Xbox 360

Xbox 360

TheXbox 360 is a home video game console developed byMicrosoft. As the successor to theoriginal Xbox, it is the second console in theXbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV in a program titledMTV Presents Xbox: The Next Generation Revealed on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch game information announced later that month at the 2005Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). As a seventh-generation console, it primarily competed withSony'sPlayStation 3 andNintendo'sWii.

The Xbox 360's online service,Xbox Live, was expanded from its previous iteration on the original Xbox and received regular updates during the console's lifetime. Available in free and subscription-based varieties, Xbox Live allows users to play games online; download games (throughXbox Live Arcade) and game demos; purchase and stream music, television programs, and films through theXbox Music andXbox Video portals; and access third-party content services through media streaming applications. In addition to online multimedia features, it allows users to stream media from local PCs. Several peripherals have been released, including wireless controllers, expanded hard drive storage, and theKinect motion sensing camera. The release of these additional services and peripherals helped the Xbox brand grow from gaming-only to encompass all multimedia, turning it into a hub for living-room computing entertainment.

Launched worldwide mostly between November 2005 and December 2006, the Xbox 360 was initially in short supply in many regions, including North America and Europe. The earliest versions of the console suffered from a high failure rate, indicated by the so-called "Red Ring of Death", necessitating an extension of the device's warranty period. Microsoft released two redesigned models of the console: the Xbox 360 S in 2010 and the Xbox 360 E in 2013.

The Xbox 360 is the ninth-highest-selling home video game console in history, and the highest-selling console made by an American company and by Microsoft. Although not the best-selling console of its generation, the Xbox 360 was deemed byTechRadar to be the most influential through its emphasis on digital media distribution and multiplayer gaming on Xbox Live. The Xbox 360's successor, theXbox One, was released on November 22, 2013. On April 20, 2016, Microsoft announced that it would end the production of new Xbox 360 hardware, although the company will continue to support the platform. On August 17, 2023, Microsoft announced that on July 29, 2024, the Xbox 360 game marketplace would stop offering new purchases and the Microsoft Movies & TV app would no longer function, although the console will still be able to download previously purchased content and enter multiplayer sessions.

History[]

Development[]

Known during development asXenon,Xbox 2,Xbox Next orNextBox, the Xbox 360 was conceived in early 2003. In February 2003, planning for the Xenon software platform began, and was headed by Microsoft VPJ Allard. That month, Microsoft held an event for 400 developers in Bellevue, Washington, to recruit support for the system. On August 12, 2003, ATI signed a deal to produce the graphics processing unit for the new console, a development that was publicly announced two days later. The following month, IBM signed on to develop the triple-core CPU for the console. Before the launch of the Xbox 360, several alpha development kits were spotted using Apple Power Mac G5 hardware. Games running on these were reported to be using 25-30% of the actual system's power. Microsoft chose to use these systems for theirPowerPC architecture, which is similar to that of the Xenon CPU used in the system. On October 24, 2005, Microsoft shut downXbox Live for a day to upgrade it for the Xbox 360.

Launch[]

The promotional campaign for Xbox 360 began on March 14, 2005, with the opening of an alternate reality game called OurColony. Throughout March and April, it offered challenges to its community, rewarding solutions with cropped pictures of the console and game screenshots. The end of OurColony occurred on May 12, 2005, with the release of a video featuring J. Allard of Microsoft showcasing the Xbox 360 console. The official unveiling of the Xbox 360 occurred the same day on MTV in a program calledMTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed. In October 2005, a similar alternate reality game was created, Hex168, to promote the system before 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, Colombia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, India, Brazil, Poland, and the Czech Republic. In its first year on the market, the system launched in 36 countries, more countries than any console has launched in a single year. On September 29, 2006, Microsoft announced that it would waive the cost for repairs due to technical problems on all consoles made before January 1, 2006, and refund any fees already paid. Due to its early launch, the Xbox 360 has a one-year lead on both of its competitors, Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii.

