Xbox 360

Introduction

Xbox 360

File:Xbox 360 full logo.svg
Left: Original model Xbox 360 Premium (2005) Center: Redesigned slim model Xbox 360 S (2010) Right: Latest model Xbox 360 E (2013)
Developer	Microsoft
Manufacturer	Flextronics, Wistron, Celestica, Foxconn<ref>Radd, David (August 16, 2005). "Xbox 360 Manufacturers Revealed". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2010.</ref><ref>Ashcraft, Brian (November 19, 2010). "Report: Foxconn Denies Protest Over Pay | Kotaku Australia". Kotaku.com.au. Retrieved October 23, 2011.</ref>
Product family	Xbox
Type	Home video game console
Generation	Seventh generation
Release date	Template:Collapsible list
Retail availability	2005–2016
Discontinued	Template:Video game release
Units sold	Worldwide: 84 million (Template:As of)<ref>"E3 2014: $399 Xbox One Out Now, Xbox 360 Sales Rise to 84 million". GameSpot (in English). Retrieved March 24, 2017.</ref> (details)
Media	DVD, CD, digital distribution Add-on: HD DVD (discontinued)
Operating system	Xbox 360 system software
CPU	3.2 GHz PowerPC Tri-Core Xenon
Memory	512 MB of GDDR3 RAM clocked at 700 MHz
Storage	Template:Collapsible list
Display	Template:Collapsible list
Graphics	500 MHz ATI Xenos
Sound	Analog stereo Stereo LPCM (TOSLINK and HDMI) Dolby Digital 5.1 (TOSLINK and HDMI) Dolby Digital with WMA pro (TOSLINK and HDMI)
Controller input	Template:Collapsible list
Connectivity	Original models 2.4 GHz wireless, 3 × USB 2.0, IR receiver, 100 Mbit/s Ethernet Add-on: Wifi 802.11 a/b/g, Wifi 802.11a/b/g/n<ref name=wirelessn>"Microsoft confirms Xbox 360 802.11n adapter". joystiq. September 21, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.</ref> Revised "S" models 2.4 GHz wireless, 5 × USB 2.0, Digital Optical audio out, IR receiver, 100 Mbit/s Ethernet, Wifi 802.11b/g/n, AUX port, HDMI port Revised "E" models 2.4 GHz wireless, 4 × USB 2.0, IR receiver, 100 Mbit/s Ethernet, Wifi 802.11b/g/n, AUX port, HDMI port
Online services	Xbox Live
Best-selling game	Kinect Adventures! (24 million as pack-in game for Kinect)<ref name="18-million">Dean Takahashi (January 9, 2012). "Xbox 360 surpasses 66M sold and Kinect passes 18M units". VentureBeat. Retrieved January 10, 2012.</ref><ref name="24m kinect">"Microsoft sells 24 million Kinects". Joystiq.</ref>
Backward compatibility	461 original Xbox games<ref name="Original Xbox Games Playable on Xbox 360">"Original Xbox Games Playable on Xbox 360". Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2009.</ref><ref name="X1-PS4-No-BC">Corriea, Alexa Ray (May 2, 2015). "Why Are Current Consoles Not Backward Compatible?". GameSpot (in English). Retrieved April 11, 2018.</ref> (requires hard drive and the latest update)
Predecessor	Xbox
Successor	Xbox One
Website	Template:Url

The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information announced later that month at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

The Xbox 360 features an online service, Xbox Live, which 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 (through Xbox Live Arcade) and game demos; purchase and stream music, television programs, and films through the Xbox Music and Xbox 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 the Kinect motion sensing camera. The release of these additional services and peripherals helped the Xbox brand grow from gaming-only to encompassing all multimedia, turning it into a hub for living-room computing entertainment.<ref name="pcmag.com">"The 10 Greatest Video Game Consoles of All Time". PC Magazine.</ref><ref name="businessweek.com">Ashlee Vance (January 13, 2012). "Steve Ballmer Reboots". Bloomberg.com.</ref><ref name="theverge.com">Ross Miller (November 13, 2012). "Living with the Xbox 360: how Microsoft's trojan horse took over your living room". The Verge. Vox Media.</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">"Is the Xbox 360 the Elusive Living Room PC?". PC Magazine. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref><ref name="trlegacy">Jon Hicks. "How the Xbox 360 won the console war". TechRadar. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref>

