Windows Central Insider
Xbox is Microsoft's gaming division. Launched in 2001 with the original Xbox console (presented by Bill Gates and The Rock, no less), the division has gone through multiple permutations on its journey to its current form. Originally envisioned as a device that could bring Windows to the living room, Xbox eventually competed more directly with PlayStation targeting core gamers.
Xbox had solid success in the United States and other English-speaking markets, buoyed by heavy hitters like Halo and Forza, alongside various heavy hitting third-party exclusive titles. Microsoft's Xbox is responsible for various gaming innovations that are now commonplace. Online live infrastructure, "games as a service" titles, subscription services, and cloud-first business models owe at least something to initiatives spearheaded by Microsoft (for better or worse).
Essential Xbox reading
Latest about Xbox
Microsoft responds: 'Forza Horizon 6' files leak — pirates already cracked it (UPDATED)
Xbox It's a potentially multi-million dollar error. Playground Games' upcoming arcade racer has leaked in full on Steam early, unencrypted. The raw files quickly made their way to the world wide web, and the rest is history.
Xbox Game Pass joins Discord Nitro
XBOX Xbox and Discord are teaming up in a bigger way, with Game Pass Starter edition now included as part of Discord Nitro subscriptions.
Sandisk's official Xbox Ally X MicroSD card is great — but you probably shouldn't buy it
Xbox I was able to grab Sandisk's official microSD card for the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X range. But ... it's honestly not much more than a logo. Here's what you need to know.
A major upcoming sequel ditches Xbox PC and Xbox Play Anywhere — is this an emerging trend?
Xbox Aliens: Fireteam Elite was a surprise win for Xbox PC and Play Anywhere a few years ago. The sequel has not only ditched Play Anywhere, but Xbox PC all up.
62% of Gen Z isn't buying full‑price games, shifting instead to Xbox Game Pass
Xbox A new gaming study suggests audiences are moving away from ownership, and Xbox Game Pass may finally benefit from that shift.
Double Fine officially begins union effort
Double Fine Double Fine employees are officially moving to unionize with support from the CWA, with Microsoft reportedly remaining neutral throughout the process.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma vows to deliver Xbox updates every two weeks to "fix the fundamentals"
Xbox Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is planning frequent updates for Xbox on both console and PC as part of Microsoft's efforts in "restoring our core."
Microsoft teases a new Xbox dashboard UI for console and PC — here's how it looks
Xbox Microsoft seems to be teasing a new Xbox dashboard UI with less ads as it aims to address "a lot of fragmentation within the experience" across devices.
