As Microsoft turns 50, it’s important to remember its impact is much bigger than just Windows. Since its introduction in 2001, the Xbox has reshaped the video game industry for the better.
Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and its Xbox console has been around for almost half that time. Since its release in 2001, the Xbox has consistently proven that Western, PC-style gaming sensibilities can thrive in a market historically dominated by Japanese tech giants. Beyond simply thriving, it undeniably reshaped the gaming world, from the original Xbox to the Series X.
With Microsoft’s ongoing pivot to multiplatform releases, the future of the Xbox is unclear. Still, nothing can erase the console’s impact, including its seven most important innovations.1. Halo Established the Console First-Person Shooter
Halo wasn’t the original first-person shooter on consoles. After all, we have fond memories of playing Goldeneye 007 on Nintendo 64. But when Halo: Combat Evolved launched in 2001 on the original Xbox, it showed just how much the PC-centric genre could thrive in the living room. Dual-analog stick controls, streamlined systems for weapons and health, and a more methodical pace helped firefights feel fair even without mouse-aim accuracy. Gamers adored Master Chief’s adventures so much that the Halo brand still resonates.2. Xbox Live Revolutionized Online Multiplayer Play
The biggest recurring theme in the Xbox’s many innovations is how Microsoft successfully imported PC gaming ideas into the console space. For example, PC gamers love hopping online for multiplayer fun with distant friends.
