All Xbox consoles names. 9 names WAY better than Xbox Series X

The history of the Xbox

The original Xbox launched late in 2001, nearly nineteen years ago. A lot has changed with the brand since then, bringing more power, more exclusives, and more value to consumers around the world. Now, the brand is set to reimagine itself yet again when the Xbox Series X releases this holiday season.

• The early years
• The big day arrives
• Rough waters
• It’s a-Live!
• An end in sight
• Not done yet
• The next X and the end of an era
• Mo’ sales, mo’ problems
• A new toy and a new look
• Everything new is old again
• Let’s start over
• An underdog
• A brighter future Show 8 more items

But before we move forward, why not take a look back at what brought us here in the first place? Xbox has a storied history — what started out as a simple project has evolved into one of the most profitable gaming brands in the entire industry — and it might help us figure out what we can expect from the company moving forward.

The early years

The notion that Microsoft should develop its own gaming console began gaining traction way back in 1998, with Kevin Bachus, Seamus Blackley, Otto Berkes, and Ted Hase forming the software giant’s first console team after successfully pitching their idea to Bill Gates. Originally dubbed the DirectX Box, the console was intended to be the first game system built like a PC, bringing all of the flexibility and power of a gaming rig to the console market.

The system would run on Windows 2000, making it easy for traditional PC software developers to work within the console’s architecture, and feature more than twice the processing power of the industry-leading Playstation 2. Despite the marketing team’s belief that the abbreviated “Xbox” name wouldn’t fly, the label went over well with FOCUS groups, providing the company with one of the final elements it needed to pull back the curtain on its creation: A catchy name.

The success of Halo 2 stood in stark contrast to the floundering sales of the Xbox itself, which continued to cost Microsoft significantly more to produce than it could ever rake in with sales.

The next X and the end of an era

On May 12, 2005, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox 360, the next generation of its gaming console. With plans to release the 360 in November, the company clearly hoped that an early debut – almost a full year before the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii were scheduled to arrive – would put the 360 in a good position to dominate the market. It also meant the writing was on the wall for the original Xbox.

Later that year, production of the Xbox officially ceased, with the final tally of sold consoles sitting at around 24 million units. While this was nothing to scoff at, the number fell far short of Microsoft’s initial prediction of 50 million Xbox consoles in households around the world. It was nowhere near the sales totals of the PS2, which went on to sell over 153 million units, but the Xbox did outsell both Nintendo’s GameCube (which sold 21. million), and Sega’s Dreamcast (which sold just 10.6 million). The last game produced for the Xbox in North America, Madden 09, was released in August 2008, and support for the system was discontinued in March 2009. The final nail in the console’s coffin was hammered on April 14, 2010, with Xbox Live access eliminated for the original Xbox.

Mo’ sales, mo’ problems

The release of the Xbox 360 in the U.S. on November 22, 2005, and in Europe and Japan the following month, resulted in sellouts in nearly every market except Japan, where the system still struggled to find an audience. By the end of 2005, more than 1.5 million consoles had shipped, putting the system well on its way to becoming the new master of the console castle. But in the rush to get the 360 into households, some serious problems with the system got a pass.

Despite renewed enthusiasm in the Xbox brand following the decision to remove consumer-unfriendly features, the Xbox One has found itself in a nearly constant struggle to match the sales of the Playstation 4. The system’s lineup of exclusive games has been extremely limited, with Microsoft’s first-party development teams unable to compete with the much larger collection of Sony studios, and many of the Xbox One’s best games were also released on PC.

However, second place also led to a tremendous amount of innovation from Microsoft. The company made nearly all of its first-party games cross-platform compatible, enabling friends on PC and Xbox One to play together and even allowing players to switch between the two platforms without losing progress. It also introduced Xbox Game Pass, a program that gives subscribers unlimited access to a vault of older Xbox games, as well as day-one access to the latest releases.

A mid-generation refresh also helped to make the Xbox One hardware just as appealing — if not more so — than the Playstation 4. The updated Xbox One S shrank the system considerably, adding in HDR support and a 4K Blu-ray player, while the Xbox One X was the most powerful console in the world at the time of release. It is capable of native 4K gaming, something no other game console can do on a regular basis, and the use of vapor cooling allowed the console to be even smaller than the Xbox One S.

A brighter future

Despite the sales struggles of the Xbox One, Xbox fans have reason to be excited about the future. At E3 2018, Phil Spencer confirmed that he had teams working on creating the next generation of Xbox systems, but unlike in the past, it doesn’t appear that there will be one console — instead, there could be several.

Initially known by its internal development name “Scarlett,” Microsoft officially unveiled the Xbox Series X during The Game Awards 2019. The console represents a sizeable boost in power from Xbox One X, with 6DDR6 RAM, 12 TFLOPS of GPU power, an NVMe SSD, and support for 8K resolution. It is being marketed as the world’s most powerful console, with speculation that it could end up being even more powerful than Sony’s Playstation 5. Given the ray-tracing capabilities of the PS5 and its own support for 8K resolution, that would be quite a feat.

