Est. November 15, 2001
The Original Xbox
Microsoft's First Console
Before Xbox 360, before Xbox One, before Game Pass — there was simply Xbox. A black monolith of raw processing power that changed console gaming forever. This is its story.
Archive Record
A Brief History
The original Xbox was Microsoft's bold entry into the console wars, launching on November 15, 2001 in North America. It was the first console by an American company since the Atari Jaguar in 1993.
Launch Day
Xbox launches in North America on November 15, 2001, priced at $299. Halo: Combat Evolved ships as a launch title and becomes an instant classic.
Xbox Live Beta
Microsoft launches Xbox Live in beta, pioneering online console gaming with a unified network, friends list, and voice chat — features that would define the industry.
Xbox Live Goes Live
Xbox Live officially launches to the public. Halo 2 becomes the most-played game on the network, with millions of players competing online for the first time on console.
Halo 2 & Peak Era
Halo 2 launches on November 9, 2004, selling 2.4 million copies on its first day. The Xbox library reaches its peak with titles like Fable, Ninja Gaiden, and KotOR.
End of an Era
Microsoft discontinues the original Xbox on March 2, 2005, just as the Xbox 360 era begins. The console sold approximately 24 million units worldwide.
Technical Reference
Hardware Specifications
Technical Reference Sheet
Peripheral Spotlight
The Duke
Controller S7 — Model X08-17160
The original Xbox controller — nicknamed 'The Duke' — was notorious for its enormous size. Measuring 170mm wide and weighing 225g, it was the largest controller ever shipped with a major console. Despite its polarizing reception, it featured a layout that would influence controller design for decades: two analog sticks, a directional pad, four face buttons, two analog triggers, and two bumpers.
Software Library
Essential Library
Six titles that defined the platform
Halo: Combat Evolved
The launch title that sold the console. Master Chief's debut remains one of the greatest FPS campaigns ever made.
Halo 2
Defined online console gaming. Halo 2's Xbox Live multiplayer was a cultural phenomenon that kept millions playing for years.
Fable
Peter Molyneux's ambitious RPG let players shape a hero's morality through choices. A landmark in open-world storytelling.
Knights of the Old Republic
BioWare's Star Wars epic set the gold standard for narrative RPGs. Its twist remains one of gaming's most shocking moments.
Ninja Gaiden
Team Ninja's brutal action masterpiece. Ryu Hayabusa's debut on Xbox set a new benchmark for combat depth and difficulty.
Jet Set Radio Future
A cel-shaded, graffiti-tagging, rollerblading adventure with one of the greatest soundtracks in gaming history.