Critical reception[]

In 2009, IGN named the Xbox 360 the sixth-greatest video game console of all time, out of a field of 25. Although not the best-selling console of the seventh generation, the Xbox 360 was deemed byTechRadar to be the most influential by emphasizing digital media distribution and online gaming through Xbox Live, and by popularizing game achievement awards.PC Magazine considered the Xbox 360 the prototype for online gaming as it "proved that online gaming communities could thrive in the console space". Five years after the Xbox 360's debut, the well-receivedKinect motion capture camera was released, which set the record of being the fastest-selling consumer electronic device in history, and extended the life of the console.Edge ranked Xbox 360 the second-best console of the 1993–2013 period, stating "It had its own social network, cross-game chat, new indie games every week, and the best version of just about every multiformat game ...Killzone is noHalo and nowadaysGran Turismo is noForza, but it's not about the exclusives—there's nothing to trump Naughty Dog's PS3 output, after all. Rather, it's about the choices Microsoft made back in the original Xbox's lifetime. The PC-like architecture meant the early EA Sports games ran at 60fps compared to only 30 on PS3, Xbox Live meant every dedicated player had an existing friends list, andHalo meant Microsoft had the killer next-generation exclusive. And when developers demo games on PC now, they do it with a 360 pad—another industry benchmark, and a critical one."

Sales[]

The Xbox 360 began production only 69 days before launch, on September 14, 2005, and Microsoft was not able to supply enough systems to meet initial consumer demand in Europe or North America, selling out completely upon release in all regions except Japan. Forty thousand units were offered for sale on the auction site eBay during the initial week of release, 10% of the total supply. By year's end, Microsoft had shipped 1.5 million units, including 900,000 in North America, 500,000 in Europe, and 100,000 in Japan.

In May 2008, Microsoft announced that 10 million Xbox 360s had been sold and that it was the "first current generation gaming console" to surpass the 10 million figure in the US. In the US, the Xbox 360 was the leader in current-generation home console sales until June 2008, when the Wii surpassed it. By the end of March 2011, Xbox 360 sales in the US had reached 25.4 million units. Between January 2011 and October 2013, the Xbox 360 was the best-selling console in the United States for 32 consecutive months. By the end of 2014, Xbox 360 sales had surpassed sales of the Wii, making the Xbox 360 the best-selling 7th-generation console in the US once again. In Canada, the Xbox 360 has sold a total of 870,000 units as of August 1, 2008.

In Europe, the Xbox 360 has sold seven million units as of November 20, 2008. The Xbox 360 took 110 weeks to reach 2 million units sold in the UK, generating £507m in revenue. Sales in the United Kingdom would reach 3.2 million units by January 2009, per GfK Chart-Track. The 8 million unit mark was crossed in the UK by February 2013. Sales of the Xbox 360 would overtake the Wii later that year, topping 9 million units, making the Xbox 360 the best-selling 7th-generation console in the UK, as well as making it the third best-selling console of all time in the region, behind the PS2 and Nintendo DS. Over 1 million units were sold in Spain across the console's lifecycle.

The Xbox 360 crossed the 1 million units sold in Japan in March 2009 and the 1.5 million units sold in June 2011. Lifetime sales of the Xbox 360 in Japan stand at 1,616,218 units. While the Xbox 360 has sold poorly in Japan, it improved upon the sales of the original Xbox, which had total sales of 474,992 units. Furthermore, the Xbox 360 managed to outsell both the PlayStation 3 and Wii the week ending September 14, 2008, as well as the week ending February 22, 2009, when the Japanese Xbox 360 exclusivesInfinite Undiscovery andStar Ocean: The Last Hope were released those week, respectively. Ultimately,Edge magazine would report that Microsoft had been unable to make serious inroads into the dominance of domestic rivals Sony and Nintendo, adding that lackluster sales in Japan had led to retailers scaling down and, in some cases, discontinuing sales of the Xbox 360 completely. The significance of Japan's poor sales might be overstated in the media in comparison to overall international sales.

Legacy[]

The Xbox 360 sold much better than its predecessor, and although not the best-selling console of the seventh generation, it is regarded as a success since it strengthened Microsoft as a major force in the console market at the expense of well-established rivals. The inexpensive Wii did sell the most console units, but eventually saw a collapse of third-party software support in its later years, and it has been viewed by some as a fad since the succeeding Wii U had a poor debut in 2012. The PlayStation 3 struggled for a time due to being too expensive and initially lacking quality games, making it far less dominant than its predecessor, the PlayStation 2, and it took until late in the PlayStation 3's lifespan for its sales and games to reach parity with the Xbox 360.TechRadar proclaimed that "Xbox 360 passes the baton as the king of the hill – a position that puts all the more pressure on its successor, Xbox One".