The Xbox Series X ditches the slim design of the Xbox One S and Xbox One X for something far bulkier. The system resembles a PC tower, but can still be placed on its side, and features a large number of vents in order to keep itself cool. The console will be packed with a new controller that mostly resembles the Xbox One’s controller design, but with a dedicated “share” button similar to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. The directional pad has also be changed to more closely resemble the Xbox Elite controller, but the face buttons, sticks, triggers, and shoulder buttons remain very similar to the Xbox One design.

Microsoft announced a new generation during E3 2019. Official sources referred to the new generation as simply Xbox before unveiling the Xbox Series X name. There have been reports of a second, significantly less-powerful machine that will omit a disc drive and be offered at a reduced price. It would allow players to enter the new ecosystem more quickly, and Microsoft’s own Xbox console exclusives will also be compatible with Xbox One systems for at least a year after the Series X launches. This includes Halo Infinite. which will also be coming to PC.

After experimenting with the Project xCloud initiative, Microsoft recently announced that players would be able to access a Cloud gaming service. Microsoft aimed to incorporate a Cloud gaming service with their existing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, starting September 2020.

With Stadia, a Cloud-based gaming service, becoming incredibly popular with gamers, Microsoft had to step up so they could stay in the competition. The xCloud initiative and new Game Pass Cloud gaming feature are those efforts to compete with services like Stadia directly.

CEO Satya Nadella stated that the company internally referred to the xCloud endeavor as “ Netflix for games.” With the xCloud preview, you get 50 games. You can also access most of these through the Game Pass Cloud computing program. Microsoft announced that they have more than 100 titles ready to add once xCloud is officially made public.

Although it’d be amazing if we only had to depend on game streaming services instead of PCs and gaming consoles, we haven’t arrived at this level of innovation quite yet. However, Microsoft is currently cooking up something interesting for customers, whether they enjoy using a console or like to stream. The idea that they are a company of the past must have forced them to develop new products and tailor them to their customers’ preferences.

In today’s world, companies are continually being pushed to modify and expand their products and services; Microsoft has chosen to appease their loyal customers in an effort to keep them around. They can no longer afford to ignore customer demand to diversify their options. The company must continue to expand its manufacturing to include various systems customers can choose from according to their individual needs. Because Microsoft is becoming so flexible and actively working to keep their customers, they’ll likely push the Xbox back to the top of the gaming console list.

names WAY better than ‘Xbox Series X’

The Xbox Series X is cool. A sober, minimalist design that houses and exudes plenty of power. There’s only one bad thing about it: that bloody stupid name.

Sony’s naming may be boring but it is coherent. What comes after the Playstation 4? The PS5! What comes about the Xbox One X? The Xbox Series X? Come the xxxx on.

What the hell were they thinking? Did Xbox chief Phil Spencer and his team write down all the possible good names on tiny pieces of paper, put them in a hat, give the hat to a monkey to pick one, then the monkey ran away with the hat and threw it into an active volcano before coming back to Redmond to lobotomize everyone in the Xbox marketing team using an Allen key?

It’s a plausible theory that explains this dumb name.

Why Xbox Series X is a bad dumb name

First of all, it’s just plain confusing. The top of the line Xbox is the Xbox One X. Isn’t that too similar to Xbox Series X? And wouldn’t the Xbox One X be one of the X series too?

And then, it just sounds terrible. Xbox One X was bad enough with three XS in the name. Xbox Series X is even worse because it’s longer. Longer brand names are worse than short ones.

So, without further ado, here are nine names that are better than Xbox Series X:

Xbox Scarlett

Hey, Project Scarlett already has a lot of press and buzz. People like it. Turn the green glow into red and you got a winner.

Xbox Anaconda

Do like Apple and macOS: add the codename to the brand, like macOS Catalina. The codename for the Xbox Series X is Anaconda. A giant snake from the Amazon river doesn’t sound dumb. It sounds impressive and powerful and can eat whole PlayStations without even chewing them.

Xbox Amazeballs

If you are going to just pull dumb names out of your derriere, go full in and don’t go the wishwash path with this mothercluster Xbox Series X name.

Xbox Monolith

Play with the hardware form factor. At least it has some real association to the product.

Xbox One Z

Because Y is “Why” and Z comes after that. Z is the last and ultimate letter. Stupid, I know. Still better than the original.

Xbox Omega

Talking about ultimate letters and having the final word. A metaphor for crushing Sony in what could be the last console war ever.

Xbox X2

Just drop the One. Keep the X. Add a 2. Simple. Easy. Keep increasing the digit down the line. It’s not that dedicated standalone consoles are here to stay, anyway. Stadia, Microsoft xCloud, and the rest of streaming videogame services will take care of that.

Xboxx

I know, it sounds like some porn production studio. But that’s how bad Xbox Series X is — a fake porn studio name still sounds better than Microsoft’s name.

Xbox

Why don’t just drop all the arbitrary last names and FOCUS on the brand. After all, people can see the new design. It’s not that they are going to confuse it with the console that came years ago (and these things come out every few years). That’s enough. And just call the less powerful Project Lockart the Xbox Lite.