Launched worldwide across 2005–2006, 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,<ref name="360 Arcade replacement">Thorsen, Tor (June 14, 2010). "New $200 Xbox 360 planned, Elite & Arcade getting $50 price cut". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010. Moore said that Microsoft is currently working on a second new Xbox 360, which will be offered at the arcade's price point of $200. He declined to say what functionalities the cheaper model would or would not have. [...] One likely scenario is the cheaper model will essentially be a slim arcade with no Wi-Fi capabilities or a hard drive. [...] Moore also said that going forward, all future models of the Xbox 360 would not have names and would only be designated by their memory capacity.</ref> and the Xbox 360 E in 2013.<ref>"E3 2013 Reveals New Xbox 360 Console Model And Introduces Free Games For Gold Members". The Inquisitr. June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2013.</ref> As of June 2014, 84 million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold worldwide, making it the sixth-highest-selling video game console in history, and the highest-selling console made by an American company. Although not the best-selling console of its generation, the Xbox 360 was deemed by TechRadar to be the most influential through its emphasis on digital media distribution and multiplayer gaming on Xbox Live.<ref name="trlegacy"/><ref name="fool.com">Keith Noonan (January 3, 2014). "Has Microsoft Dodged Its Xbox One Disaster?". The Motley Fool.</ref>

The Xbox 360's successor, the Xbox One, was released on November 22, 2013.<ref>"Microsoft unveils Xbox One next-generation console". BBC. May 21, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.</ref> 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.<ref name=360discontinuation />

Specifications

Hardware

The Xbox 360 E model, announced at 2013's E3, shares many aesthetics with the Xbox One.

The main unit of the Xbox 360 itself has slight double concavity in matte white or black. The official color of the white model is Arctic Chill. It features a port on the top when vertical (left side when horizontal) to which a custom-housed hard disk drive unit can be attached.

On the Slim and E models, the hard drive bay is on the bottom when vertical (right side when horizontal) and requires the opening of a concealed door to access it. (This does not void the warranty.) The Xbox 360 Slim/E hard drives are standard 2.5" SATA laptop drives,<ref>"Install Your Own 120GB Xbox Drive, Save $100". Gizmodo. Gizmodo. Retrieved 15 August 2018.</ref> but have a custom enclosure and firmware so that the Xbox 360 can recognize it.<ref>"Xbox 360 HDD Replacement". IFixit. IFixit. Retrieved 15 August 2018.</ref>

Technical specifications

Template:Main Various hard disk drives have been produced, including options at 20, 60, 120, 250, or 320 GB. Inside, the Xbox 360 uses the triple-core IBM designed Xenon as its CPU, with each core capable of simultaneously processing two threads, and can therefore operate on up to six threads at once.<ref>"Xbox 360 Technical Specifications". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2009.</ref> Graphics processing is handled by the ATI Xenos, which has 10 MB of eDRAM. Its main memory pool is 512 MB in size.

Accessories

Many accessories are available for the console, including both wired and wireless controllers, faceplates for customization, headsets for chatting, a webcam for video chatting, dance mats and Gamercize for exercise, three sizes of memory units and five sizes of hard drives (20, 60, 120, 250 (initially Japan only,<ref name=250GB_separate>"Xbox 360 Hard Drive accessory bumped to 250GB in Japan". Retrieved February 1, 2010.</ref> but later also available elsewhere<ref name="250GBNA">"250GB Xbox 360 hard drive now available for $129.99". March 23, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2010.</ref><ref name="250GBUK">"MS unveils standalone 250GB HDD". Eurogamer. March 24, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.</ref>) and 320 GB), among other items, all of which are styled to match the console.

Kinect

A Kinect sensor device. The Xbox 360 E revision has an Xbox logo to the left of the Xbox 360 branding.

