Xbox | 360-S
“Microsoft Xbox | 360-S”
Manufacturer.| Microsoft
Developer.| Flextronics / Foxconn
Type. | Home Video Games Console
Generation.| Seventh (7th)
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox , it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony 's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo 's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information announced later that month at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]
The Xbox 360 features an online service, Xbox Live , which was expanded from its previous iteration on the original Xbox and received regular updates during the console's lifetime. Available in free and subscription-based varieties, Xbox Live allows users to: play games online ; download games (through Xbox Live Arcade ) and game demos; purchase and stream music, television programs, and films through the Xbox Music and Xbox Video portals; and access third-party content services through media streaming applications. In addition to online multimedia features, it allows users to stream media from local PCs. Several peripherals have been released, including wireless controllers , expanded hard drive storage, and the Kinect motion sensing camera. The release of these additional services and peripherals helped the Xbox brand grow from gaming-only to encompassing all multimedia, turning it into a hub for living-room computing entertainment. [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
Launched worldwide across 2005–2006, the Xbox 360 was initially in short supply in many regions, including North America and Europe. The earliest versions of the console suffered from a high failure rate , indicated by the so-called " Red Ring of Death ", necessitating an extension of the device's warranty period. Microsoft released two redesigned models of the console: the Xbox 360 S in 2010, [28] and the Xbox 360 E in 2013. [29] Xbox 360 is the ninth-highest-selling home video game console in history , and the highest-selling console made by an American company. Although not the best-selling console of its generation, the Xbox 360 was deemed by TechRadar to be the most influential through its emphasis on digital media distribution and multiplayer gaming on Xbox Live. [27] [30]
The Xbox 360's successor, the Xbox One , was released on November 22, 2013. [31] On April 20, 2016, Microsoft announced that it would end the production of new Xbox 360 hardware, although the company will continue to support the platform. [7]
History
Development
Known during development as Xbox Next, Xenon, Xbox 2, Xbox FS or NextBox, [32] the Xbox 360 was conceived in early 2003. [33] In February 2003, planning for the Xenon software platform began, and was headed by Microsoft's Vice President J Allard. [33] That month, Microsoft held an event for 400 developers in Bellevue, Washington to recruit support for the system. [33] Also that month, Peter Moore , former president of Sega of America, joined Microsoft. On August 12, 2003, ATI signed on to produce the graphic processing unit for the new console, a deal that was publicly announced two days later. [34] Before the launch of the Xbox 360, several Alpha development kits were spotted using Apple's Power Mac G5 hardware. This was because the system's PowerPC 970 processor was running the same PowerPC architecture that the Xbox 360 would eventually run under IBM 's Xenon processor. The cores of the Xenon processor were developed using a slightly modified version of the PlayStation 3 's Cell Processor PPE architecture. According to David Shippy and Mickie Phipps, the IBM employees were "hiding" their work from Sony and Toshiba, IBM's partners in developing the Cell Processor. [35] Jeff Minter created the music visualization program Neon which is included with the Xbox 360. [36]
Launch
The Xbox 360 was released on November 22, 2005, in the United States and Canada; [5] December 2, 2005, in Europe and December 10, 2005, in Japan. It was later launched in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Russia. In its first year in the market, the system was launched in 36 countries, more countries than any other console has launched in a single year. [37]
Critical reception
In 2009, IGN named the Xbox 360 the sixth-greatest video game console of all time, out of a field of 25. [38] Although not the best-selling console of the seventh generation, the Xbox 360 was deemed by TechRadar to be the most influential, by emphasizing digital media distribution and online gaming through Xbox Live, and by popularizing game achievement awards. [27] PC Magazine considered the Xbox 360 the prototype for online gaming as it "proved that online gaming communities could thrive in the console space". [23] Five years after the Xbox 360's debut, the well-received Kinect motion capture camera was released, which set the record of being the fastest selling consumer electronic device in history, and extended the life of the console. [39] Edge ranked Xbox 360 the second-best console of the 1993–2013 period, stating "It had its own social network, cross-game chat, new indie games every week, and the best version of just about every multiformat game ... Killzone is no Halo and nowadays Gran Turismo is no Forza , but it's not about the exclusives—there's nothing to trump Naughty Dog 's PS3 output, after all. Rather, it's about the choices Microsoft made back in the original Xbox's lifetime. The PC-like architecture meant the early EA Sports games ran at 60fps compared to only 30 on PS3, Xbox Live meant every dedicated player had an existing friends list, and Halo meant Microsoft had the killer next-generation exclusive. And when developers demo games on PC now they do it with a 360 pad—another industry benchmark, and a critical one."