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Jesus Diaz founded the new Sploid for Gawker Media after seven years working at Gizmodo, where he helmed the lost-in-a-bar iPhone 4 story and wrote old angry man rants, among other things. He’s a creative director, screenwriter, and producer at The Magic Sauce, and currently writes for Fast Company and Tom’s Guide.

What are the different Xbox One models?

If you’re having trouble figuring out the differences between the Xbox One consoles, you aren’t alone! With three separate iterations, it’s completely understandable to be confused about the differences between each. It used to be the case that only one Xbox One model existed back when it first launched in 2013. Now, though, Microsoft offers up multiple options to let Xbox gamers play in their preferred way.

In this handy guide, we’ll break down which Xbox One model does what and analyse all their different features, all in the hope of highlighting which version you might have or the best for your Xbox gaming needs.

If you’re looking to grab an Xbox One console you will do well to get a new sealed unit. Most deals available are either refurbished or secondhand due to Microsoft officially retiring the Xbox One model in December 2020. Since then, Microsoft has released its Xbox Series console range, take a look at our additional guide if you’re looking to compare the Xbox Series models.

If you know which console you’re interested in, please click below to jump to your console of choice:

The Xbox One X

(Not to be confused with the Xbox Series X Console)

Console Lifespan: 2017 – 2020Release Price: 499 / £449

Previously known as Project Scorpio, the Xbox One X console was formally announced at the 2017 E3 conference. 40% more powerful than any other console on the market, the Xbox One X is designed as a competitor to Sony’s benchmark console, the PlayStation 4 Pro. Capable of playing games in stunning 4K resolution at a staggering 60fps, the One X is the console of choice for those who want only the best when it comes to performance and graphics.

Xbox One X Gallery

(Click to view full size image)

Xbox One X Tech Specs

Xbox One X FAQs

The One X was released on November 7th, 2017.

The Scorpio edition of the One X is a special version, designed for early adopters. It comes with various cosmetic differences, including a printed pattern and serial number on the console and the Scorpio name on the controller. There are no differences in the spec between the two versions of the console.

The One X has around 4.5 times the graphical capability of the original Xbox One. Though the One S is capable of upscaling certain games to 4K, the One X can display games at this resolution natively, with processor power to spare that means some games will also play at 60fps.

The Xbox One X is backwards compatible with both games, and accessories such as Kinect (via an adaptor) and wireless controllers. The One X is an upgrade to the existing software found in the Xbox One and One S consoles, and it will continue to play the same catalogue of games with the same accessories.

If you’re determined to have the best Xbox money can buy, or own a 4K TV, then it’s worth buying the Xbox One X but it depends on your budget. Otherwise, the difference in quality might not justify the cost.

Compare deals

Xbox One X: 1TB

The Xbox One S

(Not to be confused with the Xbox Series S Console)

Console Lifespan: 2016 – 2020Release Price: 299 / £249

Released in 2016, the Xbox One S console was an upgrade to the original Xbox One console. It is now by far the most popular version of the console as it has a budget price tag compared to the pro model, the Xbox One X. Even with the One X surpassing it technically, the price difference will likely ensure the S remains the most popular One model. Unless you are a hardcore gamer, the Xbox One S will likely be the Xbox console of choice for you too.

Xbox One S Gallery

(Click to view full size image)

Xbox One S Tech Specs

Xbox One S FAQs

Not entirely, however, it is becoming harder and harder to find original consoles. Most bundles we compare now include the One S.

The Xbox One X is intended to compete with the PlayStation 4 Pro version, and will likely cater to hardcore gamers who are willing to spend more on their gaming setup. The One S will likely continue as the most popular version of the One for the remainder of the console’s lifespan. Therefore it’s extremely unlikely that the Xbox One X will replace the Xbox One S any time soon.

The Xbox One S is a smaller console compared to the original Xbox One by approximately 40%, making it a much neater-looking console to own.

As well as being slightly more powerful, the big advantage of the One S is that it supports HDR gaming. It can also play Blu-rays in 4K, but not games. Oh, and it can stand on its side, too.

The One S is available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB versions. It also supports external hard-drives to expand the memory.

The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition

Console Lifespan: 2019 – 2020Release Price: 249 / £199

Released in May 2019, the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition looks and works just like the original Xbox One S hardware revision released in 2016. It differs in that it completely removes the optical disc drive included with all prior Xbox One models, being the perfect console variant for anyone looking to subtract physical games from their lives and prefer to store them digitally.

Xbox One S All-Digital Gallery

(Click to view full size image)

Xbox One S All-Digital Tech Specs

Xbox One S All-Digital FAQs

No. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will sit alongside the standard Xbox One S, giving players the option to play games exclusively via download or digitally as well as physically.

The current retail price in the UK is £199.99, and that includes three games Minecraft, Forza Horizon 3 and Sea of Thieves bundled in.

The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition isn’t available with anything less than 1TB of storage. This is important considering that all games played on it will need to be installed natively on the hard drive.

Xbox One (original)

Console Lifespan: 2014 – 2017Release Price: 249 / £199

The original Xbox One was first released in 2014 as Microsoft’s entry for the eighth console generation, the original Xbox One remains a powerful piece of kit. Since the introduction of the One S in 2016, the original console is now classed as the original console.