The Xbox 360's advantage over its competitors was due to the release of high-profile games from both first-party and third-party developers. The 2007 Game Critics Awards honored the platform with 38 nominations and 12 wins – more than any other platform. By March 2008, the Xbox 360 had reached a software attach rate of 7.5 games per console in the US; the rate was 7.0 in Europe, while its competitors were 3.8 (PS3) and 3.5 (Wii), according to Microsoft. At the 2008 Game Developers Conference, Microsoft announced that it expected over 1,000 games available for Xbox 360 by the end of the year. As well as enjoying exclusives such as additions to the Halo franchise andGears of War, the Xbox 360 has managed to gain a simultaneous release of games that were initially planned to be PS3 exclusives, includingDevil May Cry 4,Ace Combat 6,Virtua Fighter 5,Grand Theft Auto IV,Final Fantasy XIII,Tekken 6,Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, andL.A. Noire. In addition, Xbox 360 versions of cross-platform games were generally considered superior to their PS3 counterparts in 2006 and 2007, due in part to the difficulties of programming for the PS3.

TechRadar deemed the Xbox 360 as the most influential game system through its emphasis on digital media distribution, Xbox Live online gaming service, and game achievement feature. During the console's lifetime, the Xbox brand has grown from gaming-only to encompass all multimedia, turning it into a hub for a "living-room computing environment".

Microsoft announced the successor to the Xbox 360, theXbox One, on May 21, 2013. On April 20, 2016, Microsoft announced the end of production of new Xbox 360 hardware, though the company will continue to provide hardware and software support for the platform, as selected Xbox 360 games are playable on Xbox One. The Xbox 360 continued to be supported by major publishers with new games well into the Xbox One's lifecycle. New titles were still being released in 2018. The Xbox 360 continues to have an active player base years after the system's discontinuation. Speaking toEngadget at E3 2019 after the announcement of Project Scarlett, the next-generation of Xbox consoles after the Xbox One,Phil Spencer stated that there were still "millions and millions of players" active on the Xbox 360. After the launch of theXbox Series X andS by the end of 2020, the Xbox 360 still had a 17.7% market share of all consoles in use in Mexico; comparatively, newer systems like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 stood at 36.9% and 18.0% market share, respectively.

Xbox Live[]

Main article:Xbox Live

With the launch of the Xbox 360, Microsoft's online gaming service, Xbox Live, went through a major upgrade, adding a basic non-subscription service, Silver, to its already established premium subscription-based service, Gold. Xbox Live Silver is free of charge and allows users to create a user profile, join message boards, access Microsoft'sXbox Live Arcade and Marketplace, and talk to other members. An Xbox Live Silver account does not generally support multiplayer gaming; however, some games that feature their own subscription service can be played with a Silver account. Xbox Live supports voice communication along with video communication, a feature possible with theXbox Live Vision.

Xbox Live Gold has the same features as Silver, plus online game-playing capabilities. Microsoft has allowed previous Xbox Live subscribers to maintain their profile information, friends list, and game history when they make the transition to Xbox Live Gold. To transfer an Xbox Live account to the new system, users need to link aWindows Live ID to their gamertag on Xbox.com. When users go to add an Xbox Live-enabled profile to their console, they need to provide the console with their passport account information and the last four digits of their credit card number, which is used for verification purposes and billing. An Xbox Live Gold account has an annual cost of US$49.99, CAD$59.99, £39.99, or €59.99. As of December 31, 2006, Xbox Live has over 5 million subscribers.

Marketplace[]

Main article:Xbox Live Marketplace

The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for the console that allows Xbox Live users to download purchased or promotional content. The service offers movie and game trailers,game demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, gamer tag images, and Xbox 360 Dashboard themes as well as in-game weapons, items, and costumes. These features are available to both silver and gold members on Xbox Live. A hard drive or memory unit is needed to store products purchased from Xbox Live Marketplace. In order to download priced content, users are required to purchaseMicrosoft Points for use asscrip. Some products are free to download. Users are able to view items available to download on the service through a PC via theXbox Live Pipeline website. An estimated seventy percent of Xbox Live users download items from Marketplace.

Arcade[]

Main article:Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox Live Arcade is an online service operated by Microsoft that is used to distribute arcadevideo games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners. In addition to classicarcade games, the service offers some new original games as well as games from other consoles, such as the Genesis title,Sonic the Hedgehog, or the PlayStation'sCastlevania: Symphony of the Night. The service was first launched on November 3, 2004, and offers games for about US$5 to $15. Items are purchased using Microsoft Points, a script used to reduce credit card transaction charges. On November 22, 2005, Xbox Live Arcade was re-launched with the release of the Xbox 360, in which new games and features were offered. The games are generally aimed toward more casual gamers; examples of the more popular titles areGeometry Wars: Retro Evolved,Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting, andUNO.

