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The original Xbox was first released back in 2001, featuring an Intel Pentium III processor and NVIDIA NV2a graphics. The Xbox was developed by Microsoft to counter Sony’s PlayStation 2 – a state-of-the-art console they saw as a rival to the PC. The first Xbox had modest sales compared to the PS2 but four generations later the rivalry is much closer. The most recent Xbox console, as you can imagine, has come a long way and features an AMD 64-bit x86-64 CPU and GPU with up to 16 GB of memory. The most recent generation is capable of playing games in 4K, with support for 8K and up to 120 FPS.
Microsoft’s Xbox generations have continuously benefited from some of the best exclusive games ever and brought some impressive innovations along too. If you are curious about how gaming on an Xbox once was or simply would like to reminisce through the generations, join us on our chronological journey.
Xbox consoles in order
For anyone who wants to see some quick dates, this is all you need below. We will be diving into each generation and the several consoles that sit within just underneath. While we are feeling a little nostalgic, some iconic Xbox trailers will be accompanying each one.
| Console | Release Date | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox | 15th November 2001 | $299.99 |
| Xbox 360 | 22nd November 2005 | $299.99 |
| Xbox 360S | 22nd November 2010 | $299.99 |
| Xbox 360E | 10th June 2013 | $299.99 |
| Xbox One | 22nd November 2013 | $499.99 |
| Xbox One S | 2nd August 2016 | $299.99 |
| Xbox One X | 7th November 2017 | $499.99 |
| Xbox Series X | 10th November 2020 | $499.99 |
| Xbox Series S | 10th November 2020 | $299.99 |
Original Xbox (2001)
The original Xbox was the first American-made console since 1996 and was named after Microsofts well-known graphics API – DirectX. 2001-2002 was an exciting time for games, with the PS2 and GameCube both extremely popular at the time. The introduction of the Xbox was also received very well, largely helped by the inclusion of three flagship gaming titles: Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, and Halo. There would be many more games to come that would cement the original Xbox as one of the best.
Microsoft sold 24 million units as of May 9th, 2006 with Halo 2 being the best-selling game on the platform with over 8 million copies sold. Additional accessories included the early days of Xbox Live, a media center extender, a DVD playback kit, Music mixer, 8mb memory unit, and rather impressively, a Logitech wireless controller.
| Specs | Xbox |
|---|---|
| Generation | First Gen |
| Release Date | November 15th 2001 |
| Status | Discontinued, 2009 |
| Units Sold | 24+ million worldwide |
| Release Price | $299 |
| CPU | Intel Pentium III (733 MHz) |
| GPU | NVIDIA NV2A (233 MHz) |
| Memory | 64 MB DDR SDRAM |
| Hard Drive | 8 GB HDD |
| Optical Drive | CD Rom/DVD Rom |
Our trailer section for the original Xbox was genuinely tough but we settled for the anniversary trailer for the best-selling game:
Xbox 360, 360S, and 360E (2005 – 2013)
The Xbox 360 was one of the most successful consoles ever (84+ million units sold), narrowly beaten in sales by the PS3. As the successor to the original Xbox, the 360 ushered in the notion of “next-gen” with its impressive specifications and high-definition capabilities. The new console was stylish, sleek, and could stand vertically without any assistance or chance of destroying your disk (some Xbox 360s did this without assistance).
The 360 featured a custom triple-core 64-bit PowerPC-based processor designed by IBM with 512 MB of RAM. New technologies were developed for the 360, including new wireless headsets, rechargeable wireless controllers, and the Kinect. Additionally, an HD DVD player was an optional extra, which worked well but lost out to the PlayStation 3’s Blu-Ray.
Xbox also developed its Live service which now included a limited “free” tier known as Silver. Streaming content would eventually make its way to the platform, with music, TV, and films all becoming purchasable.
The Xbox 360S came years later (2010) and provided several quality-of-life upgrades. S, standing for “slim” meant the new model was far more compact and now featured a glossy finish. The Slim was also much quieter than the original 360 and came with a built-in wifi adapter, 5 USB 2.0 ports, and a touch-sensitive power button.
