Technology Development

XBox Hardware Development:

The original Microsoft really leaned into the “X” branding for the original Xbox console, so named because of the Microsoft DirectX technology on which it was based. The consoles controller went through a slimming process soon after its release when Microsoft replaced the original console’s hulking “Duke” controller with the much more compact “Controller S” that had originally been the standard controller for the console’s Japanese release.

some specs: Hard Drive: 8 or 10 GB HDD, Memory 64 MB DDR SDRAM 200MHz.

this was good for the early non-intensive games that was out at the time of the original Xbox bust as games progressed, they became more memory intensive therefore required more storage.

Xbox 360:

The Xbox 360 was a very different-looking console to the original Xbox. It now came in white as standard and ditched the giant “X” shape in favour of minimal Xbox branding along the disc tray.

The Xbox 360 was a huge success for Microsoft, the addition of customisability to help add more ways to play games through Kinect using your body as a controller was a big step in the console market as this was one of a kind feature through the console market, rivalling Sony's PlayStation at the time. 

The hard drive in the Xbox 360 was dramatically increased due to more realistic games that was pushed by the consumers of the Xbox coming
 in 4 GB, 20 GB, 60 GB, 120 GB, 250 GB, and 320 GB.

Xbox 360 s:

The Xbox 360 s brought two significant advantages over the original Xbox 360, or three if you include its slimmer dimensions. First was that it offered a dedicated port for Microsoft’s Kinect,  which let you use the new motion-tracking accessory without needing to power it from the wall separately, this change came from consumer feedback on the Xbox. a feature to this Xbox was the touch sensitive power on button, a nice touch for the console.

Xbox 360 e:

Microsoft released the final model of the Xbox 360 e, just months before they would release the Xbox One. The 360 e didn’t bring with it much in the way of new features, but it had a new design that was in line with the upcoming next-gen console. Microsoft also announced that it would run quieter and cooler than previously 360 consoles. The Xbox 360 e had improved hardware, allowing it to run games smoother, keeping up with the more detailed games that are being developed every year.

Xbox One:

With the Xbox One, Microsoft had ambitions for its video game console to act as a central hub for all your entertainment, rather than just games. At launch it included a number of video streaming services, and there was the ability to route your cable box through the console to be able to use it to watch live TV. Early models also came bundled with a new version of the company’s Kinect camera. This change in features was very consumer based as consumers are expecting more from the console, not just being able to game but to be a multifunctional device.

The Xbox One came with 500GB or 1TB of storage, a big difference compared to previous models. 

Xbox One S:

Although at first glance the Xbox One S looks like a slim-down of the Xbox One, it also included some substantial upgrades over the original console. Top of the list was the addition of a 4K Blu-ray player, as well as support for 4K / HDR video streaming services, and HDR support for games themselves. By default, it also came in a bright white colour scheme, which seemed to emphasize a clean break from the largely black and grey consoles that proceeded it being more aesthetically pleasing to consumers.

Xbox One X:

The Xbox One X was meant as a way to bring 4K / HDR gaming to Microsoft’s Xbox One without needing to make in a whole new generation of Xbox consoles. But despite having far greater graphical potential than either the original Xbox One or the Xbox One S, the Xbox One X still managed to be remarkably compact, with a similar design to the One S.

Xbox Series S and X:

Series S and Series X represent the most substantially different consoles Microsoft has ever released at the same time. The Series X looks like the future, while the Series S looks much more like an evolution of the Xbox One S. 

Compared to the Series X, the Series S is smaller, targets 1440p rather than 4K resolutions, and can only play digital versions of games thanks to its lack of a disc drive. But Microsoft’s bet is that more budget-conscious gamers are unlikely to care when the console is available for almost half that of the more premium Xbox Series X.

Looks like a fridge lol. While its design is unlike anything that Microsoft has put out before, the Series X clearly draws inspiration from the clean lines and dark colour scheme of the Xbox One X. The Xbox Series X boasts the best specs of the whole Xbox family and as further Xbox consoles are released, there will be more drive for more powerful consoles, for games that require more graphical firepower that is becoming the normal for other tech, such as gaming PC's and other consoles in the market namely PlayStation and the Switch.