The Xbox network, previously called Xbox Live, is an online service for playing games and accessing digital media. It was created by Xbox and first became available for the original Xbox console on November 15, 2002. An updated version with the Xbox Live Marketplace was introduced when the Xbox 360 launched in November 2005. A more advanced version was released in 2013 with the Xbox One. The service is now used on the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. To use the service, users need a Microsoft account, which also connects to other Xbox-related features. These accounts can store games and other content.

In 2007, the service was expanded to Windows computers under the name Games for Windows – Live. This version is no longer active. Today, the Microsoft Store and Xbox app allow users to access Xbox features on personal computers, handhelds, and mobile phones as part of the Play Anywhere program. The former Windows Phone operating system included full Xbox Live features until it was discontinued. The original Xbox service ended on April 15, 2010. Games for the original Xbox can now only be played online through Insignia, an unofficial replacement service, or through local network tools.

The Xbox network is available for free and as a paid subscription called Xbox Game Pass Essential. In 2021, Microsoft changed the name from Xbox Live to "Xbox network" to include all Xbox-related services. The word "Live" was gradually removed from all branding and fully phased out by 2023.

Availability

The Xbox network is available in 41 countries and territories. These include:

• Seven in the Americas
• Nine in the Asia-Pacific region
• Three in the Middle East:
• Israel
• Saudi Arabia *
• United Arab Emirates *

• = In these countries, the Xbox network and Store are officially available. However, the Store uses U.S. dollars (USD), not the local currency.

Users from other countries are not officially supported. However, they may access the Xbox network if they provide an address in a country where the network is officially available. The country chosen when creating an account affects the payment options, content, and services available.

Previously, users could not change their account region. In October 2012, Microsoft introduced a tool to test changing regions. This tool allows users to switch regions while keeping their Xbox profile. However, subscriptions like Xbox Music cannot be moved with this method.

On May 18, 2011, Microsoft announced plans to launch the Xbox network in the Middle East within one year. This did not happen at that time. On October 20, 2012, Microsoft announced the service would launch in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia three days later. On November 4, the service was scheduled to launch in Argentina and Israel on November 29. It later launched in Slovakia and Turkey the following month. In late 2014, the service launched in China without Game Pass.

On March 5, 2022, the Xbox team announced that it suspended all Xbox network services in Russia in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

History

When Microsoft created the original Xbox console, online gaming was chosen as an important part of its overall strategy. Earlier, Sega had tried to take advantage of the growing online gaming trend by launching the Dreamcast console in 1999. It included online support through services like SegaNet in North America and Dreamarena in Europe. However, because most people did not have broadband internet at the time, the Dreamcast came with only a dial-up modem. A later broadband adapter was not widely available or supported. Downloadable content was possible, but limited because of slow internet speeds and memory card size limits. The PlayStation 2 did not have built-in networking features when it was first released.

Microsoft wanted the Xbox to succeed where the Dreamcast had failed. The company decided that online gaming needed the speed of a broadband connection and the storage space of a hard disk drive. These features would allow players to download large amounts of content, such as new levels, maps, and characters, and support features like voice chat. Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates believed that selling premium downloadable content would attract more customers. To support broadband users, the Xbox included a standard Ethernet port (10/100) but no modem or dial-up support. Some critics doubted this choice because broadband adoption was still low in 2001.

The Xbox launched on November 15, 2001, with an online service that was planned to start in Summer 2002. At E3 2002, the service was named Xbox Live. Demonstrations used sound-dampened booths and Xbox consoles connected to broadband networks, with a game called Unreal Championship. This game was a key part of the service, which was set to launch on November 15, 2002, one year after the Xbox’s release. Microsoft announced that 50 Xbox Live titles would be available by the end of 2003. Xbox Live allowed players to keep track of friends, use a single identity across all games, and communicate with others using headsets. These features were new at the time.

Before the service launched, Microsoft tested it with beta testers. The first group tested games like Re-Volt and NFL Fever 2003. After testing, testers received a memory card, headset case, and a shirt with the slogan “I’ve got great hands.” When Xbox Live launched, it had limited features, but it improved over time. Many of its features were included with the Xbox 360 console from the start. Microsoft also received a patent that allowed Xbox 360 users to watch other players compete online.

Original Xbox games with Xbox Live support had a special orange-gold bar on their packaging. Games like Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell and Brute Force used a “bubble” design because they only included downloadable content. Later, all Xbox Live titles had the same orange-gold bar. By the time of the Xbox 360, all games needed to support Xbox Live in some way. In July 2004, Xbox Live reached 1 million users. By July 2005, it had 2 million users.

On November 15, 2007, Microsoft celebrated Xbox Live’s 5th anniversary by giving its 8 million subscribers the game Carcassonne for free. Subscribers who had been with Xbox Live since the beginning received 500 Microsoft Points. In late 2007 and early 2008, service interruptions occurred, so Microsoft offered a free Xbox Live Arcade game to all users as compensation. High demand for the Xbox 360 was given as the reason for the downtime. In January 2008, the game Undertow was given to all users for a week.

On November 10, 2009, the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 marked the busiest day ever on Xbox Live, with over 2 million active users. In February 2010, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live had 23 million members. That same day, it was announced that support for the original Xbox would end on April 15, 2010, including online play on the Xbox 360 and downloadable content for original Xbox games.

In August 2010, Microsoft raised the cost of Xbox Live Gold by 20% in several countries for the first time since its launch. The free service was renamed from “Xbox Live Silver.” In June 2011, Xbox Live was fully integrated into Microsoft’s Windows 8. In October 2011, Microsoft announced live streaming of cable TV with various providers.

In February 2013, Microsoft reported that Xbox Live had 46 million members, up 15% from the previous year. In June 2014, Microsoft removed the requirement for Xbox Live Gold to access streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu, though some fees might still apply.

On December 25, 2014, both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live had network problems after a denial-of-service attack. Service was restored by December 28, but some users had issues afterward. A group called “The Phantom Squad” threatened to attack Xbox Live again on December 25, 2015.

In 2019, Xbox Live became cross-platform, supporting Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch. Microsoft added Xbox Live Gold to its Xbox Game Pass program as part of a new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier in April 2019.

In January 2021, Microsoft planned to raise prices for Xbox Live Gold subscriptions. However, after complaints from users, the company canceled the price increases.

User information

A gamertag is the special name a player uses on the Xbox network. It is unique, meaning no one else can use the same name. Gamertags can include numbers, letters, and spaces. Players can change their gamertag using an Xbox console. The first change is free, but any other changes cost money. The Xbox 360 allows up to eight Xbox network profiles on a memory unit and thirty-two profiles on the hard drive.

A player's gamertag status can be checked using online tools. This helps when looking for a new gamertag or confirming if a gamertag already exists. With a valid gamertag, players can be found and messaged within the network. Some websites let users upload photos and information about themselves.

Gamertags include avatar images, sometimes linked to specific games or characters. On the Xbox 360, individual avatars are usually sold in packs. Players can also take "Public" pictures of their avatars, which appear on their profile unless a "personal" picture is set. On Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, players can upload custom images through the Xbox app, but they must be approved by Xbox.

In the past, players could not use words like "gay" or mention homosexuality in their gamertag or profile because it was considered "content of a sexual nature," even if the word was part of a surname. Some users faced suspensions for using names like "Gaywood" or identifying as lesbian. In 2009, Xbox Live clarified its policy, stating that expressing sexual orientation in gamertags was not allowed but that the company was reviewing ways to allow it without misuse. By 2010, policies changed to permit users to express their sexual orientation in gamertags and profiles.

Gamerscore (G) is a points system that shows how many achievements a player has earned on Xbox. Points are given for completing challenges, such as beating a level or winning online matches. Retail Xbox 360 games initially offered up to 1,000G, while Xbox Live Arcade titles gave 200G. In 2007, Microsoft updated rules, requiring all disc-based games to have at least 1,000G. Developers could add up to 250G through downloadable content each quarter. Some Xbox Live Arcade games now offer up to 400G without downloadable content.

In 2008, Microsoft took action against players who used tools to falsely increase their Gamerscore. These players had their scores reset to zero and were labeled as "Cheaters" on their gamertag.

The Gamerscore system created new opportunities online, with websites offering guides to help players earn points. Some sites focus only on achievement guides, while others include gaming tips alongside other content.

On March 13, 2014, a player named Ray Cox IV, known as "Stallion83," became the first to reach 1 million Gamerscore.

A Gamercard is a summary of a player's profile on Xbox. It includes:
– Gamertag
– Avatar (gamer picture)
– Reputation (shown only on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S if the player breaks rules)
– Tenure (how many years the player has been subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Core or Ultimate)
– Gamerscore
– Gamer Zone (Xbox 360 only)
– Recent games played

Gamercards can be viewed through the Xbox app, the guide, or online at Xbox.com. Mac OS X users could download widgets to display their Gamercard in the Dashboard.

On the Xbox 360, there were four Gamer Zones: Recreation for casual players, Family for family-friendly gaming, Pro for competitive players, and Underground for unrestricted gameplay (as long as rules are followed). These zones only appeared on a player's Gamercard and did not affect gameplay or online matches.

TrueSkill is a ranking and matchmaking system first used on the Xbox 360. It was developed by Microsoft Research Cambridge and is used in over 150 games. TrueSkill uses math to improve fairness in rankings, allowing new players to be ranked correctly quickly. It predicts match outcomes, helping create balanced teams.

