Every Xbox Console: A Full History of Release Dates

Xbox, one of the three major players in the gaming console market, has consistently delivered innovative consoles since its debut in 2001. From its humble beginnings as an unknown brand, it's evolved into a household name, expanding its reach into TV, multimedia, and the popular Xbox Game Pass subscription service. As we approach the midpoint of the current console generation, let's explore the rich history of Xbox consoles.

Which Xbox had the best games? ------------------------------

Original XboxXbox 360Xbox OneXbox Series X|S

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How Many Xbox Consoles Have There Been?

There have been a total of nine Xbox consoles across four generations. Since the original Xbox launched in 2001, Microsoft has consistently released new consoles with improved hardware, controllers, and features. This count includes console revisions with enhancements like better cooling and faster speeds.

Latest Budget Option### Xbox Series S (512GB - Robot White)

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Every Xbox Console in Order of Release

Xbox - November 15, 2001

Launched in November 2001, the original Xbox competed against the Nintendo GameCube and Sony PlayStation 2. This marked Microsoft's entry into the console market, and the launch title, Halo: Combat Evolved, became a massive success, establishing both the Xbox brand and the Halo franchise. Many of the original Xbox's best games remain fondly remembered today.

Xbox 360 - November 22, 2005

The Xbox 360, Microsoft's second console, benefited from the brand recognition established by its predecessor. Known for its focus on multiplayer gaming, the 360 introduced innovations in accessories and peripherals, most notably the Kinect motion sensor. With over 84 million units sold, it remains the most successful Xbox console, and its best games continue to hold relevance.

Xbox 360 S - June 18, 2010

The Xbox 360 S offered a slimmer design and significant internal improvements. Addressing the infamous "Red Ring of Death" issue that plagued the original model, it featured a redesigned cooling system and increased hard drive capacity (up to 320GB).

Xbox 360 E - June 10, 2013

Released shortly before the Xbox One, the Xbox 360 E featured a design that foreshadowed the aesthetic of the next-generation console. It had a slimmer profile and a redesigned disc drive mechanism, marking a departure from the pop-out design of previous models.

Xbox One - November 22, 2013

The Xbox One ushered in Microsoft's third console generation, offering increased power and expanded applications for developers. It launched alongside Kinect 2.0 and a redesigned controller, which remains largely unchanged in its core design to this day.

Xbox One S - August 2, 2016

The Xbox One S introduced 4K video output and 4K Blu-ray playback, establishing it as a versatile entertainment system. Games were upscaled to 4K, and the console itself was 40% smaller than the original Xbox One.

Xbox One X - November 7, 2017

The Xbox One X delivered true 4K gaming, boasting a 31% increase in GPU performance over the standard Xbox One and improved cooling. It significantly enhanced performance for many Xbox One titles.

Xbox Series X - November 10, 2020

Revealed at The Game Awards 2019, the Xbox Series X supports 120 frames-per-second, Dolby Vision, and frame rate/resolution boosting for older games. Key features include Quick Resume, allowing for seamless transitions between games.

Xbox Series S - November 10, 2020

The Xbox Series S, launched alongside the Series X, provided a more affordable entry point to the Xbox ecosystem. A digital-only console, it offers 512GB of storage and supports up to 1440p resolution. A 1TB model was released in 2023.

Future Xbox Consoles

While no specific hardware announcements have been made beyond the Series X|S, Microsoft has confirmed work on at least two new consoles: a next-gen home console and a handheld Xbox. Both are likely years away. Microsoft aims for its next home console to represent "the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation."