The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft, and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles. As of January 2011, there are over 50 million Xbox 360 consoles worldwide.
The Xbox 360 was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged later that month at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The console sold out completely upon release in all regions except in Japan.
Some major features of the Xbox 360 are its integrated Xbox Live service that allows players to compete online, download arcade games, game demos, trailers, TV shows, music and movies and its Windows Media Center multimedia capabilities. The Xbox 360 also offers region specific access to third-party media streaming services such as Netflix and ESPN in the US or Sky Player in the UK.
At their E3 presentation on June 14, 2010, Microsoft announced a redesigned Xbox 360 that would ship on the same day. The redesigned console is slimmer than the previous Xbox 360 model and features integrated 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, TOSLINK S/PDIF optical audio output, 5 USB 2.0 ports (compared to the 3 from older versions) and a special AUX port.Older models of the Xbox 360 have since been discontinued.The first new console to be released features a 250 GB hard drive, while a later, less expensive SKU features 4 GB internal storage.
With the announcement of the Xbox 360 S, Microsoft have said that they believe that the console is only mid-way through its life-cycle and will continue through 2015. In 2009, IGN named the Xbox 360 the sixth greatest video game console of all time, out of a field of 25.
Development:
Known during development as Xbox Next, Xenon, Xbox 2, Xbox FS or NextBox , the Xbox 360 was conceived in early 2003. In February 2003, planning for the Xenon software platform began, and was headed by Microsoft's Vice President J Allard. That month, Microsoft held an event for 400 developers in Bellevue, Washington to recruit support for the system. Also that month, Peter Moore, former president of Sega of America, joined Microsoft. On August 12, 2003, ATI signed on to produce the graphic processing unit for the new console, a deal which was publicly announced two days later. Before the launch of the Xbox 360, several Alpha development kits were spotted using Apple's Power Mac G5 hardware. This was due to the system's PowerPC 970 processor running the same PowerPC architecture that the Xbox 360 would eventually run under IBM's Xenon processor. The cores of the Xenon processor were developed using a slightly modified version of the PlayStation 3's Cell Processor PPE architecture. According to David Shippy and Mickie Phipps, the IBM employees were "hiding" their work from Sony and Toshiba.". Jeff Minter created the music visualization program Neon which is included with the Xbox 360.
Launch:
The Xbox 360 was released on November 22, 2005, in the United States and Canada; December 2, 2005, in Europe and December 10, 2005, in Japan. It was later launched in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Russia. In its first year on the market, the system launched in 36 countries, more countries than any console has launched in a single year.
Retail Configurations:
At launch, the Xbox 360 was available in two configurations: the "Xbox 360" package (unofficially known as the 20 GB Pro or Premium), priced at US$ 399 or GB£ 279.99, and the "Xbox 360 Core," priced at US$299 and GB£209.99. The original shipment of the Xbox 360 version included a cut-down version of the Media Remote as a promotion. The Elite package was launched later at US$479. The "Xbox 360 Core" was replaced by the "Xbox 360 Arcade" in October 2007 and a 60 GB version of the Xbox 360 Pro was released on August 1, 2008. The Pro package was discontinued and marked down to US$249 on August 28, 2009 to be sold until stock ran out, while the Elite was also marked down in price to US$299. In June 2010, Microsoft announced a new, redesigned, model and the discontinuation of the Elite and Arcade models.
Current models (Xbox 360 S):
It was speculated that a complete redesign of the Xbox 360 hardware was being produced after pictures of a possible new motherboard design surfaced on March 17, 2010. Ads later surfaced on June 13, 2010 showing a slimmer Xbox 360 design, which was expected to include a 250 GB hard drive and integrated Wi-Fi functionality.Technically designated the Xbox 360 S and marketed simply as the Xbox 360; current Xbox 360 consoles are based around a redesign of the Xbox 360 hardware which was officially announced on June 14, 2010 during a press briefing prior to that year's E3.
