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The Xbox is a sixth-generation home console released by Microsoft, launching in North America in November 2001 before arriving in Japan and Europe in 2002.
Spec Table
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Microsoft |
| Type | Home console |
| Generation | 6th generation |
| Release Date | North America: November 15, 2001 (initial); Japan: February 22, 2002; PAL regions: March 14, 2002 |
| Launch Price | $299 USD |
| Units Sold | 24 million |
| Media | DVD, CD, digital distribution |
| CPU | Intel Pentium III @ 733 MHz with 64 MB DDR SDRAM; Nvidia NV2A GPU @ 233 MHz |
| Predecessor / Successor | None / Xbox 360 |
History
Microsoft entered the console business on November 15, 2001, positioning the Xbox as a direct challenger to Sony’s PlayStation 2 and Nintendo’s GameCube in the sixth console generation. The machine launched at $299 with Halo: Combat Evolved as its flagship title, a first-person shooter that would go on to sell 8.46 million copies and define the console’s identity for years afterward. Building the hardware around PC-derived components rather than custom silicon gave developers a familiar architecture but made the console expensive to manufacture.
Two features set the Xbox apart from its rivals at launch. It shipped with a built-in hard disk drive, the first mainstream console to do so, letting players save data and install content without memory cards. Microsoft paired that storage with Xbox Live, an online service debuting in November 2002 that unified player identities, friends lists, and voice chat across participating games, requiring broadband from the outset. The library leaned heavily on shooters and racing titles, with Halo’s competitive multiplayer turning Xbox Live into a proving ground for online play years before rivals caught up.
Despite selling roughly 24 million units worldwide, the Xbox struggled outside North America and never approached PlayStation 2’s dominance in Japan and Europe. Manufacturing costs consistently exceeded the console’s retail price, and Microsoft absorbed an estimated 4 billion dollars in losses before discontinuing it in 2005 to make way for the Xbox 360. Even so, the original Xbox established the online infrastructure that Microsoft’s later consoles would build on directly.
Library Highlights
The Xbox’s library was built around fast-paced action and racing titles that showed off its PC-style hardware, alongside the online multiplayer experiences that Xbox Live made possible.
- Halo: Combat Evolved
- Project Gotham Racing
- Dead or Alive 3
- Splinter Cell
- Grand Theft Auto III
- Metal Gear Solid 2
- Jet Grind Radio
- Forza Motorsport
Variants
Microsoft sold the Xbox in several controller and storage bundle configurations over its lifetime, including Halo-themed and Crystal (translucent) special editions, but the console itself did not receive a major mid-cycle hardware redesign comparable to later “slim” revisions from other manufacturers. Regional units differed mainly in included cables and DVD region locking rather than internal hardware. No major hardware variants beyond these cosmetic and bundle differences are documented. See the full Microsoft manufacturer hub for other systems the company released.
Collector Value
Original Xbox consoles are widely available on the secondhand market and remain relatively affordable compared to other sixth-generation systems, though prices climb for complete-in-box units and rarer special editions like the Halo bundle. A known weak point is the internal clock capacitor, which can leak and damage the motherboard over time, so buyers should ask sellers whether that capacitor has been removed or replaced. Loose consoles with a tested DVD drive are common, while sealed units are scarce and priced accordingly for collectors chasing pristine examples.
Buying Guide
Before buying a used original Xbox, confirm the seller has tested the DVD/CD drive, since the laser assembly is a common failure point on this hardware after two decades of use. Ask about the internal clock capacitor, a known source of motherboard corrosion, and check that the original controller and AV cable are included, as third-party replacements vary in quality. Also verify the hard drive spins up reliably, since Xbox was the first console built around one and drive failure is a common age-related issue.
FAQs
When did the Xbox come out?
The Xbox launched in North America on November 15, 2001, followed by Japan on February 22, 2002, and PAL regions (Europe and Australia) on March 14, 2002.
How many units did the Xbox sell?
The Xbox sold approximately 24 million units worldwide, with roughly 16 million of those sold in North America.
How much did the Xbox cost at launch?
The console launched at $299 USD.
What CPU does the Xbox use?
It uses an Intel Pentium III processor running at 733 MHz with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM, paired with an Nvidia NV2A graphics processor running at 233 MHz.
What console followed the Xbox?
Microsoft’s next home console was the Xbox 360, which succeeded the original Xbox as the company’s flagship system.
Sources
Facts on this page last verified 2026-07-16.