Kinect is a "controller-free gaming and entertainment experience" for the Xbox 360. It was first announced on June 1, 2009 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, under the codename, Project Natal.<ref>Scott Lowe (June 1, 2009). "E3 2009: Microsoft Unveils Motion Camera". IGN. Retrieved July 10, 2015.</ref> The add-on peripheral enables users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without a game controller by using gestures, spoken commands and presented objects and images. The Kinect accessory is compatible with all Xbox 360 models,<ref>"Xbox 360 Fat & Slim Comparison". Wireninja.com. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2013.</ref> connecting to new models via a custom connector, and to older ones via a USB and mains power adapter.<ref>"Project Natal & Its Instruction Manual(!) In The Wild". Kotaku. April 20, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010.</ref> During their CES 2010 keynote speech, Robbie Bach and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer went on to say that Kinect will be released during the holiday period (November–January) and work with every 360 console. It was released on November 4, 2010<ref>Snider, Mike (June 14, 2010). "Microsoft Kinect gets into motion as E3 confab kicks off". USA Today.</ref>

Xbox 360 Chatpad from the Messenger Kit attached to a wireless controller

AV output

Built-in

• HDMI (only made after 2007)
• S/PDIF (only Slim)
• Stereo Audio, Composite Video - Jack 3.5 mm (only Slim E)

Through AV connector (excluding E models which have no AV connector)

• Composite Video
• S-Video<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
• SCART RGB<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
• VGA<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
• YP_BP_R
• D-Terminal<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
• S/PDIF
• RCA - stereo audio

Retail configurations

Template:Multiple image Template:Main At launch, the Xbox 360 was available in two configurations: the "Xbox 360" package (unofficially known as the 20 GB Pro or Premium), priced at US$399 or GB£279.99, and the "Xbox 360 Core", priced at US$299 and GB£209.99. The original shipment of the Xbox 360 version included a cut-down version of the Media Remote as a promotion. The Elite package was launched later at US$479. The "Xbox 360 Core" was replaced by the "Xbox 360 Arcade" in October 2007<ref name=ArcadeConsolePR>"Microsoft Launches New Xbox 360 Console for Families". Microsoft. October 22, 2007. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref> and a 60 GB version of the Xbox 360 Pro was released on August 1, 2008. The Pro package was discontinued and marked down to US$249 on August 28, 2009 to be sold until stock ran out, while the Elite was also marked down in price to US$299.<ref name="usatoday1">"Microsoft drops price of 120 GB Xbox 360 system". USA Today. August 27, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2009.</ref>

Two major hardware revisions of the Xbox 360 have succeeded the original models; the Xbox 360 S (also referred to as the "Slim") replaced the original "Elite" and "Arcade" models in 2010. The S model carries a smaller, streamlined appearance with an angular case, and utilizes a redesigned motherboard designed to alleviate the hardware and overheating issues experienced by prior models. It also includes a proprietary port for use with the Kinect sensor.<ref name="360 Arcade replacement" /><ref name="engadgetnewxbox">Patel, Nilay (June 14, 2010). "New Xbox 360 looks angular and Ominous". Engadget. Retrieved June 14, 2010.</ref><ref name="insidenewxbox">Anand Lal Shimpi (June 18, 2010). "Welcome to Valhalla: Inside the New Xbox 360". AnandTech. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> The Xbox 360 E, a further streamlined variation of the 360 S with a two-tone rectangular case inspired by Xbox One, was released in 2013. In addition to its revised aesthetics, the Xbox 360 E also has one fewer USB port, no AV connector (and thus is HDMI-only), and no longer supports S/PDIF.<ref name=geekcom-xboxe>"Redesigned Xbox 360 E teardown reveals it's a cost saver for Microsoft". Geek.com. Retrieved December 22, 2013.</ref>

Timeline

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United States

November 22, 2005

• Launch of Xbox 360 Premium (20 GB) – $399.99
• Launch of Xbox 360 Core – $299.99

April 29, 2007

• Launch Xbox 360 Elite (120 GB) – $479.99<ref>"Xbox.com | Xbox News – Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on April 5, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2010.</ref>

August 6, 2007<ref name="consoleprice">"Microsoft Lowers Xbox 360 Price". Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref>

• Price cut on Xbox 360 Premium (20 GB) – $349.99
• Price cut on Xbox 360 Core – $279.99
• Price cut on Xbox 360 Elite – $449.99

October 27, 2007

• Launch of Xbox 360 Arcade – $279.99<ref>"Xbox.com | Xbox News – New Xbox 360 Family Console Released". Web.archive.org. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2010.</ref>
• Discontinuation of Xbox 360 Core