Xbox One (original) Gallery

(Click to view full size image)

Xbox One (original) Specs

Xbox One (original) FAQs

In a word, no. There’s no real reason to buy an original One unless you find an exceptional deal. With stock running low on the original, that’s becoming increasingly unlikely.

This is a tough one. While an improvement in multiple departments, the One S isn’t so much of an leap forward that it necessitates upgrading. Both systems play the same games, so you won’t miss out there. If you upgraded to an HDR TV and wanted to enjoy the difference it makes to your graphics, it would perhaps justify upgrading to a One S.

Which Xbox One model is best for you?

Now you’re armed with all the knowledge you need, which Xbox should you opt for?

I want the best of the best, no expense spared. Buy the One X. The ability to play games in 4K and the added graphical ability will set it apart from the One and One S. For the time of release, it was the most powerful games console ever.

I want a solid all-rounder. The One S is your best bet. The S model is a refined version of the original Xbox One, making it smaller, quieter and even a little bit quicker (better GPU).

I play a lot of games, so I need the storage space. The original Xbox One was available up to a 1TB hard drive, while the One S offers both 1 and 2TB options. Only a 1TB version of the One X is available, but if you don’t mind manually upgrading the console you are able to add a custom, bigger hard drive. If you’re planning to go all digital the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition has a 1TB hard-drive and will keep you covered for quite some time.

I’m limited on space, so I need a console that fits my TV stand”. Go for the One S or the X. The S is 40% smaller than the original One, and the power supply is internal, meaning you won’t have an ungainly “brick” plug to worry about. The X, remarkably, is even smaller than the One S, although not by the same margin as the One S to the One.

As of now, the Xbox One is no longer in production. therefore getting hold of a new sealed unit is nearly impossible. Your best option is to try and grab a refurbished Xbox one console, thankfully there is still plenty of pristine condition Xbox One consoles available.

Have we missed anything or do you have any questions? Let us know in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below.

Who Invented the Xbox

When it comes to gaming consoles. The immediate names we can think of would be the Sony Playstation, the Microsoft Xbox, and the Nintendo. Of the three, the Xbox is the latest to be invented in the marketplace, but it is probably not the most popular. Who is the genius behind it? Who invented the Xbox?

Xbox was invented by a team of developers and engineers, among which Kevin Bachus, Ted Hase, and Otto Berkes. Their team leader was Seamus Blackley, an American engineer and video game designer with Microsoft at the time.

This article explores who invented the Xbox, how was the gaming console invented, and how it has improved over time. We also look at other influential people that helped invent the Xbox in 2011.

Why Was The Xbox Invented?

Xbox was invented as a way to respond to the threat Sony Playstation 2 may bring to the personal computer. This is because Playstation 2 was designed to be a gaming console and a home entertainment device, which may cause people to use their PCs less when playing DVD movies.

At the time of its launch, the Xbox was quite out of Microsoft’s comfort zone. Until then, Microsoft has been the software Champion, building operating systems such as Windows. Microsoft was also the creator of Microsoft Office, a slew of productivity software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.

Microsoft has generally shied away from the hardware business. This is because when they do, they tend to flop big time. Think of products such as Zune.

However, when threatened, Microsoft does bite back, and the Xbox could be seen as a bite back when under danger.

During the late 90s, the most popular way to consume digital media, such as movies and music at home, was through CDs or DVDs. Generally, CD or DVD players tend to come with PCs, which means most families would use the PCs to watch movies, listen to songs, or play video games.

Playstation 2 by Sony

This remained so until the Playstation 2 came out in 1999. When Sony designed the Playstation 2, it envisioned the device as more than just a gaming console. It would be the family’s home entertainment console as well.

The rationale is that since the Playstation is already hooked to the TV to play games, why not make it capable of playing audio CDs and DVDs? This means the Playstation would be the most versatile home entertainment console.

It is this vision that makes Microsoft’s ears perk up. Fewer people will use their PC for entertainment if the vision comes true and only treat it as an internet or productivity device. This may even lead to lower PC sales, which means lower sales for Microsoft Windows and its software suite.

As a result, Microsoft thinks they need to invent a similar device to take the Playstation head-on, a home entertainment console for gaming, movies, and music.

How Was The Xbox Invented?

Xbox was invented by building a PC system in a console running Windows. This allows game studios to be able to quickly make and adjust their game titles to Xbox. This feature immediately helps it stand out against seasoned consoles such as Nintendo and Playstation.

The Xbox was invented as Microsoft’s answer to Playstation 2 attempting to encroach on its turf. The Xbox was imagined as a home entertainment console designed for gaming, audio, and video enjoyment.

Microsoft started by building a console that runs PC parts. This means the device contains a hard drive, ram, graphics processing unit, CD and DVD players, and more. However, instead of having these parts in a PC tower, Microsoft packed them inside a console-like box.

The idea is to make Xbox appear elegant and nice with the TV, speakers, and other devices at home. The Xbox is squarish, with a wide footprint but a short height. This allows it to slot nicely into many TV cabinets, occupying the space for one of the TV appliances.

