Introduction
Xbox is one of the three console brands that are widely represented on the market today. Since its founding in 2001, Microsoft has been releasing innovative consoles with unique features with each new console release. What was once an unknown brand has now become a household name that has spread to TV, multimedia and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. Now that we’re halfway through this console generation, it’s time to delve into the eventful history of Xbox consoles.
How many Xbox consoles were produced?
In total, nine Xbox consoles of four different generations were released. This list takes into account console revisions that were updated models with better cooling and higher speeds, among other features.
Every Xbox console is in release order
Xbox – November 15, 2001
The Xbox debuted in November 2001 as a competitor to the Nintendo GameCube and the Sony PlayStation 2. The console was the first of its kind from Microsoft, which eventually launched the Xbox brand as we know it today. Halo: Combat Evolved was the main launch game for the Xbox, which ended up being the hit it needed to capture a piece of the console market. Today, both Halo and Xbox have a legacy that has been built on for over 20 years. Some of the best original Xbox games are still fondly remembered alongside Halo.
Xbox 360 – November 22, 2005
The Xbox 360 was Microsoft’s second console to launch as a well-known brand in the market. With this release, many already knew who and what Xbox was, primarily with its focus on multiplayer games. The Xbox 360 brought many innovations from Microsoft, especially in the area of accessories and peripherals. In particular, the company released Kinect, which allowed tracking movement in games. It is the most successful Xbox console to date, with over 84 million units sold.
Xbox 360 S – June 18, 2010
Xbox 360 S received a slimmer design compared to the original model, as well as significant internal changes. As many know, the Xbox 360 was notorious for overheating, often resulting in the “Red Ring of Death”. The Xbox 360 S aimed to remedy this with an updated cooling system that was redesigned from the ground up. The new 360 S also has increased hard drive capacity – up to 320 GB in all available models.
Xbox 360 E – June 10, 2013
The Xbox 360 E is perhaps the most unique Xbox release since the system hit the market a few months before the release of the next generation Xbox One. The exterior design of the Xbox 360 E was created to complement the design of the Xbox One, offering slimmer and less rounded edges. It was also the last Xbox to feature a slide-out disc drive, as all subsequent models were built inside the console.
Xbox One – November 22, 2013
Xbox One was the beginning of the third generation of Microsoft consoles. With more power and more applications, new opportunities have opened up for developers. Together with the system, Kinect 2.0 appeared, which opened up new possibilities for playing and using a device with a camera. In addition, the Xbox One controller received a new design with dozens of changes that allowed gamers to play more comfortably.
Xbox One S – August 2, 2016
The Xbox One S was the first Xbox console to support both 4K output and a 4K Blu-ray player, ultimately making the One S the go-to entertainment system for many. Games on the console were upscaled to 4K, allowing compatible displays to use a true 4K image. Along with these features, the console itself was 40% smaller than the standard Xbox One, offering a slimmer design that fits more easily on shelves or in closets.
Xbox One X – November 7, 2017
Xbox One X marks the end of the Xbox One line, offering the first true 4K gameplay on an Xbox console. The GPU has increased performance by 31% compared to the standard Xbox One model, and new cooling techniques offset the increase in heat generation. The main advantage of this console has been the improved performance in countless Xbox One games such as Halo 5: Guardians, Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 4 and others.
Xbox Series X – November 10, 2020
The Xbox Series X was unveiled at The Game Awards 2019. The Series X console is capable of playing 120 frames per second, supports Dolby Vision, and even has the ability to upscale the frame rate and resolution of older games. One of the most important software features that Xbox decided to add to the console was the Quick Resume feature, which allows players to jump between games at the same time. To date, the Series X is still Microsoft’s flagship console.
Xbox Series S – November 10, 2020
The Xbox Series S launched at the same time as the Xbox Series X, offering a solid entry point into the Xbox ecosystem that was more affordable than the $499 price tag of the flagship Xbox model. The Series S is a digital-only console, with no disc drive for Xbox Series X or Xbox One games. For $299, the Series S has 512GB of storage and can play up to 1440p. In 2023, Xbox released a 1TB console model that has more storage space for players’ data.