Video[]

Main article:Xbox Live Video

On November 6, 2006, Microsoft announced Xbox Live Video, an exclusive video store accessible through the console. Launched in the United States on November 22, 2006, the first anniversary of the Xbox 360 launch, the service allows users in the United States to download high-definition and standard-definition television shows and movies through Xbox Live onto an Xbox 360 console for viewing. At launch, the service offered 800 hours of standard footage and 200 hours of high definition. Except for short clips, content is not currently available for streaming and must be downloaded. Although Microsoft has partnered with AT&T to add IPTV functionality to the console, giving users the ability to stream 2 simultaneous HD and 2 simultaneous SD channels. Movies are available for rental. They expire in 14 days after download or at the end of the first 24 hours after the movie has begun playing, whichever comes first. Television episodes can be purchased to own, and are transferable to an unlimited number of consoles. Downloaded files use 5.1surround audio and are encoded usingVC-1 for video at 720p, with abitrate of 6.8 Mbps. Content is offered fromMTV,VH1,Comedy Central,Turner Broadcasting,CBS for television; andWarner Bros.,Paramount for movies along with others.

Software[]

Dashboard[]

The Xbox 360's originalgraphical user interface was theXbox 360 Dashboard; a tabbed interface that featured five "Blades" (previously four), and was designed byAKQA andAudiobrain. It could be launched automatically when the console booted without a disc, or when the disc tray is ejected; or the user may choose to launch a game automatically if a disc is inserted. A simplified version of it can also be accessed at any time via the Xbox Guide button on the gamepad. This simplified version shows the user's gamercard, Xbox Live messages, and friends list. It also allows for personal and music settings, in addition to voice or video chats. Much like modernoperating systems, the console replaces the dashboard with a Screen of Death if it encounters aserious error.

On November 19, 2008, the Xbox 360's dashboard was changed from the "Blade" interface to a dashboard reminiscent of that present on theZune andWindows Media Center, known as the "New Xbox Experience" (NXE).

Since the console's release, Microsoft has released several updates for the Dashboard software. These updates have included adding new features to the console, enhancing Xbox Live functionality and multimedia playback capabilities, adding compatibility for new accessories, and fixing bugs in the software. Such updates are mandatory for users who wish to use Xbox Live, as access to Xbox Live is disabled until the update is performed.

New Xbox Experience[]

At E3 2008, during Microsoft's show, Aaron Greenberg and Marc Whitten announced the new Xbox 360 interface called the "New Xbox Experience (NXE). The update was intended to ease console menu navigation. Its GUI uses the Twist UI, previously used in Windows Media Center and the Zune. Its new Xbox Guide retains all Dashboard functionality (including the Marketplace browser and disk ejection) and the original "Blade" interface (although the color scheme has been changed to match that of the NXE Dashboard).

The NXE also provides many new features. Users can now install games from disc to the hard drive to play them with reduced load time and less disc drive noise, but each game's disc must remain in the system to run. A new, built-in Community system allows the creation of digitizedAvatars that can be used for multiple activities, such as sharing photos or playing Arcade games like1 vs. 100. The update was released on November 19, 2008.

While previous system updates have been stored on internal memory, the NXE update was the first to require a storage device—at least a 128 MB memory card or a hard drive.

Microsoft released a further update to the Xbox 360 Dashboard starting on December 6, 2011. It included a completely new user interface that utilizes Microsoft'sMetro design language and added new features such as cloud storage for game saves and profiles, live television,Bing voice search, access to YouTube videos, and better support forKinect voice commands.

Multimedia[]

The Xbox 360 supports videos inWindows Media Video (WMV) format (including high-definition andPlaysForSure videos), as well as H.264 and MPEG-4 media. The December 2007 dashboard update added support for the playback of MPEG-4 ASP format videos. The console can also display pictures and perform slideshows of photo collections with various transition effects, and supports audio playback, with music player controls accessible through the Xbox 360 Guide button. Users may play back their own music while playing games or using the dashboard, and can play music with an interactive visual synthesizer.

Music, photos, and videos can be played from standard USB mass storage devices, Xbox 360 proprietary storage devices (such as memory cards or Xbox 360 hard drives), and servers or computers withWindows Media Center orWindows XP withService Pack 2 or higher within the local-area network in streaming mode.

As of October 27, 2009, UK and Ireland users are also able to access live and on-demand streams of Sky television programming.

At the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Consumer Electronics Shows, Microsoft announced that IPTV services would soon be made available to use through the Xbox 360. In 2007, Microsoft chairmanBill Gates stated that IPTV on Xbox 360 was expected to be available to consumers by the holiday season, using the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition platform. In 2008, Gates and the president of Entertainment & DevicesRobbie Bach announced a partnership with BT in the United Kingdom, in which the BT Vision advanced TV service, using the newer Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV platform, would be accessible via Xbox 360, planned for the middle of the year. BT Vision's DVR-based features would not be available on Xbox 360 due to limited hard drive capacity. In 2010, while announcing version 2.0 of Microsoft Mediaroom, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer mentioned that AT&T's U-verse IPTV service would enable Xbox 360s to be used as set-top boxes later in the year.

In 2012, Microsoft released the Live Event Player, allowing for events such as video game shows, beauty pageants, award shows, concerts, news, and sporting events to be streamed on the console via Xbox Live. The first live events streamed on Live were the 2012 Revolver Golden Gods, Microsoft's E3 2012 media briefing, and the Miss Teen USA 2012 beauty pageant.

Microsoft XNA[]

Main article:Microsoft XNA

Microsoft XNA is a set of tools and technologies that includes XNA Studio, which provides versions of key production tools such as asset management, defect tracking, project automation, and work lists. These tools are designed to work together to automate common development tasks and present interfaces tailored to the different functions within the team. John Carmack stated at QuakeCon 2005 that the Xbox 360 has "the best development environment I've seen on a console". Microsoft XNA also includes other components, such as the XNA Framework and XNA Build.

Anyone can develop a game using XNA Game Studio Express, an IDE forhomebrew developers, which was initially released in beta form on August 30, 2006. A second, near-feature-complete beta version was released on November 1, 2006. The final feature-complete version, 1.0, was released on December 11, 2006. It targets the XNA Framework only to provide managed content, and for a US$99/£65GBP yearly subscription fee, users can join a "creators club" which lets them share their content with others. There is also a 4-month subscription to the "creators club" which costs £30GBP.

Backward compatibility[]

Backward compatibility is achieved through software emulation of the original Xbox. Emulated games offer graphical enhancements because they are rendered in 720p, 1080i, or 1080p HD resolution with anti-aliasing enabled rather than the Xbox standard of 480p; anti-aliasing is also applied when the output resolution is 480p. Some games also benefit from an improvement in the rendered draw distance, possibly due to the system's greater memory bandwidth. However, some games do not perform well in emulation; these often exhibit a lower framerate on the Xbox 360, as well as various sound bugs and occasional gameplay glitches.

A hard drive and the downloading of an emulation profile are needed to play original Xbox games. Updated emulation profiles can be obtained through Xbox Live, by burning a CD with profiles downloaded from Xbox.com, or by ordering an update disc from Microsoft. The full list of backward-compatible games is maintained atXbox.com. The current U.S. list includes 298 games (about 30% of the total Xbox game library, as of the December 14, 2006, update); fewer titles are backward compatible in European and Japanese markets, with 295 and 71 titles, respectively. Microsoft has stated that it intends to release more emulation profiles as they become available, to make the entire Xbox library playable on the Xbox 360. They have since made multiple statements indicating that this may never be complete, and the rate of updates to the backwards compatibility list is in line with this stated attitude.

Game library[]

Main article:List of Xbox 360 games

The Xbox 360 launched with several games. One such,Call of Duty 2 was the console's best-selling game for 2005, selling over a million copies. Only five other games sold this amount in the console's first year in the market:Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter,The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,Dead or Alive 4,Saints Row andGears of War. Second-party developerRare had two games at launch:Perfect Dark Zero, which was Rare's first major commercial success after their acquisition by Microsoft; and was believed by some to be the console's flagship launch title; andKameo: Elements of Power. Only six games were initially offered in Japan, and eagerly anticipated titles likeDead or Alive 4 and[eM] -eNCHANT arM- were not released until several weeks after launch. Games more suitable to the region are planned or have since been released, such asChromehounds,Ninety-Nine Nights, andPhantasy Star Universe. Microsoft-backed Mistwalker has since releasedBlue Dragon in the region, and currently has two other Japanese-style games in development,Lost Odyssey andCry On. On October 19, 2006, over 10,000 pre-orders of a limited-editionBlue Dragon bundle sold out in Japan on the first day. The pack, priced at JP¥29,800, includes the Xbox 360 core system with a copy ofBlue Dragon, along with a table calendar, Blue Dragon faceplate, and five miniature character figures.