The Xbox 360 video game console has appeared in various retail configurations during its life-cycle. At its launch, the Xbox 360 was available in two retail configurations: the morning "Xbox 360" package (unofficially known as the 20 GB Pro or Premium), priced at US$ 399.99 or £ 279.99, and the "Xbox 360 Core," priced at US$299.99 and £209.99. The original shipment of Xbox 360s included a cut-down version of the Media Remote as a promotion. The Elite package was launched later at a retail price of US$479.99. The "Xbox 360 Core" was replaced by the "Xbox 360 Arcade" in October 2007 [1] and a 60 GB version of the Xbox 360 Pro was released on August 1, 2008. The Pro package was discontinued and marked down to US$249.99 on August 28, 2009 to be sold until stock ran out, while the Elite was also marked down in price to US$299.99. [2] In June 2010, Microsoft announced a new, redesigned model and the discontinuation of the Elite and Arcade models.
Xbox 360 S [ edit ]
Technically designated the Xbox 360 S, [27] commonly known as the Xbox 360 Slim, [28] and marketed simply as the Xbox 360; [29] these Xbox 360 consoles are based on a redesign of the Xbox 360 hardware which was officially announced on June 14, 2010 during a press briefing prior to that year's E3. It was speculated that a complete redesign of the Xbox 360 hardware was being produced after pictures of a possible new motherboard design surfaced on March 17, 2010. [30] Ads later surfaced on June 13, 2010 showing a slimmer Xbox 360 design, which was expected to include a 250 GB hard drive and integrated Wi-Fi functionality. [31]
The console's casing is revised in comparison to the previous models, with a glossy black finish and capacitive power and eject buttons. Sounds are played when the power is turned on or off and when the disc tray is opened or closed. [32] The internal hardware was redesigned using a new motherboard codenamed "Valhalla", which integrates the CPU, GPU, and eDRAM into a single package using a 45 nm fabrication process. As the CPU and GPU are integrated into the same die, they may also share the same heatsink and fan, which reduces the console's noise output, and its power consumption by roughly half in comparison to the original Xenon motherboard. [32] [33] The S has two additional rear USB ports, as well as a proprietary port used to connect the Kinect sensor. [33] [32]
The motherboard has an integrated 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi adapter, [32] [34] and a TOSLINK S/PDIF optical audio connector. [33] The S no longer includes Memory Unit slots; USB drives can alternatively be used to expand storage. [32] The external hard disk drive connector has also been swapped for an internal bay for use with a proprietary hard drive. The hard drive bay is designed such that a specially formatted 2.5" hard drive may be loaded in. [32] Data can be transferred from a previous console using a USB transfer cable sold separately. [35] If removed from its casing, a hard drive from a previous generation Xbox 360 can be implanted into the drive bay instead of purchasing a hard drive branded for use with the new model. [35] [32]
Unlike previous generations of the console which had names to distinguish different SKUs , the new models' retail units were branded by their internal storage capacity [3] in a similar fashion to the various models of its main competitor the PlayStation 3. When the first new models began to ship, remaining stock of the Elite package dropped in price to US$249.99 [26] or A$349 [36] and the Arcade dropped to US$149.99. [3]
The first Xbox 360 S SKU revealed included a 250 GB hard drive [37] and its casing featured a glossy black finish. It was shipped to US retailers the same day it was announced (June 14, 2010) and went on sale later that week. It was released in Australia on July 1, 2010, [38] in New Zealand on July 8, 2010 [38] and in Europe on July 16, 2010. It retails at US$ 299.99, [38] £ 199.99, [38] A$ 449.00, [38] NZ$ 499.00 [38] or € 249.00, replacing the Xbox 360 Elite at that price point. [26]
In August 2011, Microsoft announced they would be streamlining their models by discontinuing the glossy finish and that future 250 GB consoles would use the matte finish found on 4 GB models. [39] [40]
A second SKU which included 4 GB of internal flash storage and had a matte black casing (much like the Xbox 360 Elite) [41] was released on August 3, 2010 in the US [41] and August 20, 2010 in Europe. [42] It replaced the Xbox 360 Arcade and is priced at US$ 199.99, £ 149.99 or € 199.99. [3] [41] [42] [43] [44] Although this model has onboard storage, Xbox Product Director Aaron Greenberg confirmed that it does have a drive bay which Microsoft has "the opportunity to use in the future". [41] On August 20, 2010, Microsoft announced a 250 GB stand-alone hard drive for use with Xbox 360 S models priced at US$129.99.