When matching players, TrueSkill pairs individuals based on their skill level. If two players have the same skill level with low uncertainty, each has about a 50% chance of winning. This makes matches as fair as possible.

To prevent abuse, ranked games have limited matchmaking options. Players cannot easily play with friends in ranked games. However, some methods, like using alternate accounts, have been used to bypass these rules. Unranked Player Matches allow players of any skill level to join, but these matches do not affect TrueSkill ratings.

Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store is the main online place where people can buy games, movies, shows, and apps for Xbox systems. It started in 2017 for the Xbox One and is available on Xbox consoles and websites. It offers games from all Xbox generations, as well as movies, TV shows, and apps that stream music or TV.

The Xbox Games Store (previously called Xbox Live Marketplace) was a single place to buy games and other content for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. It sold both free and paid items, such as games from Xbox Live Arcade, indie games, original Xbox games, 360 game demos, extra game content like maps or songs, trailers, gamer pictures, themes, TV shows, music videos, movie rentals, and apps.

On November 6, 2006, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Movies & TV (called Microsoft Films & TV in other countries) (previously known as Xbox Video Marketplace, Xbox Video, and Zune Video). This service was only available on the Xbox 360 and started in the United States on November 22, 2006, one year after the Xbox 360 launched. It let users download high-definition and standard-definition TV shows for purchase and movies for rental to watch on their Xbox 360. Most content must be downloaded, not streamed, except for short clips. Movies rented from the Video Marketplace expire 14 days after download or after 24 hours of playback, whichever happens first. TV episodes can be bought and moved to any number of consoles. Downloaded files use 5.1 surround sound and are encoded with VC-1 video at 720p resolution and a bitrate of 6.8 Mbit/s. TV content comes from MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Turner Broadcasting, and CBS. Movie content is from Warner Bros., Paramount, Disney, and other publishers.

Xbox Play Anywhere

Play Anywhere, originally named Live Anywhere, is a service that allows users to play Xbox and Windows games on both systems. This program lets people who buy supported games digitally on the Microsoft Store for Xbox One also download the same games on a Windows 10 PC (with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update or later) using the same Microsoft account, without extra cost. The same rule applies in the opposite direction, from Windows 10 to Xbox One. The program also allows users to sync game progress, achievements, and downloadable content between Xbox One and Windows 10 versions of the same game.

In March 2019, Microsoft announced that it would provide Xbox Live SDKs for iOS and Android devices. These tools let developers on those platforms add most Xbox network features to their apps and games. Microsoft also mentioned plans to include this functionality for the Nintendo Switch, which would be added later as a feature for the Switch version of the game Cuphead.

Play Anywhere was first introduced as Live Anywhere in 2006 as a program to connect the Xbox network with various Microsoft platforms, including Xbox, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows (Vista and 7), Windows Phone, and Zune. Microsoft’s Chris Early described Live Anywhere in 2006 as a long-term project that would take several years to complete. A mobile version of the service was shown at E3 2006 and CES 2006 on a Motorola Q phone, but it was never officially released.

On February 15, 2010, Microsoft introduced its new mobile operating system, Windows Phone. With Windows Phone 7 and Windows Mobile 10, the company added full Xbox Live features. However, Windows Phone is no longer in use today.

At E3 2016 on June 14, 2016, Microsoft announced the rebranding of Live Anywhere to Play Anywhere. The updated service launched on September 13, 2016.

Xbox Game Pass

Signing up for the Xbox network is free, but an ongoing subscription to Xbox Game Pass is needed to use community features like online multiplayer for paid games, game recording, and media sharing. The service provides access to a collection of games that can be downloaded and played without extra cost. These games become no longer playable if the subscription ends or if the game is no longer part of Game Pass. As of April 2021, online multiplayer for free-to-play games and the party chat feature on Xbox consoles no longer require a subscription.

The service has different levels:

• Game Pass Essential, which started on September 14, 2023 as Game Pass Core, replaced the older Xbox Live Gold service. It offers a basic version of Xbox Game Pass that was first introduced in 2017. Game Pass Core works similarly to Xbox Live Gold, except the "Games with Gold" program (which gave subscribers a free game each month) was replaced with access to a selection of Game Pass titles available on Xbox consoles. This feature began with 36 games, with plans to add more over time. On October 1, 2025, the plan was renamed along with Game Pass Standard, and the service received major updates. This plan keeps the features of Game Pass Core and also affects how games are played on Windows PCs.

• Game Pass Premium (previously called Game Pass Standard) gives access to the full Game Pass library on Xbox consoles but does not include immediate access to first-party Microsoft Gaming releases. It started in 2025 to replace an earlier version of the base Game Pass service that did not include Xbox Live Gold features. On October 1, 2025, the plan was renamed along with Game Pass Core, and the service received major updates. This plan keeps the features of Game Pass Standard and also affects how games are played on Windows PCs.