Xbox 360 S consoles feature redesigned internal architecture with the Valhalla motherboard, which allows for around 30% more space than previous motherboards, and the XCGPU, an integrated CPU/GPU/eDRAM chip using a 45 nm fabrication process. This allows them to be both smaller and quieter than the previous versions of the Xbox 360. They also feature 5 standard USB 2.0 ports (2 more than previous models) and an additional custom USB port for use with peripherals such as the Kinect sensor. Unlike older models, 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and a TOSLINK S/PDIF optical audio connector are also built-in, allowing for digital audio and wireless networking without the need for external adapters. The Memory Unit slots found on previous consoles have been removed in favor of the USB flash drive solution added in a previous system software update (released on April 6, 2010) and the power and DVD drive eject 'buttons' are touch sensitive rather than the physical buttons found on previous models. The external hard disk drive connector has also been swapped for an internal bay for use with a proprietary hard drive; this is neither a standard drive nor compatible with older models. Other notable hardware changes include the use of one larger fan compared to the previous Xbox 360 models (which used two smaller ones) and the design of the vents, which are similar to those used on the original Xbox. Unlike previous generations of the console which had names to distinguish different SKUs, the new models are to be marketed solely by the amount of included storage, in a similar fashion to current models of its main competitor the PlayStation 3. When the first new models began to ship, remaining stock of the Elite package dropped in price to US$249.99 or AU$349 and the Arcade dropped to US$149.99.
Xbox 360 250 GB:
The first Xbox 360 S SKU to be revealed includes a 250 GB hard drive and its casing features a glossy black finish. It was shipped to US retailers the same day it was announced (June 14, 2010) and went on sale later that week. It was released in Australia on July 1, 2010, in New Zealand on July 8, 2010 and in Europe on July 16, 2010. It retails at US$ 299.99, £ 199.99,] AU$449.00, NZ$ 499.00 or€ 249.00, replacing the Xbox 360 Elite at that price point.
Xbox 360 4 GB:
A second SKU which includes 4 GB of internal flash storage and has matte black casing (much like the Xbox 360 Elite) was released on August 3, 2010 in the US and August 20, 2010 in the Europe. It replaced the Xbox 360 Arcade and is priced at US$ 199.99, £ 149.99 or€ 199.99. Although this model has on-board storage, Xbox Product Director Aaron Greenberg confirmed that it does have a drive bay which Microsoft has "the opportunity to use in the future". On August 20, 2010, Microsoft announced a 250 GB stand-alone hard drive for use with Xbox 360 S models priced at US$129.99.
Discontinued models:
The Xbox 360 Core was an entry level Xbox 360 which was later replaced with the "Arcade". Although available at launch in other regions, it was not available in Japan until November 2, 2006. The Coresystem came bundled with composite video cables, capable of only SDTV resolutions. It was however capable of the same HDTV resolutions (up to 1080i) as the other models when connected to a separately sold Component cable. In October 2006, 1080p support was added for all models in a system update, including the "Core" using either the component cable, or the new VGA cable (although 1080p via component was not widely supported by televisions). It may also utilize a separately sold Xbox 360 hard drive. Unlike all other SKUs, it shipped with a wired version of the Xbox 360 controller, instead of the wireless version found in other SKUs.Xbox 360 Core:
Xbox 360 Pro / Xbox 360 Premium:
The Xbox 360 Pro (sometimes referred to as Premium and packaged as simply Xbox 360 with the subheading "Go Pro") included all the features of the Xbox 360 Arcade and included a hybrid composite and component cable with optional optical out instead of a composite cable. This model also included a detachable Hard Disk Drive (initially 20 GB, while later models had 60 GB) to store downloaded content, provide compatibility with original Xbox games, and store game data. The included hard drive came with game demos, video clips and a free Live Arcade game, Hexic HD. In July 2007, this version of the Xbox 360 began appearing with the Zephyr motherboard (the motherboard used in the Elite) which features HDMI 1.2 output and an improved GPU heatsink. Although this package did include an HDMI output, it did not come with an HDMI cable. Starting at the end of September 2007, the newest systems were shipped with the new "Falcon" motherboard. This motherboard includes the new 65-nm CPUs, making them quieter and cooler than the older systems. On August 1, 2008, the 20 GB version was discontinued and was replaced by a 60 GB HDD model at the same price. Holiday 2008 consoles were bundled with Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures and Kung Fu Panda. Price cuts that took effect on September 4, 2008 reduced the price from $349 to $299. The Xbox 360 Pro, following its discontinuation, retailed for $249.99 until stocks were exhausted.
Xbox 360 Elite:
The Xbox 360 Elite included a 120 GB hard drive and a matte black finish. The Elite retail package also included a controller and headset that match the system's black finish. The initial release price was $479.99 USD, C$549.99, £299.99, and AU$729.95. The Elite was released in North America on April 29, 2007, Europe on August 24, 2007, and Australia on August 30, 2007. These Elites (and other Xbox 360 models using the Falcon) can be identified from earlier versions by a re-designed power connector and a power supply rated to 175 W. In 2009, Elite models using the Jasper chipset became available. These can also be identified by their power supply, which is rated at 150W and has a 12.1A 12v rail. Holiday 2008 consoles were bundled with Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures and Kung Fu Panda. The Elite's price tag was cut from $449 to $399 on September 4, 2008. With the announcement of the new Xbox 360 250 GB model, the Elite dropped in price to US$249.99 for remaining units until stocks are exhausted.