The Xbox also runs a slightly modified version of Windows. It also runs on DirectX, a system to manage graphical files such as videos and games on Windows devices. This is a very good decision by Microsoft as it means the Xbox can leverage the popularity of Windows with many game studios.

Many game studios only need to perform some minor adjustments to their Windows-based game titles to make them compatible with Xbox’s console controllers. This means Xboxes can have many compatible game titles very quickly.

As a result, Xbox was able to achieve popularity quickly, and within a short period of time, becoming one of the top gaming consoles in the market, going head to head with Sony Playstation 2. The rivalries between Xboxes and Playstations continue today.

Who Invented The Xbox?

Many expected to hear that Bill Gates was the person behind the Xbox, drawing a parallel between how Steve Jobs at Apple was the mastermind behind almost all Apple products.

However, Bill Gates was not very involved with the invention and development of the Xbox. In fact, he actually planned to block and cancel the project. Luckily that did not happen, or else Microsoft would have lost a 15 billion a year business.

Seamus Blackley American Engineer

The team leader behing the Xbox’s invention is an American engineer and video game designer by the name of Seamus Blackley.

Seamus Blackley graduated from Tufts University in 1990 and then went into physics and graphical design work. He was well known as the main person behind the development of Hyper-realistic flight simulators such as Flight Unlimited and Flight Combat.

He first met Bill Gates in 1999 and was soon roped into Microsoft to become the Program Manager for Entertainment Graphics, working on improving DirectX.

When Playstation 2 first came out, Seamus noticed that Microsoft would need to compete in the home entertainment space, and a gaming console was needed. Seamus also noticed that for Microsoft to develop this, the device needs to have standardized hardware and leverage its strong network of Windows-based games.

The proposal was accepted by Bill Gates, and he helped assemble the initial team that helped design and build the device. The First Xbox was released to the public on November 15, 2001, with great publicity and success.

Who Are The Other People Involved In The Invention of Xbox?

Xbox was not invented by Seamus Blackley alone. He worked alongside several other influential engineers and designers who brought their expertise to make the Xbox a reality. They are Bill Gates, Kevin Bachus, Ted Hase, and Otto Berkes.

Similar to how the iPhone and iPad were created, the Xbox was also not created in isolation. It was not built by a single creative genius who designed and built everything.

Instead, it was a team effort that the main project leader led. At the same time, everyone else chipped in with their unique input to produce the final product.

Several of the key individuals involved in the invention of Xbox are Bill Gates, Kevin Bachus, Ted Hase, and Otto Berkes.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft. During the invention of the Xbox, he was the CEO, leading the company. However, when the Xbox was approved, he was in the process of stepping down from being the company’s CEO.

Bill Gates’s biggest contribution and involvement with the Xbox was during its initial stage and also after it was launched. Sheamus Blackley proposed the creation of a home entertainment console for gaming, movies, and audio to Bill Gates in 1999, which he accepted.

Bill Gates also helped assemble the team to build the Xbox by roping in some of the names that eventually became important in the invention of the Xbox. After the launch in November 2011, Bill Gates became Xbox’s evangelist, promoting it to would-be customers.

Kevin Bachus

Kevin Bachus was originally a game publisher and joined the DirectX team to help Microsoft develop a system to manage and handle video and game graphics. He could be said as one of the right-hand men working with Sheamus Blackley.

Bachus was instrumental in coming out with the vision that the Xbox should be made economical based on the hardware specifications suitable for game developers. He realized that game developer at the time constantly had hardware requirements rammed down their throats, making their work much harder and slower.

Bachus was also key in defending this viewpoint when some other members of the Xbox team tried to push for a high-end, super-expensive gaming console.

Ted Hase

Ted Hase was also a Microsoft DirectX engineer and technician during the Xbox’s invention. He was one of the earlier people involved in creating the Xbox, being the person who sent out the presentation slides for the initial presentation of the Xbox to Microsoft’s executives.

Like Bachus and Blackley, Hase also championed an affordable video game console developed to make game developers’ jobs easy. He also pushed for using DirectX as the driver for the games. Ted eventually left the development of Xbox and returned to working on DirectX in late 1999.

Otto Berkes

Otto Berkes was also a Microsoft DirectX engineer and technician during the Xbox’s invention. Berkes’s main contribution to the development of Xbox was likely pushing for a device that runs on DirectX and is built for game developers.

However, Berkes’s overall Xbox vision was different from the others. He envisioned a more PC-like structure instead of a pure console model that Xbox eventually adopted. He also wants the Xbox to be profitable on its own instead of being a loss-leading device such as Playstations.

A little shocked by how Xbox had turned out, he also returned to his DirectX role in late 1999.

Aside from these people, the Xbox’s invention also involves many other names, such as Robbie Bach, Drew Angeloff, J Allard, and many more.

How Has Xbox Improved Since Its Invention?

Since the first Xbox came out in 2011, it has undergone three major updates. A slew of peripheral accessories was also released to improve the Xbox gaming experience and playability. The most recent update was the Xbox Series S and X, released on November 10, 2020.