July 13, 2008

• Discontinuation of Xbox 360 (20 GB) (price cut to $299.99 for remaining stock)<ref name="20GB_discontinued">"E3 2008: 60GB Xbox 360 official, 20GB discounted and discontinued". Archived from the original on 2013-01-23.</ref>

August 1, 2008<ref name="20GB_discontinued"/>

• Launch of Xbox 360 Premium (60 GB) – $349.99

September 5, 2008<ref name="x3ii">"Xbox News – Xbox 360 Invites Everyone to Play". Web.archive.org. September 5, 2008. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2011.</ref>

• Price cut on Xbox 360 Elite – $399.99
• Price cut on Xbox 360 (60 GB) – $299.99
• Price cut on Xbox 360 Arcade – $199.99

August 28, 2009

• Discontinuation of Xbox 360 (60 GB) (price cut to $249.99 for remaining stock)
• Price cut on Xbox 360 Elite – $299.99

June 19, 2010<ref name="360 Arcade replacement" />

• Launch of Xbox 360 S 250 GB – $299.99
• Discontinuation of Xbox 360 Elite (price cut to $249.99 for remaining stock)
• Discontinuation of Xbox 360 Arcade (price cut to $149.99 for remaining stock)

August 3, 2010

• Launch of Xbox 360 S 4 GB – $199.99

June 10, 2013

• Launch of Xbox 360 E 4 GB – $199.99<ref name="x3ii"/>
• Launch of Xbox 360 E 250 GB – $299.99

April 20, 2016

• Discontinuation of all Xbox 360 models.<ref name="360discontinuation" />

Technical problems

Three red lights on the Xbox 360's ring indicator representing a "General Error requiring service of the Console or Power Adapter," commonly nicknamed the "Red Ring of Death."

The Xbox 360 (not Slim and E models) has been subject to a number of technical problems.Template:Cn Since the console's release in 2005, users have reported concerns over its reliability and failure rate.<ref>"Microsoft admit Xbox problems". BBC. July 6, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2009.</ref><ref>"Rings of Red". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref><ref>Philip Kollar (June 26, 2007). "A Tale of 11 Broken Xbox 360s". Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref>

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".<ref>Microsoft (June 5, 2007). "Xbox 360 Warranty Coverage Expanded". Archived from the original on June 5, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref> In April 2009 the warranty was extended to also cover failures related to the E74 error code.<ref>"Xbox 360 Warranty extended for E74". majornelson.com. Retrieved April 17, 2009.</ref> The warranty extension is not granted for any other types of failures that do not generate these specific error codes.

Since these problems surfaced, Microsoft has attempted to modify the console to improve its reliability. Modifications include 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,<ref>"Inside the Xbox 360 Elite". The Llamma's Adventures. April 19, 2007. Archived from the original on March 16, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref> and a second GPU heatsink to dissipate more heat.<ref name="repaired_hardware">XanTium (June 13, 2007). "New Pictures of 2nd GPU HeatSink on Xbox 360". Xbox-Scene. Archived from the original on July 18, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref> 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".<ref>"Product Warranty and Software License: New Xbox 360 Console". Microsoft. Archived from the original on January 14, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2011. "Warranty Period" for Xbox 360 S, means 1-year from the date You purchased the Xbox 360 S from an authorized retailer</ref> 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,<ref>Microsoft (July 23, 2010). "Flashing red light on the Xbox 360 S console power button". Microsoft. Archived from the original on March 18, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.</ref> 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.<ref>Plunkett, Luke. "The New Xbox 360 Won't "Red Ring"". Kotaku. Retrieved November 1, 2010.</ref>

Software

Interface

Template:Main The Xbox 360's original graphical user interface was the Xbox 360 Dashboard; a tabbed interface that featured five "Blades" (formerly four blades), and was designed by AKQA<ref>"AKQA Designs Xbox 360 Game Interface". Adweek. Adweek. Retrieved 18 August 2018.</ref> and Audiobrain. It could be launched automatically when the console booted without a disc in it, or when the disc tray was ejected, but the user had the option to select what the console does if a game is in the tray on start up, or if inserted when already on. A simplified version of it was also accessible at any time via the Xbox Guide button on the gamepad.<ref>"Xbox 360's cluttered interface led to Microsoft starting from scratch with". Games Radar. Games Radar. Retrieved 18 August 2018.</ref> This simplified version showed the user's gamercard, Xbox Live messages and friends list. It also allowed for personal and music settings, in addition to voice or video chats, or returning to the Xbox Dashboard from the game.