• Game Pass Ultimate provides access to the full Game Pass library on Xbox consoles, Microsoft Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Programs

The "Game with Fame" initiative was a program created by Microsoft to help Xbox Live members interact with celebrities and game developers. Some well-known people who participated in "Game with Fame" include Shia LaBeouf, Jack Black, Rihanna, Velvet Revolver, Victoria Justice, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Scissor Sisters, Paramore, Korn, OK Go, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Dream Theater, Linkin Park, Green Day, and Insane Clown Posse.

"Xbox Rewards" was a promotion that gave gamers incentives to play on the Xbox network by offering real rewards for completing achievements. Gamers had to register for specific challenges, and if they completed them successfully, they received rewards tied to each challenge.

"Xbox Live Labs" was a program in the community section of Xbox Live. It was available from March 10 to 27, 2011, for members in the United States. Players who chose to participate received avatar items and three zero-point achievements.

Metamessage was a show that answered questions from viewers about the Xbox world. The show ran for four seasons and was released every other Saturday. The show relied entirely on questions from viewers. To keep the number of questions high, fans could send questions to the Metamessage Gamertag over Xbox LIVE, email the show, or use social networking websites.

"Games with Gold" was a program that gave free digital game downloads to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. The program started with Xbox 360 games in July 2013, and Xbox One games were added in June 2014. After October 2022, the program no longer offered Xbox 360 games, only Xbox One games. Games downloaded through the program on Xbox 360 were free to own with no restrictions. Xbox One games required an active Gold subscription to play and became unplayable if the subscription ended. As of November 2015, all Xbox 360 Games with Gold titles were compatible with Xbox One. The service ended on September 14, 2023, as part of a rebranding of the Xbox network to focus on a base-level Game Pass tier.

Microsoft Rewards is a current promotion that gives Reward Points to Xbox network members when they complete Game Pass goals or make purchases on the Marketplace.

"Xbox Ambassadors" are Xbox network members chosen by Microsoft because they are helpful to others and willing to assist new Xbox users with questions. As of March 2009, there were ambassadors in 18 countries speaking more than 30 languages.

Security

Microsoft uses several security steps to protect its Xbox network service. One step checks to ensure only unaltered devices can connect. On May 17, 2007, Microsoft banned consoles with changed firmware from Xbox Live. A Microsoft representative stated the action was taken to "protect the service’s integrity and keep partners and users safe." Microsoft explained that consoles with firmware from unknown or unsafe sources were permanently blocked from the Xbox network.

It was found that someone used deception to pretend to be an Xbox user for harmful purposes. Microsoft later added more security to reduce the risk of such tricks.

In early November 2009, Microsoft banned about 1 million consoles with changed firmware from Xbox Live.

In October 2011, Xbox Live users reported unauthorized access to their accounts, with Microsoft points being used or purchased to buy in-game items for FIFA 12. Microsoft limited account access for 25 days while investigating. Both EA and Microsoft denied a larger security issue existed.

On December 25, 2014, both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live faced service interruptions due to a denial-of-service attack. Service was restored on December 28, though some users had issues afterward.

First-generation Xbox Live shutdown

Xbox Live for the original Xbox was stopped by Microsoft on April 15, 2010, and gamers were encouraged to switch to the Xbox 360. However, some users found ways to keep playing past the official shutdown date. These users could still use the network, but new users could not join. Notably, 14 users played Halo 2 until May 11, 2010. Although the official Xbox Live service for the original Xbox is no longer available, a new service called Insignia has restored online features for supported games, including multiplayer, scoreboards, and content downloads.

As an alternative to Insignia, software called LAN tunnelling allows original Xbox users to play system link games like Halo 2 with others worldwide.

The Noble 14 were a group of users who continued playing Halo 2 until May 11, 2010, 26 days after the service was officially stopped. These users played custom games together, trying to stay online as long as possible. An Xbox spokesperson said, "A small group of dedicated players fought against difficult challenges. They are not the Noble Team from Halo: Reach, but the final, passionate players still playing Halo 2. We hope they succeed in their effort." The last 12 users received Halo: Reach Beta Codes from GamesRadar.com and had their Xbox Live memberships extended by Microsoft. Eventually, "Agent Windex" and "Apache N4SIR" were the last two users on the service. Two days after the third user, "Lord Odysseus11," was disconnected due to an internet issue, "Agent Windex" was logged off on May 10, saying, "Good job Apache, you're the last one." The next day, May 11, "Apache N4SIR" was also disconnected. He said he wanted to play for 15 hours, 14 for each member, and one final hour for the community.

Revenue

According to Bloomberg, the Xbox network services likely made more than $1 billion in revenue during the 2010 fiscal year, which ended on June 30, 2010.