Microsoft Muscles Its Way into Console Gaming with Original Xbox
On November 15, 2001, Microsoft released its Xbox console in North America, entering a gaming industry traditionally dominated by Japanese companies.
The original Xbox was enormous compared to its competitors, with a similarly oversized controller. A green circle bearing the letter X sat at its centre. Despite being in hostile territory, with Sony's PlayStation already established and Nintendo faltering, Microsoft managed to remain one of the three names that define console gaming 25 years later.
The original Xbox never came close to defeating the PlayStation 2 commercially, but it laid the groundwork for future success. It introduced Halo, brought broadband multiplayer into the mainstream, and created an online infrastructure that influenced subsequent gaming systems.