On November 19, 2008, the Xbox 360's dashboard was changed from the "Blade" interface, to a dashboard reminiscent of that present on the Zune and Windows Media Center, known as the "New Xbox Experience" or NXE.<ref>Dan Ackerman (November 17, 2008). "Hands On with the New Xbox 360 Dashboard". CNET. Retrieved October 6, 2015.</ref>

Since the console's release, Microsoft has released several updates for the Dashboard software.<ref>"Xbox 360 system update gets its colors in order, makes it mandatory". Engadget. Engadget. Retrieved 18 August 2018.</ref><ref>"Mandatory Xbox 360 Update Breaks Some Consoles, Microsoft Claims 'Coincidence'". Consumerist. Consumerist. Retrieved 18 August 2018.</ref> 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 wishing to use Xbox Live, as access to Xbox Live is disabled until the update is performed.Template:Cn

New Xbox Experience

At E3 2008, at Microsoft's Show, Microsoft's 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).<ref>Sarju Shah (July 16, 2008). "E3 2008: New Xbox Experience Preview". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 18, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2015.</ref>

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 in order to run. A new, built-in Community system allows the creation of digitized Avatars that can be used for multiple activities, such as sharing photos or playing Arcade games like 1 vs. 100. The update was released on November 19, 2008.<ref name=xbox2>Tom Bramwell (October 9, 2008). "New Xbox Experience". Eurogamer. Retrieved October 14, 2008.</ref>

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.<ref>Tom Bramwell (October 13, 2008). "NXE Will Allow for Remote Downloads". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 11, 2015.</ref>

Microsoft released a further update to the Xbox 360 Dashboard starting on December 6, 2011.<ref>"The Future of TV Begins Now on Xbox 360". Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2011.</ref> It included a completely new user interface which utilizes Microsoft's Metro design language, and added new features such as cloud storage for game saves and profiles, live television, Bing voice search,<ref>"Microsoft's new Xbox 360 UI has Bing voice search across Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and live TV – Engadget". Engadget. AOL. June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2011.</ref> access to YouTube videos and better support for Kinect voice commands.<ref>"Xbox Live Fall 2011 Dashboard update preview: Bing search, voice control, and a Metro overhaul – Engadget". Engadget. AOL. September 9, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2011.</ref>

Multimedia

The Xbox 360 supports videos in Windows Media Video (WMV) format (including high-definition and PlaysForSure 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.<ref>"Xbox 360 System Software – Fall Update Summary". Microsoft. November 30, 2007. Archived from the original on December 2, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref> 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 with Windows Media Center or Windows XP with Service pack 2 or higher within the local-area network in streaming mode.<ref>"Enjoy Windows Media Center on your Xbox 360". Microsoft. Archived from the original on December 23, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2008.</ref><ref>"Windows Connect Now Technology". Microsoft. December 21, 2004. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref> As the Xbox 360 uses a modified version of the UPnP AV protocol,<ref>"Why do I hate DLNA protocol so much ? " Ben's Lost World – Diary of a GeeXboX developer". Retrieved November 24, 2008.Template:Unreliable source?</ref> some alternative UPnP servers such as uShare (part of the GeeXboX project) and MythTV can also stream media to the Xbox 360, allowing for similar functionality from non-Windows servers. This is possible with video files up to HD-resolution and with several codecs (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV) and container formats (WMV, MOV, TS).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

As of October 27, 2009,<ref>"Xbox 360 Sky Player". Web.archive.org. January 7, 2010. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2011.</ref> UK and Ireland users are also able to access live and on-demand streams of Sky television programming.<ref>"Xbox 360 to show Sky live and on-demand programming | Technology, Media & Telecommunications | Reuters". Reuters<!. May 28, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2009.</ref>

