Microsoft’s entry into gaming began with a bold move in the early 2000s, when the original Xbox introduced console players to PC-inspired power, built-in hard drives, and a new standard for online multiplayer through Xbox Live. This first generation helped establish Xbox as a serious competitor, shaping modern console gaming with strong first-party franchises and an emphasis on connected play that was ahead of its time.
That foundation carried into the Xbox 360 era, a system that defined online console gaming for millions of players worldwide. With digital downloads, achievements, and a vast multiplayer ecosystem, the Xbox 360 became a cultural touchstone of its generation. Today, both the original Xbox and Xbox 360 are widely considered classic or retro systems, valued for their influential libraries, pioneering online features, and the role they played in shaping the modern Xbox platform embraced by collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts alike.