Similar to Playstation, Xbox also underwent updates, redesign, and redevelopment over its lifespan. As a result, several generations of Xbox were released.

These new Xboxes took advantage of the newer, more recent technologies. They integrated them into their consoles, such as faster internet speed and better TV resolution. This helps the user’s gaming experience improve and become more enjoyable.

Xbox

The original Xbox debuted in North America on November 15, 2001, and was launched by Bill Gates and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Xbox was launched as part of the sixth-generation video game consoles, competing for head-on against Sony Playstation 2, Sega Dreamcast, and Nintendo GameCube.

With the general improvement in internet speed, the Xbox Live service was launched in 2002. This allows players to play games online with or without broadband internet. The competition was again against Playstation’s Online Service.

The Xbox Live eventually won due to better connection and features such as a buddy list. Xbox’s success was also largely driven by Xbox-only games such as Halo. Over 24 million units of Xbox were sold by May 2006, establishing a strong footprint and base for Microsoft to build on.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 was introduced to the public in November 2005 as a next-generation successor to the original Xbox. It competes with consoles such as Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii. Such was the popularity of Xboxes by the time the Xbox 360 launched that it sold out worldwide the moment it was launched, except in Japan.

The Xbox further builds on the Xbox Live’s success but expands what it offers. Users can start on a freemium model called Silver and stream and purchase content online from PCs. These are offered through Xbox Music and Xbox Video.

Microsoft also released the Kinect, a motion control system that enhances the gaming and control experience on the Xbox 360.

The Xbox 360 went through a product refreshment cycle in 2010 with the release of the Xbox 360 S. The initial S stands for ‘Slim.’ The Xbox 360 S features a slimmer form factor but retains the same core hardware. The hard drive was, however, smaller at 250GB.

The Xbox 360 S also comes with Wi-Fi, optical audio output, a special Kinect port, and five USB 2.0 ports. The Xbox 360 E came out in 2013 as a major revision of the Xbox, with a new case design. The specifications were also upgraded to make use of available computing technology.

Xbox One, One S, and One X

The Xbox One came to the market in 2013 as the newer generation replacement for the Xbox 360. It represents Microsoft’s own take on the eighth generation of video game consoles. It competes against Sony Playstation 4, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo Switch.

Xbox One took advantage of the trend of internet gaming, allowing players to record and stream their gameplay. Users can also integrate their Xboxes with a set-top box. This allows users to watch cable or satellite TV while using its interface and Kinect-based voice control.

The Xbox One also introduced a rather controversial Digital Rights Management (DRM) practice. It allows users to access and play the games within Microsoft’s library without discs. Also, it allows the games to be shared with up to 10 other account holders, dubbed ‘family members.’

However, the game needs to be connected to the original account holder. The console must also be connected to the internet at least once every 24 hours for updates, or the other players cannot play the game. After an overwhelmingly negative protest by users, Microsoft relaxed these restrictions.

In 2016, Microsoft released an update to the Xbox One, called the Xbox one S. It again keeps to the original ‘Slim’ initial. It features a smaller form factor and supports 4K video and HDR. The Xbox One X was revealed in 2017, a higher-end and performance model designed for gaming at 4K resolution.

It was projected that over 51 million Xbox Ones would be sold across all variations and updates.

Xbox Series S and X

The Xbox Series S and X launched in November 2020. It was released almost concurrently with the Playstation 5, which is also its main rival. The Xbox X is designed and marketed to be the high-end version of the Xbox, with the S for the lower-end market.

The Xbox Series X is projected and marketed to be four times as powerful in performance as the Xbox One X. It can also support up to 8K video at 120 frames-per-second (FPS) rendering. The Series S is given a lower graphical performance but can still work at the 4K level.

Both consoles were given technologies such as the Xbox Velocity Architecture that works with the SSD drive inside the console to improve graphic delivery and performance. Both consoles are also made to be backward compatible with all Xbox One games.

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Xbox vs Playstation: Which One Is Best?

It is a known fact that Playstation is older than Xbox. Since its inception in 1994, Sony Playstation has gained immense success over the past two decades. The latter was established by Microsoft in 2000 and has steadily lured a large population of new users over the years. Hundreds of millions of units have been sold worldwide during this long period. However, some opinions claim that Xbox just made history with the release of the Xbox 360. For the longest time, the rivalry between these two companies has been fierce. While both have held an equal share in the gaming market, there’s no denying that one reigns supreme over the other.

Who doesn’t love a good fight? Especially one that has been going on for so long. The console wars have taken the gaming industry by storm, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. If you’re looking to get started in the world of console gaming, then you might be wondering whether you should pick the Xbox or Playstation. Both are great machines, and both have plenty of games that you can enjoy. So, what’s the deal? Which one should you pick? Let us break it down for you – here is an outline of everything you need to know about the Playstation vs Xbox debate.

Xbox vs Playstation: Side-by-Side Comparison

Xbox: The Complete History

Xbox is a brand of home and handheld video game consoles and other entertainment devices designed and marketed by Microsoft. As of January 2014, 84 million Xbox consoles have been sold worldwide since they were first launched in November 2001. The original Xbox was released on November 15, 2001, in North America, February 22, 2002, in Japan, and March 14, 2002, in Europe Australia. Microsoft did not offer another console until 2005’s Xbox 360.