Xbox 360 Arcade:
The Xbox 360 Arcade replaced the "Xbox 360 Core" as the entry level Xbox 360 on October 23, 2007, while retaining the Core's price of US$279.99. It was publicly revealed by Microsoft's president of Entertainment Devices division Robbie Bach to the Financial Times on October 18, 2007, and officially announced on October 22, 2007, although it was available in stores far earlier. It included a wireless controller, composite AV cable, HDMI 1.2 output, a 256 MB memory unit and 5 Xbox Live Arcade titles: Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship Edition, and Uno on a single disk, which also included a "Welcome Video" and several game trailers/demos. Like its predecessor the "Core", it did not include a hard disk drive, which is required for Xbox software backwards compatibility. In Autumn (Fall) 2008, with the introduction of the Jasper motherboard revision, the memory unit was removed from the package and replaced with an 256 MB internal memory chip. This was later upgraded to a 512 MB chip in Summer 2009. Holiday 2008 consoles were bundled with Sega Superstars Tennis.With the price cuts on September 4, 2008, the Arcade fell from US$279 to US$199 in the US. In the UK, with the 2009 Elite price drop and discontinuation of the "Premium" Pro SKU, the Arcade price rose from GB£129.99 to GB£159.99. With the unveiling of the Xbox 360 S redesign, the Arcade dropped in price to US$149.99 for remaining units until stocks are exhausted. The Arcade was replaced at the US$200 price tier by the 4 GB Xbox 360 S.
Xbox 360 Super Elite
The Xbox 360 Elite has also been configured with a 250 GB hard disk drive and 2 wireless controllers on special limited editions of the console. Also referred to as the Xbox 360 Super Elite the console retailed at US$399.99, GB£249.99 and AU$599.00 as of November 10, 2009. A Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 bundle included a special limited edition black console featuring Modern Warfare 2 branding. Other bundles included a standard Elite finish and either the game Forza Motorsport 3 or both Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST. On March 9, 2010, alongside the release of Final Fantasy XIII, Microsoft released another 250 GB bundle with the same extras as the Modern Warfare bundle except bundled with the Final Fantasy XIII game. Unlike other Super Elites, this console and its accessories featured a the same white color scheme as "Pro" models. This bundle also included exclusive downloadable items for use with Xbox 360 avatars and a specially branded 250 GB hard drive. In April 2010, a Splinter Cell: Conviction Super Elite bundle featuring special print on the console and the same extras as the other bundles was released along side the Splinter Cell: Conviction game.
Comparison of features
Information is based on current specifications for standard packages. Older or holiday packages may differ from current configurations.
| Model | Storage | HDMI | Appearance | Accessories/Bundled items | Suggested retail price | First available | In prod. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 250 GB HDD | Yes | Gloss black Gloss black disc drive | Wireless controller Wired Headset Composite video cable[b] |  $299.99  $299.99  £199.99  €249.99  $449.00  $499.00 |
| Yes | |
| 4 GB onboard | Yes | Matte black Matte black disc drive | Wireless controller Composite video cable[b] | $199.99 £149.99 |
| Yes | ||
| Elite | 250 GB HDD[a] | Yes | Matte black Chrome disc drive | Ethernet cable Wired Headset Composite video cable[b][g] | 2 wireless controllers | $399.99 $399.99 £249.99 €329.99 $599.00 | October 23, 2009 | No |
| 120 GB HDD | 1 wireless controller | $299.99 $299.99 £199.99 €299.99  ¥29,800 $549.00 | April 29, 2007 | No | ||||
| Arcade | 512 MB onboard | Yes | Matte white Matte white disc drive | Wireless controller Composite video cable[b] Xbox Live Arcade compilation disc[e] (not included with all units) | $199.99 $149.99 £159.99 €179.99 ¥19,800 $299.00 | June 2009 | No | |
| 256 MB onboard | December 2008 | No | ||||||
| 256 MB memory unit | October 23, 2007 | |||||||
| Pro | 60 GB HDD | Yes | Matte white Chrome disc drive | Wireless controller Ethernet cable Wired Headset[f] Hybrid video cable[c] | $249.99 $299.99 £169.99 €239.99 ¥29,800 $399.00 | September 1, 2008 | No | |
| 20 GB HDD | After 2007 | November 22, 2005 | No | |||||
| Core | None | No | Matte white Matte white disc drive | Wired controller Composite video cable[b] | $279.99 £199.99 ¥27,800 | November 22, 2005 | No | |
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