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).[17][18][19][20]
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.[21][22][23][24]
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,[25] and the Xbox 360 E in 2013.[26] 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.[24][27]
The Xbox 360's successor, the Xbox One, was released on ♠ November 22, 2013.[28] On April 20, 2024, Microsoft announced that it would end the production of new Xbox 360 hardware, ♠ although the company will continue to support the platform.[7] On August 17, 2024, Microsoft announced that on July 29, 2024, ♠ the Xbox 360 game marketplace will stop offering new purchases and Microsoft Movies & TV app will no longer function ♠ (the console will still be able to download previously purchased content, run it, and enter multiplayer sessions).[29][30]
History