Xbox was originally announced as DirectX Box on May 12, 2000. The original idea behind Microsoft’s next-generation video game console was to provide more advanced graphics and audio than any other video game system available. Before long, Microsoft had a prototype ready to show at E3 in Los Angeles that year. But it wasn’t until 2002 that Microsoft released its first gaming console—the Xbox.

The Xbox debuted in North America on November 15, 2001, with an MSRP of 300 (that price later dropped to 200). Initial sales were slow, but they picked up steam quickly thanks to Halo: Combat Evolved, which launched alongside the console. The 128-bit sixth-generation console was the first to include a built-in hard disk drive. It was powered by an Intel Pentium III 733 MHz CPU and featured 64 MB of RAM, an 8 GB hard drive, and four controller ports.

On November 15, 2002, the Xbox Live service was unveiled as a multiplayer gaming service for the original Xbox console in select test markets across North America before rolling out worldwide in 2003. By early 2003, 1 million units had been sold worldwide. In 2004, Microsoft released two new versions of its console: The Xbox 360 Elite (400) and Xbox 360 Pro (300). By March 2005, 5 million units had been sold worldwide. The same year, the Xbox 360 was announced with new hardware features such as support for high-definition graphics and wireless controllers out of the box (an adapter would be required for first-generation consoles) along with numerous software innovations.

In 2012, Microsoft announced plans for another new version of its console called Xbox 720, which is rumored to be arriving sometime in 2013 or 2014. Today, there are over 70 million Xbox consoles in homes worldwide. There have also been several spinoff products, such as Kinect and Zune Marketplace Music Pass. And all those combined have earned Microsoft billions of dollars in revenue over the years.

The Rise of Playstation

The first Playstation — officially abbreviated PS, commonly known as the PS1 or PSX — is a game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released on December 3, 1994, in Japan, on September 9, 1995, in North America, on September 29, 1995, in Europe, and in Australia on November 15, 1995. It was the first of the Playstation lineup of video game consoles. As a fifth-generation console, the Playstation primarily competed with the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Saturn.

The original Playstation console was fairly simple by today’s standards, but it was a major technological leap forward at the time. It offered 32 bits of graphics processing power compared to 16 bits on older Sega and Nintendo systems (hence “Playstation”).

Sony’s Playstation brand has won over gamers everywhere, and in so doing, it has helped Sony become one of the most powerful companies in tech. And while you might not know it, Microsoft started as a fledgling challenger to Sony’s gaming dominance—let’s look at how both brands rose to fame. The story begins with Nintendo, which was riding high off its NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) success when unveiled its follow-up console, SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System).

As with NES before it, many third-party developers lined up to support SNES because they could release games on both systems. But Nintendo’s deal only applied to consoles that used cartridges; game publishers were left out in the cold when Sony announced its Playstation system would use CDs instead. When Playstation hit shelves in 1994, many thought Sega would emerge victorious after releasing Saturn two years earlier—but Playstation had an ace up its sleeve: CDs let players install multiple games on their hard drives and swap them between machines. Playstation dominated gaming for years, but not without fierce competition from Microsoft.

With Xbox in 2001, Microsoft tried to break into gaming by targeting hardcore gamers with better graphics and more sophisticated controls. For example, Sony launched DualShock controllers for Playstation 4 that included features like dual rumble motors, a built-in speaker, and a touchpad. They also launched Playstation VR—essentially virtual reality goggles for PlayStation 4 users who want to immerse themselves in 3D worlds.

The Playstation offered consumers a 32-bit system with the ability to generate digital audio and display images in a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels — high-resolution graphics compared to other systems at the time. The device also used compact discs as its standard storage medium instead of cartridges or cassette tapes used by previous systems. These features made it possible for developers to create games with computer animation and full-motion video clips, which could not be duplicated on cartridge systems like Nintendo’s Super NES or Sega’s Genesis.

Xbox vs Playstation: What are The Differences?

At their core, the Xbox and Playstation are gaming consoles. They allow you to play video games on your TV. They connect to the internet and can stream video apps like Netflix and Hulu. They have media centers and controllers that have changed little over the years.

But the fact that they’re both video game consoles doesn’t mean they’re all that similar. From their initial debut, Xbox and Playstation have been competing for your money with similar-but-different approaches to what a video game console should be.

Xbox and Playstation are the two leading names in the world of gaming consoles. And while these consoles offer similar services, they do so in very different ways. The Sony Playstation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One video game consoles offer significant improvements over — and break compatibility with — the previous generation consoles in their respective families: Sony’s Playstation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

Playstation 4 vs Xbox One: Design

Since its launch, the PlayStation 4 design has been refined, with the latest models looking slimmer and more modern. The console is sleek and minimalist, with sharp angles that make it look futuristic without being overbearing. The ‘standard’ PlayStation 4 still comes in black, but there are also white and gold versions of the console.