Xbox 360 S special editions [ edit ]
250 GB models [ edit ]
- A Halo: Reach special edition bundle was made available concurrently with the game on September 14, 2010. It consists of a custom Halo: Reach branded silver 250 GB Xbox 360 S console, two silver and black branded controllers, a black wired headset, and a copy of the game. The press release in which it was announced also revealed that it not only captures the look and feel of the game, but also features custom sound effects from the Halo universe that are played when the console is switched on and off or when the disc tray is opened and closed. The bundle retailed for US$399. The branded controllers were also sold as standalone products. [77] [78]
320 GB models [ edit ]
- On June 7, 2011, Microsoft announced a "Limited Collector's Edition" (LCE) Xbox 360 S console to coincide with the launch of Gears of War 3 (September 20, 2011). [54] The console features a metallic red finish with black Gears of War 3 branding. [54] Unlike other Xbox 360 consoles, the Gears of War 3 LCE features a 320 GB hard drive [54] and sounds from the Gears of War 3 game are played when the console is switched on and off or the disc tray is opened and closed. [79] It is bundled with two custom branded glossy red Gears of War 3 wireless controllers (with transforming D-pad), a black wired headset, and a copy of the game with a download code for additional in-game content. [54]
- On July 21, 2011, Microsoft announced the "Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars Bundle". [55] The bundle includes a 320 GB Xbox 360 S console, which features R2-D2 based artwork and custom R2-D2 themed power on and off/tray eject sounds and a ring of light that glows blue instead of green, a white Kinect sensor, a gold and black C-3PO themed wireless controller (with transforming D-pad), a black wired headset, and a copy of Kinect Star Wars (with exclusive downloadable content) and Kinect Adventures . [55] It was subsequently delayed until April 3, 2012. [80] [81]
- On September 2, 2011, Microsoft announced the "Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Bundle". The bundle includes a 320 GB Xbox 360 S console, which features Modern Warfare 3 based artwork and custom Modern Warfare 3 themed power on and off/tray eject sounds, two Modern Warfare 3 themed wireless controllers (with transforming D-pad), a black wired headset, and a copy of the game. [57] The console was released on November 8, 2011 in North America, Australasia and the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. [57]
- On July 14, 2012, Microsoft announced the "Limited Edition Halo 4 Bundle". The bundle was released on November 6, 2012, alongside the game. [82] The bundle includes a 320 GB Xbox 360 S, featuring a translucent case with Halo 4 themed artwork and power on and off/tray eject sounds, two exclusive Halo 4 themed wireless controllers (with transforming D-pad), a black wired headset, and a copy of the game with exclusive DLC. [82] The ring of light on this console and its accompanying controllers are blue rather than the green found on other Xbox 360 models
Xbox 360 Launch Team Edition [ edit ]
A white console with green accents was released in 2005 only to the Xbox 360 Launch Team as a gift from Microsoft. The consoles came complete with a 20 GB HDD also in green to match the top and bottom sections that are typically grey in color. The HDD plate was also personalized and engraved with the team member's gamertag , with a few examples of non-gamertag engravings such as the console release date "November 22, 2005" or "3 Years of Pain". [84] The consoles came with a limited issue controller to accompany the console. The grey trim on the controller is also replaced with molded green plastic to match the console. Each console came with a plain white faceplate. However, as an additional gift, each team member was given an additional packaged faceplate with one of a kind art with the caption "I Made This" on the USB door of the faceplate. Very few examples have been sold off from original team members' collections. Larry Hryb , better known as "Major Nelson", is known to own one which he displays pictures of on his website has been a member of the Launch Team. [85] The special edition Launch Team console, hard drive, controller and the special faceplate were never sold in stores or meant for the general public. It is unknown how many of these very rare consoles exist today. It was originally made in 2005.