E3 2006 was the first large-scale show after the console's launch, and there, the first trailer forHalo 3, the sequel to the original Xbox's best-selling game.Fable 2, a sequel to the Xbox's best-selling RPG, was also shown, along withAlan Wake,Mass Effect, andToo Human.Bill Gates spoke of plans to integrate several Microsoft services into one entity withLive Anywhere. This service will allow multiplayer games and communication between the Xbox 360 and the upcomingWindows Vista operating system for the PC.Shadowrun was the first game announced to be compatible with Live Anywhere. Several games originally released on PC have also been released on the Xbox 360, such asF.E.A.R. andQuake 4.Grand Theft Auto IV was shown and will be the first title in the series to be released for the Xbox 360 the same day as its PlayStation 3 counterpart. At X06, Microsoft announced new titles, along with information on future releases.Splinter Cell: Conviction, set to release afterSplinter Cell: Double Agent, was announced to be exclusive to the Xbox 360, as wereBioshock andBanjo-Kazooie 3. At the event,Halo Wars was also announced, along with an untitled Halo project. Microsoft is publishing sequels to some of its more successful franchises on the original Xbox, such asForza Motorsport 2,Project Gotham Racing 3 andProject Gotham Racing 4, andFuzion Frenzy 2. In addition to sequels, they have published original games based on new IPs such asViva Piñata andGears of War.

Hardware[]

Central processing unit[]

Main article:Xenon (processor)

The Xbox 360 takes a new approach to hardware compared to its predecessor. The CPU, namedXenon at Microsoft and "Waternoose" at IBM, is a custom triple-corePowerPC-based design byIBM. The CPU emphasizes high floating point performance through multiple FPU and SIMD vector processing units in each core. It has a theoretical peak performance of 115.2 gigaflops and is capable of 9.6 billion dot products per second. Each core of the CPU is simultaneous multithreading capable and clocked at 3.2 gigahertz. However, to reduce CPU die size, complexity, cost, and power demands, the processor uses in-order execution in contrast to theIntel Coppermine128-based Mobile Celeron] used in Xbox, which used more advanced out-of-order execution. The original chip uses a 90 nanometer process, although a 65 nanometer process SOI revision was originally planned for early 2007, but it has been delayed until mid-2007. A 21.6 GB/s front side bus, aggregated 10.8 GB/s upstream and downstream, connects Xenon with the graphics processor/northbridge. Xenon is equipped with a 1 MiB Level 2 cache on-die running at half CPU clock speed. This cache is shared amongst the three CPU cores. The CPU also contains ROM storing Microsoft private encrypted keys, used to decrypt game data. The heat sink implemented to cool the CPU is composed of aluminum fins with copper base heat pipes. The heat sink is cooled by two 60 millimeter fans at the back of the console.

Graphics processing unit[]

Main article:Xenos

While the first Xbox'sgraphics processing unit was produced byNVIDIA, the Xbox 360 uses a chip designed byATI calledXenos. The chip was developed under the names "C1" and "R500". Xenos contains 48 unified shader units, which are capable of both vertex andpixel shading operations. This is in contrast to older graphics processor designs which utilize separate specialized units for these tasks. The GPU package contains two separate silicon dies, each on a 90 nm chip with a clock speed of 500 MHz; the GPU proper, manufactured byTSMC and a 10 MBeDRAM daughter-die, manufactured byNEC. Thanks to the daughter die, the Xenos can do 4xFSAA,z-buffering, andalpha blending with no appreciable performance penalty on the GPU. The GPU also houses additional capabilities typically separated into amotherboardchipset in PC systems, effectively replacing thenorthbridge chip. An aluminumheat sink is also implemented to cool the GPU; it is wider and shorter than the CPU heat sink.

Memory and system bandwidth[]

The console features 512 MiB of 700 megahertzGDDR3RAM on a128-bit bus. The memory is shared by the CPU and the GPU via theunified memory architecture. This memory is produced by either Samsung orQimonda.

The Xbox 360 has an extensive amount ofbandwidth in comparison to its competition; however this statistic includes the eDram logic to memory bandwidth, and not internal CPU bandwidths. The eDram internal logic to itsinternal memory bandwidth is 256 GB/s. The high bandwidth is used primarily forz-buffering,alpha blending, andantialiasing; it saves time and space on the GPU die. Between the eDram die and the GPU, data is transferred at 32 GB/s. The memory interface bus has a bandwidth of 22.40 GB/s and thesouthbridge a bandwidth of 1 GB/s.