The Xbox One has been redesigned several times since launch, with both slimmer and more powerful versions of the console now available. The original model was bulky compared to its predecessor, but Microsoft overhauled its appearance with the Xbox One S. This offers a sleeker finish than the original model and comes in multiple colors, including white, black, and blue (some special editions even come in gold).

Hardware

The Xbox One is powered by a custom eight-core AMD x86 CPU running at 1.75GHz (a “Jaguar”-derived core), coupled with 8GB of GDDR3 RAM clocked at 2133MHz, offering 68GB/s of bandwidth. A 500GB hard drive is included as a standard, but this can be upgraded by the user.

The PlayStation 4 uses a custom eight-core AMD x86 CPU running at 1.6GHz (another “Jaguar”-derived core), with 8GB of GDDR5 RAM clocked at 2.75GHz, offering 176GB/s of bandwidth. Like the Xbox One, it has a 500GB hard drive that the user can upgrade.

However, it should be noted that the PlayStation 4’s standard hard drive is a 5400RPM model — if you’re looking to upgrade it to an SSD or hybrid drive, you’ll need one that runs at the same speed or slower.

From a hardware standpoint, the PlayStation 4 Pro has an advantage over Xbox One X as it supports 4K natively and can stream 4K content on Netflix and YouTube, something Xbox One X does not support yet.

Game Library

While both gaming systems have some of the most well-known game franchises of all time, including exclusive titles, ports, and independent games, the PlayStation 4 is likely to win the exclusives contest. The Playstation 4 has some of the most popular and highest-rated AAA titles of the generation, such as God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, and others, while the Xbox One has some of the most popular first-party titles, such as Halo 5, Gears 5, Forza Horizon 4, and others.

Price

Although the price largely depends on the model of the device, Xbox and Playstation are typically priced competitively with each other. For example, the Xbox Series X and standard Playstation 5 were both initially released with a price tag of 500. However, the Playstation 5 is also available in a digital edition with a lower cost of 400.

Xbox vs Playstation: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?

The eternal question: should you go with an Xbox or a Playstation? There are many variations of these two consoles. The newest ones are the Xbox Series X and the Playstation 5, which were released in November 2020. The most recent generations that came out before then are the Xbox One X and the Playstation 4 Pro. Many different factors go into choosing a console, so it can be difficult to choose just one

The first thing to consider is price. The Xbox One retails at around 300, while the Playstation 4 retails at around 400. If you’re on a budget, you might want to consider buying an Xbox One over a Playstation 4. The next thing you want to consider is which games you’ll want to play. If you’re into more fast-paced, action-packed games, you’re probably going to want to go with the Xbox One. If you’re more into slower-paced games like adventure or puzzle games, then the Playstation 4 might be for you.

Xbox vs Playstation: Which One Is Best? FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Which is better, Xbox or Playstation?

Like most consoles, both systems have their pros and cons. While both systems share many similarities, some subtle differences make each one better for different situations. Playstation 5 is Sony’s newest gaming platform, and it has all sorts of cool features to offer. It can connect to your Playstation Vita via remote play, so you can enjoy your PS5 games on your handheld device when you aren’t home. It also allows users to stream video from services like Netflix and Hulu Plus directly onto their TV screens without needing additional hardware or software. This is great if you want to watch something while playing games on your PS5! In this case, PS5 comes out as the better console.

Which is more popular, Xbox or Playstation?

The Playstation is currently Sony’s best-selling console since it was released in 1994. The PS2 was Sony’s best-selling console of all time, selling over 150 million units during its 10-year lifetime. An estimated 155 million Playstation consoles have been sold worldwide since their launch in 1994. According to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, worldwide sales of Xbox consoles are also up there with about 70 million units sold as of 2005.

Which has better games, Xbox or Playstation?

Microsoft and Sony, both giants in the video game industry, are constantly competing. Playstation offers more advanced features, but Microsoft’s console has better overall games.

Which was released first, Xbox or Playstation?

The Playstation came first. The original Xbox (Xbox Original) came out in 2001, and the Playstation came out in 1994.

Who owns Xbox and Playstation?

Microsoft Corporation owns Xbox, and Sony Interactive Entertainment owns Playstation

What is the history of Xbox and Playstation?

Video games have been around for decades, but it wasn’t until 1972, when Pong hit arcades, that gaming took off. There were also consoles in early gaming history, like Magnavox Odyssey and Fairchild Channel F. In 1994, Sony debuted its Playstation console, which quickly became one of the best-selling consoles of all time. The Playstation 2 was released in 2000, followed by Playstation 3 (2006), Playstation 4 (2013) and Playstation 5 (2020). Microsoft entered into competition with Xbox in 2001. The original Xbox was replaced by Xbox 360 (2005), followed by Xbox One (2013) and Xbox series X and S (2019)

About the Author

Lisha Pace

After a career of working to provide opportunities for local communities to experience and create art, I am enjoying having time to learn and write about science and technology. I love science fiction. especially the speculative variety. and enjoy anything that has to do with NASA and space. Robotics and revolutionary inventions that change our quality of life for the better are also of great interest. I also enjoy reading, discovering books to add to my library, collecting and playing vinyl, taking walks by the lake with my husband and little dog, and listening to my son’s music.