360 Dashboard. It had five sections, called "Blades," and was designed by AKQA and Audiobrain. The Dashboard could appear automatically when the console started without a game disc or when the disc tray was opened. Users could also choose what the console did when a game disc was inserted. A simpler version of the Dashboard was always accessible through the Xbox Guide button on the controller. This version showed a user's profile, messages from friends, and options for settings, music, or voice and video chats.

On November 19, 2008, the Xbox 360 Dashboard changed from the "Blade" interface to a new design similar to the Zune and Windows Media Center. This new version was called the "New Xbox Experience" or NXE.

Since the Xbox 360 launched, Microsoft released several updates to the Dashboard software. These updates added new features, improved Xbox Live, and fixed software problems. Updates were required for users to access Xbox Live, as the service was not available until the update was completed.

At E3 2008, Microsoft announced the NXE update. The update made it easier to navigate the console's menus. It used a design similar to the Zune and Windows Media Center. The new Xbox Guide kept all Dashboard functions, such as the Marketplace and disc tray controls, and included the original "Blade" interface with updated colors.

The NXE update added several new features. Users could install games from a disc onto the console's hard drive, which reduced load times and noise from the disc drive. However, the game disc had to stay in the console to play the game. A new feature called the Community system allowed users to create digital avatars for activities like sharing photos or playing games. The update was released on November 19, 2008.

Unlike earlier updates, the NXE update required a storage device, such as a 128 MB memory card or hard drive.

On December 6, 2011, Microsoft released another Dashboard update. It used Microsoft's Metro design and added features like cloud storage for game saves and profiles, live television, Bing voice search, YouTube access, and better support for Kinect voice commands.

The Xbox 360 can play videos in Windows Media Video (WMV) format, including high-definition and PlaysForSure videos, as well as H.264 and MPEG-4 formats. In December 2007, the console added support for MPEG-4 ASP videos. The Xbox 360 can also display photos, create slideshows, and play music. Music controls are accessible through the Xbox Guide button. Users can play their own music while using the console or playing games, and they can use an interactive visual synthesizer to create music.

Music, photos, and videos can be played from USB storage devices, Xbox 360 memory cards, or hard drives. They can also be streamed from computers or servers running Windows Media Center or Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher. The Xbox 360 uses a version of the UPnP AV protocol, so some non-Windows servers, like uShare or MythTV, can also stream media to the console. This works with high-definition videos and several video formats, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and WMV.

As of October 27, 2009, users in the UK and Ireland could watch live and on-demand Sky TV programming on the Xbox 360.

At the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Consumer Electronics Shows, Microsoft announced plans to add Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services to the Xbox 360. In 2007, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said IPTV would be available by the holiday season using the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition platform. In 2008, Gates and Robbie Bach, president of Entertainment & Devices, announced a partnership with BT in the UK. The BT Vision service would be accessible through the Xbox 360 using the newer Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV platform. However, BT Vision's DVR features were not available on the Xbox 360 due to limited storage. In 2010, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer mentioned that AT&T's U-verse IPTV service would allow the Xbox 360 to act as

Services

When the Xbox 360 was released, Microsoft temporarily shut down its online gaming service, Xbox Live, for 24 hours to upgrade it. During this update, Microsoft added a new free service called Xbox Live Silver (later renamed Xbox Live Free) to its existing paid service, which was renamed Xbox Live Gold. Xbox Live Free is included with every version of the console. It allows users to create a profile, join message boards, access Xbox Live Arcade and Marketplace, and chat with other members. However, a Live Free account usually does not support multiplayer games. Some games with limited online features, like Viva Piñata, and games with their own subscription systems, such as EA Sports titles, can be played with a Free account. Xbox Live also supports voice chat, a feature available through the Xbox Live Vision.

Xbox Live Gold includes all the features of Free and adds the ability to play online games with others, even if they are not using third-party subscriptions. Microsoft allows previous Xbox Live users to keep their profile details, friend lists, and game history when switching to Xbox Live Gold. To transfer an account, users must link a Windows Live ID to their gamertag on Xbox.com. When setting up an Xbox Live profile on a console, users must provide their passport account information and the last four digits of their credit card number for verification and billing. An Xbox Live Gold account costs $59.99 per year in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. On January 5, 2011, Xbox Live had over 30 million subscribers.