Audio and video[]

All games made for the Xbox 360 are required to support at least5.1-channelDolby Digital surround sound. The console works with over 256 audio channels and 320 independent decompression channels using32-bit processing for audio, with support for 48 kHz 16-bit sound. Sound files for games are encoded using Microsoft'sXMA audio format. AnMPEG-2 decoder is included for DVD video playback.VC-1 orWMV is used forstreaming video and other video is compressed usingVC-1 at non-HDNTSC andPAL resolutions orWMV HD. Unlike the original Xbox, voice communication is handled by the console, not by the game code, allowing for cross-game communication. There is no voice echo to game players on the same console; voice goes only to remote consoles. There are no digital video outputs such asDVI orHDMI; instead, HD-quality output can only be produced over VGA or component video. A wide array ofSDTV andHDTV resolutions, up to 1080p after the fall 2006 software upgrade, are supported by the console hardware.

Storage[]

Early production runs of the Xbox 360 are equipped with a 12x DVD drive, capable of a maximum read rate of 15.9 MB/s. The original production DVD drives were manufactured by both LG and Toshiba. Beginning in November 2006, both models were replaced by the BenQ VAD6038, which is said to run faster than the previous models and is much quieter in addition. Games are stored on standarddual-layerDVD-ROMs with 7 GB of usable space available for game content. The option to apply aregional lockout to games is available to publishers, althoughDVD region codes are always enforced. Microsoft has implemented methods to prevent hacking through the drive. Later drive models have the external debug triggering removed and black hard glue added to cover all the chip and controller pins. The drive is able to read bothDVD±R and DVD±RW in addition to being able to play DVD-Videoout of the box, unlike its predecessor, which required the purchase of anadd-on remote. The system is also capable of playing standard CDs along withCD-R/RW,CD-DA,CD-ROM XA, CD-Extra,WMA-CD,MP3-CD, andJPEGPhoto CD. Some users reported problems with the disc drive, as when a user changes the console's orientation, the inserted disc may brush against the drive's pickup assembly and incur scratches to it.

Announced atCES2006 and first publicly shown at E32006, anexternal HD-DVD drive was released in North America onNovember 7,2006, for $199.99, and in Japan onNovember 17, 2006, for ¥19,800. In Europe, theHD DVD drive will be released for €199.99/£129.99 in the UK, France, and Germany. For a limited time, the HD DVD drive will be bundled with an Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote, as well as an HD DVD copy of Peter Jackson’sKing Kong. The drive will play HD DVD movies, although all Xbox 360 games will remain on the DVD format. Microsoft has no plans to include an internal HD DVD player in future Xbox 360 designs. Theexternal drive connects to the Xbox 360 via USB and contains two integrated USB ports on the rear.

ThePremium configuration of the system comes with an externalhard drive and it is optional to separately purchase one for theCore. The detachable 20 GB hard drive is not required for standard games. The 2.5" hard drive is connected through aSATA interface and spins at 5400 rpm.

Components and accessories[]

Main article:Xbox 360 Accessories

Xbox 360 also has a built-in 100BASE-TX RJ45ethernet port, suitable for connecting to Xbox Live, and threeUSB ports.

Up to four controllers are supported by the Xbox 360 in wireless form. However, there is a maximum of three wired controllers, as the Xbox 360 only has 3 USB slots, 4 including the HD DVD player, with the USB in the back of the console being used for the player. Despite this, a USB hub can be used to extend the maximum number of wired controllers. The wired version of the controller can also be used as a PC gamepad because it uses a USB connection, directly connected to the controller; the wireless controller cannot because it uses a wireless signal. A wireless receiver set to be released in 2007 will plug into the PC, allowing wireless Xbox 360 accessories to be used on the PC. An optional wireless force feedback racing wheel for racing games was released on November 1, 2006.

The Xbox 360 controller is significantly different from the original Xbox controllers, the Duke and the S models. The black and white buttons have been replaced by bumper buttons, which are on the shoulder of the controller, just above the triggers. It is noticeably smoother, has a white-gray theme, and is very small and ergonomically built.

The Xbox 360 can connect to Xbox Live through an optional wireless network adapter on a home network through a wireless router. The Universal Media Remote can be used to control several functions of the console, including theWindows Media Center functions if connected to the network. Various other components for the console exist, such as decorative faceplates to change the physical appearance of the console, wired or wireless headsets for communication over Xbox Live, and an Xbox 360-branded webcam calledXbox Live Vision.

