Produced by Microsoft, Xbox 360 is a home video game console succeeding the classic Xbox. It was the primary line of attack against Wii from Nintendo and PlayStation 3 from Sony. It was introduced to the audience in the spring of 2005, at MTV. However, the main details were released later on.
Unlike other consoles, this one comes with its proprietary online service, known as Xbox Live. It wasn’t a new system, but it kept gaining updates on a regular basis, hence its popularity. Xbox Live was also available in a few versions, both free and premium.
While Xbox Live wasn't mandatory, it enhanced the actual experience. Players could compete against each other online, not to mention downloading games, finding music and TV shows or accessing third-party content. Users could also stream stuff from their own computers.
To make the experience even better, peripherals didn’t hesitate to come out either. Controllers, hard drive storage, motion cameras, you name it. Extra services and accessories turned the Xbox 360 into more than just a gaming console. It was a multimedia and entertainment hub, ideal for any living room out there.
Launched all over the world over 2005 and 2006, Xbox 360 sold out fairly fast. The supply didn’t meet the demand. However, the first versions came with a serious issue, the red ring of death. The failure rate was sorted with newer releases and extended warranties.
All in all, over its long lifespan, Xbox 360 was the best selling console created by an American name. It couldn’t compete against alternatives from Japan, but it became an influential masterpiece of its generation, mainly because of the media capabilities and multiplayer features.
With its successor Xbox One released in the fall of 2013, the end of Xbox 360 was relatively close. However, Microsoft kept making it until 2016. Furthermore, the company announced ceasing support in the summer of 2024.
Despite the support ending, the console can still be used, especially for stuff that’s already been downloaded.
Xbox 360 supported countless games, but some of the releases stood out in the crowd. Grand Theft Auto IV and V, BioShock, The Orange Box, Mass Effect 2 and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim are just some of the most popular names out there, but the list is much longer.
Besides, the console wasn’t all about games, but also about applications coming with it. It grew to become a multimedia hub, rather than just a gaming platform, hence its popularity.Some of the applications associated with Xbox 360 include Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm, Sky Player, Zune, Vodafone Casa TV and Optik TV, among others. For each country it was available in, the console had its own applications. Some of them were exclusive to certain countries only.
While it looks like a thing of the past, the truth is people can still experience the Xbox 360 gaming platform. There are countless ROMs available for download today, suitable for different operating systems and platforms. Basically, it feels like moving the Xbox 360 to a modern system.