The Xbox Live Marketplace was a virtual store for the Xbox 360 that let users download purchased or promotional content. It offered movie and game trailers, game demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, dashboard themes, and add-on game content (such as items, costumes, and levels). These features are available to both Free and Gold members. A hard drive or memory card is needed to save items purchased from the Marketplace. To download paid content, users must buy Microsoft Points, a special currency used to reduce credit card fees. Some items, like trailers and demos, are free. Microsoft Points can be bought with prepaid cards or through Xbox Live using a credit card. Users can view available items on the Xbox Live Marketplace website through a computer. About 70% of Xbox Live users have downloaded items from the Marketplace. The Xbox 360 Marketplace was discontinued on July 29, 2024.

Xbox Live Arcade is a service that lets Xbox and Xbox 360 users download video games. It includes classic arcade games like Ms. Pac-Man and newer games such as Assault Heroes. It also offers games from other consoles, like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Zuma. The service was launched on November 3, 2004, using a DVD, and games cost about $5 to $15. Items are bought with Microsoft Points. In 2005, the service was integrated into the Xbox 360 dashboard. Games are aimed at casual players, with popular titles like Geometry Wars, Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting, and Uno. On March 24, 2010, Microsoft added the Game Room to Xbox Live. Game Room is a service for Xbox 360 and Windows that lets players compete in classic arcade and console games in a virtual arcade.

On November 6, 2006, Microsoft introduced the Xbox Video Marketplace, a video store available on the Xbox 360. It launched in the United States on November 22, 2006, the first anniversary of the Xbox 360's release. The service lets users download high-definition and standard-definition TV shows and movies for viewing. Content is not streamed and must be downloaded. Movies can be rented and expire after 14 days or 24 hours of playback, whichever comes first. TV episodes can be purchased and transferred to any number of consoles. Downloaded files use 5.1 surround audio and are encoded with VC-1 video at 720p resolution. TV content comes from MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Turner Broadcasting, and CBS. Movie content is available from Warner Bros., Paramount, Disney, and other publishers.

After the Spring 2007 update, the following video formats are supported:

• H.264 video: Up to 15 Mbit/s, with Baseline, Main, and High profiles (up to level 4.1) and 2-channel AAC LC and Main profiles.
• MPEG-4 Part 2 video: Up to 8 Mbit/s, with Simple Profile and 2-channel AAC LC and Main profiles.

On December 11

Game development

PartnerNet is a network used only by developers to test games for Xbox Live Arcade. It operates on Xbox 360 debug kits, which are used by both developers and video game journalists. In a podcast released on February 12, 2007, a developer violated the PartnerNet non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by stating that he had found a playable version of Alien Hominid and an unplayable version of Ikaruga on PartnerNet. Some journalists misunderstood this violation as proof that the NDA was not valid and began reporting about other games being tested on PartnerNet, including a remake of Jetpac. Alien Hominid for the Xbox 360 was released on February 28, 2007, and Ikaruga was released on April 9, 2008. Jetpac was released as Jetpac Refuelled on March 28, 2007. There have been many video and screenshot leaks of game footage on PartnerNet, including a complete version of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I. These leaks caused the PartnerNet service to shut down on April 3, 2010. After the shutdown, Microsoft reminded developers and journalists that they had broken the NDA by sharing information about PartnerNet content and asked websites to remove lists of games in development found on the service. Sega used fan feedback about the leaked version of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I to improve the game before its official release. Additionally, two hackers played modified versions of Halo 3 on PartnerNet and used the network to find unreleased and untested software. They shared this information with friends before being caught by Bungie. Bungie left a message on PartnerNet for the hackers that read, "Winners Don't Break Into PartnerNet." Other games leaked during the PartnerNet incident included Shenmue and Shenmue II.