Finally, in 2013 the 360E was released, arguably one of the most pointless models in the lineup. With no hardware upgrades, it rendered itself useless and was marketed as an affordable alternative to the next-gen Xbox One.
| Specs | Xbox 360 | 360S | 360E |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Microsoft XCPU 500 MHz – 3 Cores | Custom ATI single chip | IBM custom Xenon – tri-core |
| GPU | R500, Xenos chip(ATI) – 500 MHz | Custom ATI single-chip | ATI Xenos – 10 MB eDRAM |
| Memory | 512 MB GDDR3 RAM | 512 MB of GDDR3 RAM | 512 MB GDDR3 RAM |
| Hard Drive | 250 GB HDD | 250 GB HDD | 250 GB HDD 2.5′ SATA |
| Optical Drive | DVD | DVD | HD DVD |
| Video Output | VGA(Original), HDMI(Later) | HDMI 1.2a in/out | HDMI, Up to 1080p |
Winter 2005 was an extremely exciting one, on the cusp of next-gen consoles and the astonishing graphics that came with it. A memorable trailer was naturally Gears of War – Mad World:
Xbox One, One S, and One X (2013 – 2017)
The next generation of consoles saw Microsoft moving towards an all-in-one entertainment system, much like the PC in theory. Unfortunately, the Xbox One didn’t appear to hit the mark and faced impressive competition from Sony’s PS4. Eventually, the Xbox One did ok and sold a total of 58 million units worldwide, around half the PS4.
The One console featured an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) built around the 64-bit x86-64 instruction set and came with up to 12 GB of memory. The new console supported familiar features such as Kinect and wireless tech, however, it would now support Blu-Ray. The jump in hardware meant the Xbox One could now play games in 1080p at 60fps, which would increase over the years.
Three years later Microsoft introduced the Xbox One S, a sleek, well-priced, updated console. The new console featured upscaled 4K gaming, HDR10, and UHD Blu-Ray, directly competing with Sony’s updated PS4. While the CPU was more or less the same in the One S, the GPU was slightly faster.
Finally, in 2017 Microsoft launched its premium iteration – the Xbox One X. This highly powered console was marketed as the world’s most powerful console and brought in a true 4K experience and some powerful hardware under the bonnet. Microsoft learned from some previous mistakes with this model, bringing in much improved backward compatibility.
| Specs | Xbox One | Xbox One S | Xbox One X |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Octa-Core APU – 1.75 GHz | AMD 8-core APU (2 quad-core Jaguar modules) | AMD 8-core APU – 2.3 GHz |
| GPU | AMD Radeon GCN, 853 MHz | AMD Radeon 914 MHz | AMD Radeon GCN architecture 1.172 GHz |
| Memory | 8 GB DDR3 | 8 GB DDR3 | 12 GB GDDR5 |
| Hard Drive | 500 GB HDD | 1TB HDD | 2TB HDD |
| Optical Drive | Blu-Ray/DVD | UHD Blu-ray, DVD | UHD Blu-ray, DVD |
| Video Output | HDMI 1.4 in/out, 4K support | HDMI 2.0 in/out, 4K support | HDMI 2.0b in/out, 4K support |
Xbox Series X/S (2020) – current-gen
Both the Xbox Series X and S were launched at the same time. The X being the flagship was capable of 120 fps in 4K, featured Dolby Vision and is considered the direct competitor to the PS5. The series X features a 3.8 GHz custom AMD Zen 2 eight-core CPU and an 1825 MHz AMD Custom RDNA 2 DirectX 12-based GPU. While the Series X and S enjoyed a decent amount of sales, largely down to PS5 stock shortages, the Xbox still came up short by nearly 50% (as of 2023). This generation of consoles is where 4K, high-end gaming became largely affordable, with the equivalent quite difficult for a similar price in gaming PCs.