Legacy
The Xbox 360 sold much better than its predecessor, and although not the best-selling console of the seventh generation, it is regarded as a success since it strengthened Microsoft as a major force in the console market at the expense of well-established rivals. [30] The inexpensive Wii did sell the most console units but eventually saw a collapse of third-party software support in its later years, and it has been viewed by some as a fad since the succeeding Wii U had a poor debut in 2012. [27] [73] [74] [75] [76] [77] The PlayStation 3 struggled for a time due to being too expensive and initially lacking quality games, [78] making it far less dominant than its predecessor, the PlayStation 2 , and it took until late in the PlayStation 3's lifespan for its sales and games to reach parity with the Xbox 360. TechRadar proclaimed that "Xbox 360 passes the baton as the king of the hill – a position that puts all the more pressure on its successor, Xbox One". [27]
The Xbox 360's advantage over its competitors was due to the release of high-profile games from both first party and third-party developers. The 2007 Game Critics Awards honored the platform with 38 nominations and 12 wins – more than any other platform. [79] [80] By March 2008, the Xbox 360 had reached a software attach rate of 7.5 games per console in the US; the rate was 7.0 in Europe, while its competitors were 3.8 (PS3) and 3.5 (Wii), according to Microsoft. [81] At the 2008 Game Developers Conference , Microsoft announced that it expected over 1,000 games available for Xbox 360 by the end of the year. [82] As well as enjoying exclusives such as additions to the Halo franchise and Gears of War , the Xbox 360 has managed to gain a simultaneous release of games that were initially planned to be PS3 exclusives, including Devil May Cry 4 , [83] Ace Combat 6 , [84] Virtua Fighter 5 , [85] Grand Theft Auto IV , [86] Final Fantasy XIII , [87] Tekken 6 , [88] Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance , [89] and L.A. Noire . [90] In addition, Xbox 360 versions of cross-platform games were generally considered superior to their PS3 counterparts in 2006 and 2007, due in part to the difficulties of programming for the PS3. [91]
TechRadar deemed the Xbox 360 as the most influential game system through its emphasis of digital media distribution, Xbox Live online gaming service, and game achievement feature. [27] During the console's lifetime, the Xbox brand has grown from gaming-only to encompassing all multimedia, turning it into a hub for "living-room computing environment". [24] [25] [26]
Microsoft announced the successor to the Xbox 360, the Xbox One , on May 21, 2013. [92] On April 20, 2016, Microsoft announced the end of production of new Xbox 360 hardware, though the company will continue to provide hardware and software support for the platform as selected Xbox 360 games are playable on Xbox One. [93] The Xbox 360 continued to be supported by major publishers with new games well into the Xbox One's lifecycle. New titles were still being released in 2018. [94] The Xbox 360 continues to have an active player base years after the system's discontinuation. Speaking to Engadget at E3 2019 after the announcement of Project Scarlett , the next-generation of Xbox consoles after the Xbox One, Phil Spencer stated that there were still "millions and millions of players" active on the Xbox 360. [95] After the launch of the Xbox Series X and S by the end of 2020, the Xbox 360 still had a 17.7% market share of all consoles in use in Mexico; comparatively, newer systems like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 stood at 36.9% and 18.0% market share, respectively.
Released Date.| 2010 Worldwide
Discontinued.| n/a
Worldwide Units Sold.| 84 Million (2014)
Predecessor.| Xbox
Successor.| Xbox One