The first home console developed by Microsoft was released in Europe in March 2002
Competed with the PlayStation 2 and GameCube and sold over 24 million units worldwide
Top titles include the Halo series, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, and Project Gotham Racing
Introduced Xbox Live, the console's flagship subscription-based online gaming service
Spawned a new family of consoles including the Xbox 360 (2005) and Xbox One (2013)

A "future-generation" device
At the 2000 Game Developers Conference, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates announced the development of Xbox. Capitalising on its software expertise, experience in maintaining MSN Gaming Zone, and advances in PC technology, Xbox is a game console that promised to deliver the most realistic, intense, and action-packed game experience available.

Released in Europe in March 2002, as a "future-generation" device the Xbox delivered rich, compelling graphics, and enabled a user's playing experience to be better and faster than ever before. With a hard drive built into the machine which could support up to 8GB of space, Xbox gave gamers more realism, speed, expandability, and storage, providing for richer game experiences.

A superior gaming machine
Though Xbox is first and foremost a gaming machine, it featured additional capabilities for a consumer's convenience. Out of the box, the console came standard with four game controller ports, a DVD player, hard drive, and broadband internet access. As a dedicated, locked-down games system, it is not an all-purpose machine; it is designed specifically to provide the best console game experience available, and its add-on features support that goal.

Microsoft's first venture into the world of video game consoles was supported by a wide range of great titles. The exclusive Halo series dominated the market when it began with Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001, and Project Gotham Racing provided an accessible entry point for the new fanbase.