Physical appearance[]

The Xbox 360 is similar in form factor to its predecessor. It is slightly slimmer in every dimension, and the Xbox 360 is white and slightly concave, whereas the original Xbox was black and noticeably convex. Astro Studios designed it in cooperation with Hers Experimental Design Laboratory. The front of the console features a "ring of light", which displays 4 illuminated quadrants either in red or green. When the lights turn red, the console has encountered atechnical problem; the number of sectors illuminated informs a user what category the error falls into. The Xbox 360 weighs 3.5 kg (7.7 lb), about 350 grams lighter than the original Xbox. The console uses an external power supply with a 5 amp/100-120 volt AC input and a DC output of 203 watts. An estimated 2 W of power is used while the console is in standby mode, a yearly usage of 17.52 kWh. Saving the console size and weight, the power supply displaces 1300 cm³.

Retail configurations[]

Microsoft's retail strategy involves two different configurations of the Xbox 360: theXbox 360 SKU, frequently referred to as theXbox 360 Premium Package and anXbox 360 Core System SKU. At launch, the Xbox 360 was priced at US$399 and the Core System was priced at US$299. TheCore System was not originally available in Japan, but was released on November 2, 2006. In Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico, a Media Remote was included as a substitution for theXbox Live headset in theXbox 360 Package. The same remote was included for a limited time at launch in thepremium bundle. The two configurations contain different video cables; thecore system comes with composite cables, thepremium includes a hybrid composite and component cable with optional optical out. Both configurations include one-year warranties, although consoles purchased in Canada and the United States before December 21, 2006, originally had 90-day warranties; later extended to one year.

BusinessWeek magazine compiled a report that estimates the total cost of components in thepremium bundle at US$525 at launch, excluding manufacturing costs, meaning that Microsoft initially lost money on every Xbox 360 system sold. The strategy of selling a console at a loss or near-loss is common in the console games industry, as console makers expect to make up the loss through game licensing. Since Microsoft owns the intellectual property rights to the hardware used in the Xbox 360, it can easily switch to new fabrication processes or change suppliers in the future to reduce costs. Thanks to streamlined processes and ample component supplies, a report from iSuppli released on November 16, 2006, estimates the total cost of components in thepremium bundle is US$323.30. This flexibility stands in contrast to the situation Microsoft faced with the original Xbox, where manufacturing costs were never reduced below the break-even point. Microsoft is predicting that with the Xbox 360, a greater market share, yearly revenue through theirXbox Live service, and falling hardware costs will eventually make system sales profitable.

Technical problems[]

Main article:Xbox 360 technical problems

The original model of the Xbox 360 has been subject to severaltechnical problems. Since the console's release in 2005, users have reported concerns over its reliability and failure rate.

To aid customers with defective consoles, Microsoft extended the Xbox 360's manufacturer's warranty to three years for hardware failure problems that generate a "General Hardware Failure" error report. A "General Hardware Failure" is recognized on all models released before the Xbox 360 S by three quadrants of the ring around the power button flashing red. This error is often known as the "Red Ring of Death". In April 2009, the warranty was extended to also cover failures related to the E74 error code. The warranty extension is not granted for any other types of failures that do not generate these specific error codes.

After these problems surfaced, Microsoft attempted to modify the console to improve its reliability. Modifications included a reduction in the number, size, and placement of components, the addition of dabs of epoxy on the corners and edges of the CPU and GPU as glue to prevent movement relative to the board during heat expansion, and a second GPU heatsink to dissipate more heat. With the release of the redesigned Xbox 360 S, the warranty for the newer models does not include the three-year extended coverage for "General Hardware Failures". The newer Xbox 360 S and E models indicate system overheating when the console's power button begins to flash red, unlike previous models, where the first and third quadrant of the ring would light up red around the power button if overheating occurred. The system will then warn the user of imminent system shutdown until the system has cooled, whereas a flashing power button that alternates between green and red is an indication of a "General Hardware Failure," unlike older models, where three of the quadrants would light up red.

Further reading[]

• Takahashi, Dean (May 17, 2006).The Xbox 360 Uncloaked: The Real Story Behind Microsoft's Next-Generation Video Game Console. Arlington, VA: SpiderWorks Press. p. 404.ISBN 978-0-9777842-1-9.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Xbox Development Team blog (archived 2008-02-13)

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