Xbox

The Xbox was Microsoft's first step into the video game console business, and it landed back in 2001. At the time, the idea of a software company taking on Sony and Nintendo seemed like a long shot, but the original Xbox proved Microsoft was serious. It was a big, heavy black box with a chunky controller, and it packed in more raw power than its competition, including a built in hard drive at a time when that was still a novelty for consoles.

What really put the Xbox on the map was Halo: Combat Evolved. It launched alongside the console and quickly became the killer app that sold systems. Halo showed that a first person shooter could feel great on a controller instead of a mouse and keyboard, and it kicked off one of the biggest franchises in gaming. We have a ton of Halo coverage on the site, starting with our Halo: Combat Evolved page.

The other huge thing the original Xbox brought to the table was Xbox Live. Online console gaming existed before, but Xbox Live pulled it together into one polished service with friends lists, voice chat, and easy matchmaking. Halo 2 in particular turned Xbox Live into a phenomenon and basically set the standard that online console gaming still follows today.

The original Xbox set the foundation for everything that came after it. It led directly into the wildly popular Xbox 360, and then on to the Xbox One and the Series X and S. For a first attempt at a console, it punched well above its weight and earned Microsoft a permanent spot in the console wars.