The Series S was Microsofts more affordable unit, selling at the very same launch MSRP as the original and 360 for $299 – so no inflation just yet then! While the series X comes with more RAM, more storage, and 8K support, the S is slightly more humble. For anyone who was quite happy with gaming up to 1440p, the S marked the ideal cost-saving solution, although you have to download your games as there is no disc drive.
| Specs | Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 3.8 GHz custom AMD Zen 2 (8 core) | 3.6 GHz custom AMD Zen 2 (8 core) |
| GPU | 1825 MHz AMD Custom RDNA 2 | 1550 MHz AMD Custom RDNA 2 |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6 | 10 GB GDDR6 |
| Hard Drive | 2TB SSD | 500GB |
| Optical Drive | CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K UHD | N/A |
| Video Output | HDMI (up to 8K support) | HDMI (1440p support) |
Microsoft Xbox services timeline
- In 2002 Xbox Live began worldwide
- Microsoft launched Kinect in 2010, a serious upgrade on the PS EyeToy
- 2012, Xbox launches its companion app for Windows
- In 2017 Xbox introduced a new subscription service known as the Xbox Game Pass
- In 2019, Xbox Live became Xbox Network with new pricing structures introduced
Xbox controllers in order
The controller hasn’t massively changed at all from an ergonomic point of view, however, the technology inside has dramatically improved.
Original Xbox Controller (2001)
The first Xbox controller, nicknamed the “Duke”, debuted with the original Xbox in 2001. It featured a bulky design with two analog sticks, a pressure-sensitive D-pad, two analog triggers, six action buttons (A, B, X, Y, and the Black and White buttons), as well as Start and Back buttons. This controller also included two accessory slots for memory cards or other peripherals. While functional, its large size earned mixed reactions globally.
To address feedback, Microsoft introduced the Controller S in 2002, a more compact and ergonomic design initially exclusive to Japan but later adopted as the standard controller worldwide.
Xbox 360 Controller (2005)
The Xbox 360 controller marked a significant improvement in both comfort and functionality. Its streamlined design incorporated two clickable analog sticks, a more responsive digital D-pad, and four face buttons labeled A, B, X, and Y with distinct color coding. The left and right bumpers, paired with analog triggers, allowed for precise gameplay input. One of its standout features was the Guide button, centrally located and marked with the Xbox logo, which allowed players to turn on the console, access menus, and receive notifications. The Guide button was surrounded by a “ring of light” that indicated the controller’s player assignment. The controller also introduced wireless capabilities as a standard, with the option to use rechargeable battery packs.
Xbox One Controller (2013)
With the launch of the Xbox One, the controller underwent over 40 enhancements to improve the gaming experience. The Start and Back buttons were replaced with Menu and View buttons, and impulse triggers were introduced to provide vibration feedback directly to the player’s fingers, adding a more immersive element to gameplay. The design was sleeker, with better ergonomics and an improved grip, making it more comfortable for extended use. This controller was also built to integrate seamlessly with the Kinect, and its enhanced compatibility extended to PCs and mobile devices, making it a versatile option for a wider audience.
Xbox Adaptive Controller (2018)
The Xbox Adaptive Controller was a groundbreaking development focused on accessibility. Designed to accommodate gamers with disabilities, it features a large, flat layout with oversized buttons for ease of use. The controller also included numerous input ports, allowing players to connect external devices such as switches, joysticks, and buttons, which could be customized to replicate standard controller functions. This innovation extended beyond Xbox and Windows platforms, offering compatibility with the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, and demonstrated Microsoft’s commitment to inclusivity in gaming.
Xbox Series X/S Controller (2020)
The Xbox Series X/S controller is built on the foundation of the Xbox One controller, introducing subtle yet impactful upgrades. It added a dedicated share button, making it easier for players to capture and share gameplay moments. The hybrid D-pad, inspired by the Xbox Elite controller, provided improved directional input, while the textured triggers and bumpers offered a better grip for more intense gaming sessions. Maintaining backward compatibility with the Xbox One and PC, the Series X/S controller offered seamless functionality across platforms while refining its design for the next generation of gaming.
The next Xbox console?
In the Xbox’s 3rd decade, it is easy to look back and see just how far it has come. The rapid hardware evolution of computing continues to this day, meaning there is always something impressive around the corner. There is a lot of chatter around a possible Microsoft handheld in the near future but not much else. It is easy to speculate that we will see a significant upgrade in specifications in the coming couple of years, possibly targeting even higher frame rates to suit high refresh rate monitors and smoother gameplay. AI features are also a big part of AMD and Nvidias current technology, so it will be interesting how frame generation continues in future generations of consoles.