Four engineers from Microsoft's DirectX team started discussing ideas for a new console running off Microsoft's DirectX technology, codenamed 'Midway' as a representation of Microsoft's desire to surpass Sony in the console market.

The DirectX team held their first development meeting on March 30, 1999, discussing issues like booting a PC quicker than usual and planning to run the console off Windows 2000 using DirectX 8.1.

The DirectX team and the Silicon Valley engineering team behind WebTV pitched their arguments to Bill Gates on May 5, 1999, regarding the design and components of the new console, with Gates ultimately siding with the DirectX team's concept.

At a meeting on February 14, 2000, informally referred to as the Valentine's Day Massacre, Bill Gates expressed frustration over the new cost proposal and significant changes in the Xbox design, but eventually approved the project to compete against Sony.

Microsoft officially unveiled the Xbox console to the public at CES 2001 in Las Vegas on January 3, 2001, with Bill Gates and professional wrestler Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson presenting.

On November 15, 2001, Xbox was launched, marking the beginning of a new era in gaming.

On November 15, 2001, Microsoft released the original Xbox, marking its entry into the gaming console market. Competing with Sony's PlayStation 2, Sega's Dreamcast, and Nintendo's GameCube, the Xbox featured cutting-edge hardware and introduced the Xbox Live service for online gaming.

For the week ending May 26, 2002, the Xbox managed to outsell the GameCube in Japan, a rare achievement in its sales performance.

Microsoft launched its Xbox Live online gaming service on November 15, 2002. Subscribers were able to play online Xbox games with others globally and download new content directly to the system's hard drive.

The arbitration between Microsoft and Nvidia over chip pricing for the Xbox was privately settled on February 6, 2003.

On July 18, 2004, the Xbox only sold 272 units in Japan, indicating ongoing struggles in the market.

Halo 2, released in November 2004, was a milestone title for Xbox Live, becoming the best-selling Xbox video game and a popular online game for the system.

The Xbox webpage was archived on February 23, 2005 by the Wayback Machine.

The Xbox 360 was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, and later detailed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), selling out upon release in most regions.

In 2005, Microsoft launched the Xbox 360, the second generation of Xbox consoles. With improved features and capabilities, the Xbox 360 became a popular choice among gamers, selling 84 million units during its lifespan.

The Xbox 360 had a variety of very popular exclusive titles like Gears of War and Dead Rising, contributing to its large fanbase.

Madden NFL 09 was the last game released on the original Xbox, launching on August 12, 2008, as Microsoft began phasing out the console in favor of the Xbox 360.

Support for out-of-warranty Xbox consoles was discontinued on March 2, 2009, marking the end of official assistance for older Xbox systems.

On April 14, 2010, Xbox Live support for the original Xbox games was discontinued. Despite the scheduled services being stopped, a group of users known as the 'Noble 14' continued to play by leaving their consoles connected to Halo 2.

The Xbox 360 S was launched as an upgraded version of the Xbox 360, marking the second console release in the second generation of Xbox Consoles.

Kinect was officially launched in North America on November 4, 2010, for the Xbox 360 console, introducing motion sensing technology to control the console without a traditional game controller.

Kinect was released in Europe on November 10, 2010, expanding its availability to a wider audience of Xbox 360 users.

Kinect became available in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore on November 18, 2010, reaching more regions globally.

Kinect was introduced in Japan on November 20, 2010, marking its entry into the Asian market.

Microsoft released the Kinect software development kit for Windows 7 on June 16, 2011, enabling developers to create applications using Kinect technology.

Skyrim set a new standard for fantasy and open-world gaming, offering players a rich and immersive experience. It remains a favorite among gamers despite its age.

Microsoft launched Kinect for Windows on February 1, 2012, providing PC users with the motion sensing technology previously available for Xbox 360.

Microsoft announced and released the Xbox app, a companion application available on various platforms, including Windows and mobile devices, to enhance interactive entertainment and connectivity with Xbox consoles.

Additional details about the Xbox One Kinect were disclosed on June 6, 2013, including features like the ability to disable the 'always on' function.

The console was aimed at players who preferred not to invest in the upcoming Xbox One. It featured specifications such as a tri-core CPU, 512 MB GDDR3 RAM, and a 250 GB HDD.

GTA 5 has become a massive success, selling over 185 million copies since its release. It is considered one of the bestselling video games in history.

The Xbox One was released on November 22, 2013, as the successor to the Xbox 360, competing in the eighth generation of consoles. It featured an AMD APU and emphasized internet-based features.

Since November 2014, Microsoft decided not to release sales figures for the Xbox One line to avoid affecting their developers' focus on product quality.

A year-and-a-half after its launch in June 2015, Xbox One gained backward compatibility with Xbox 360 titles, allowing players to enjoy a variety of games from the previous generation.

Microsoft announced the Xbox One S at E3 2016, featuring a smaller form factor, 4K video support, and HDR capabilities.

The Xbox One S was released on August 2, 2016.

Microsoft launched Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service that grants users access to a catalog of games from various publishers for a monthly subscription fee.

The Xbox One X was released on November 7, 2017. It was a powerful console aimed at delivering high-quality gaming experience with enhanced graphics and performance.

At E3 2017, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One X, a high-end model designed for 4K gaming, showcasing improved hardware capabilities for enhanced gaming experiences.

Red Dead Redemption 2, part of the popular Red Dead franchise, has captivated Western fans with its unique open-world design. It has sold over 55 million copies and is among the top 10 bestselling games.

Microsoft Game Studios changed their name to Xbox Game Studios to align with their focus on hardware development, game production, and studio acquisitions within the Xbox brand.

Microsoft launched the Xbox Series X and S, the latest generation of Xbox consoles, offering improved performance and features for gamers. These consoles aimed to compete in the gaming market with enhanced technology.

Microsoft organized a special stream to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Xbox on November 15, 2021.

Microsoft announced the release of a documentary titled 'Power On: The Story of Xbox' during the anniversary stream. The documentary was released in six parts starting on December 13, 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the Xbox Series X has sold an estimated 12 million units. This indicates the popularity and success of the console in the market.

Elden Ring, released in 2022, quickly became a popular game known for its challenging gameplay and vast fantasy world, drawing comparisons to Skyrim as a spiritual successor.

In July 2023, Microsoft disclosed that the Xbox One line had sold over 58 million units.

The Xbox 360 was showcased at the Tokyo Game Show in 2024.