At the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Consumer Electronics Shows, Microsoft had announced that IPTV services would soon be made available to use through the Xbox 360. In 2007, Microsoft chairman Bill 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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> In 2008, Gates and president of Entertainment & Devices Robbie 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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> BT Vision's DVR-based features would not be available on Xbox 360 due to limited hard drive capacity.<ref>"Xbox will host BT's TV service". BBC News. January 9, 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2008.</ref> 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.<ref>"Steve Ballmer and Robbie Bach Keynote: 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show". Microsoft. January 6, 2010. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2010. J.D. Power and Associates have recently rated AT&T Uverse TV the best-rated, highest-rated residential TV satisfaction in the United States Southern and Western Regions for the second year in a row. I'm happy to announce that later this year AT&T will also enable subscribers to U-Verse to enjoy that service on their Xbox 360 consoles.</ref> As of January 2010, IPTV on Xbox 360 has yet to be deployed beyond limited trials.Template:Cn

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.Template:Cn

XNA community

Template:Main XNA Community is a feature whereby Xbox 360 owners can receive community-created games, made with Microsoft XNA Game Studio, from the XNA Creators Club. The games are written, published, and distributed through a community managed portal. XNA Community provides a channel for digital videogame delivery over Xbox Live that can be free of royalties, publishers and licenses.<ref>"XNA Community".</ref><ref>"XNA Creators Club".</ref> XNA game sales, however, did not meet original expectations.<ref>McElroy, Griffin (March 30, 2009). "GamerBytes study shows disappointing sales for XNA Community Games". Joystiq.com. Retrieved September 10, 2009.</ref> though Xbox Live Indie Games (XBLIG) has had some "hits."Template:Cn

Services

Xbox Live

When the Xbox 360 was released, Microsoft's online gaming service Xbox Live was shut down for 24 hours and underwent a major upgrade, adding a basic non-subscription service called Xbox Live Silver (later renamed Xbox Live Free) to its already established premium subscription-based service (which was renamed Gold). Xbox Live Free is included with all SKUs of the console. It allows users to create a user profile, join on message boards, and access Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade and Marketplace and talk to other members.<ref name="XboxLiveFree">Kyle Orland. "Microsoft Renames Xbox Live Silver to 'Xbox Live Free'". Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref><ref>Barker, Ben (September 19, 2005). "Xbox Live The Silver Age". Microsoft. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2006.</ref> A Live Free account does not generally support multiplayer gaming; however, some games that have rather limited online functions already, (such as Viva Piñata) or games that feature their own subscription service (e.g. EA Sports games) can be played with a Free account. Xbox Live also supports voice the latter a feature possible with the Xbox Live Vision.<ref>Gettys, Jim W. (September 17, 2005). "More than Games". Microsoft. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006. Retrieved September 30, 2006.</ref>

Xbox Live Gold includes the same features as Free and includes integrated online game playing capabilities outside of third-party subscriptions. Microsoft has allowed previous Xbox Live subscribers to maintain their profile information, friends list, and games history when they make the transition to Xbox Live Gold. To transfer an Xbox Live account to the new system, users need to link a Windows Live ID to their gamertag on Xbox.com.<ref>"Xbox Live Account Migration to Xbox 360". Microsoft. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2006.</ref> When users add an Xbox Live enabled profile to their console, they are required 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$59.99, C$59.99, NZ$90.00, GB£39.99, or €59.99. On January 5, 2011, Xbox Live reached over 30 million subscribers.<ref>"2010: A Year Filled with New Experiences for Consumers". Microsoft. January 5, 2011. Archived from the original on January 9, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2011.</ref>

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 and Xbox 360 Dashboard themes as well as add-on game content (items, costumes, levels etc.). These features are available to both Free and Gold members on Xbox Live. A hard drive or memory unit is required to store products purchased from Xbox Live Marketplace.<ref>Gettys, Jim W. (August 19, 2005). "To Hard Drive or Not?". Microsoft. Archived from the original on April 27, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2006.</ref> In order to download priced content, users are required to purchase Microsoft Points for use as scrip;<ref>Barker, Ben (September 20, 2005). "Xbox 360 Get the Points". Microsoft. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2006.</ref> though some products (such as trailers and demos) are free to download. Microsoft Points can be obtained through prepaid cards in 1,600 and 4,000-point denominations. Microsoft Points can also be purchased through Xbox Live with a credit card in 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000-point denominations. Users are able to view items available to download on the service through a PC via the Xbox Live Marketplace website.<ref>Berardini, César (October 12, 2006). "Browse Live Marketplace from your PC". TeamXbox. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved October 13, 2006.</ref> An estimated seventy percent of Xbox Live users have downloaded items from the Marketplace.<ref name="Live Stats">Berardini, César (October 18, 2006). "Latest Xbox Live Facts and Stats". TeamXbox. Archived from the original on November 4, 2006. Retrieved October 19, 2006.</ref>

Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox Live Arcade is an online service operated by Microsoft that is used to distribute downloadable video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners. In addition to classic arcade games such as Ms. Pac-Man, the service offers some new original games like Assault Heroes. The Xbox Live Arcade also features games from other consoles, such as the PlayStation game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and PC games such as Zuma. The service was first launched on November 3, 2004,<ref>Morris, Chris (October 14, 2004). "Xbox Live Arcade to launch Nov. 3 – Oct. 14, 2004". CNN. Retrieved March 23, 2009.</ref> using a DVD to load, and offered games for about US$5 to $15. Items are purchased using Microsoft Points, a proprietary currency 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 it was now integrated with the Xbox 360's dashboard. The games are generally aimed toward more casual gamers; examples of the more popular games are Geometry Wars, Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting, and Uno.<ref>Hryb, Larry (December 30, 2006). "Top Xbox Live Games of 2006". MajorNelson. Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008.</ref> On March 24, 2010, Microsoft introduced the Game Room to Xbox Live. Game Room is a gaming service for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows that lets players compete in classic arcade and console games in a virtual arcade.<ref>Fried, Ina (March 24, 2010). "Xbox Game Room launches, but with issues". CNET. Retrieved March 25, 2010.</ref>

DVD-ROM for Xbox 360

Movies & TV

On November 6, 2006, Microsoft announced the Xbox Video Marketplace, an exclusive video store accessible through the console. Launched in the United States on November 22, 2006, the first anniversary of the Xbox 360's launch, the service allows users in the United States to download high-definition and standard-definition television shows and movies onto an Xbox 360 console for viewing. With the exception of short clips, content is not currently available for streaming, and must be downloaded. Movies are also 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 5.1 surround audio and are encoded using VC-1 for video at 720p, with a bitrate of 6.8 Mbit/s.<ref name="Xbox 360 live video">Block, Ryan (November 7, 2006). "HDTV and HD movie downloads for your 360". Endaget. Retrieved November 11, 2006.</ref> Television content is offered from MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Turner Broadcasting, and CBS; and movie content is Warner Bros., Paramount, and Disney, along with other publishers.<ref name="Live Video announcement">Template:Cite press release</ref>

After the Spring 2007 update, the following video codecs are supported:

• H.264 video support: Up to 15 Mbit/s, Baseline, Main, and High (up to level 4.1) Profiles with 2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles.
• MPEG-4 Part 2 video support: Up to 8 Mbit/s, Simple Profile with 2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles.

As a late addition to the December Xbox 360 update, 25 movies were added to the European Xbox 360 video market place on the December 11, 2007 and cost 250 Microsoft points for the SD version on the movie and 380 points for the HD version of the movie.<ref name="Video Marketplace launches in Europe">Template:Cite press release</ref> Xbox Live members in Canada featured the ability to go on the Xbox Live Marketplace also as of December 11, 2007 with around 30 movies to be downloaded for the same amount of Microsoft Points.<ref>Christopher Grant (December 11, 2007). "Xbox Live Video Marketplace Live in Canada, UK, and Elsewhere". Engadget. Retrieved October 9, 2015.</ref>

On May 26, 2009, Microsoft announced it would release the Zune HD (in the fall of 2009), which was then the next addition to the Zune product range. This was of an impact on the Xbox Live Video Store as it was also announced that the Zune Video Marketplace and the Xbox Live Video Store will be merged to form the Zune Marketplace, which will be arriving on Xbox Live in 7 countries initially, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Ireland and Spain.<ref name="Zune Marketplace">Template:Cite press release</ref> Further details were released at the Microsoft press conference at E3 2009.<ref>Brian Crecente (June 1, 2009). "Zune Video Comes to Live in 1080p HD This Fall". Kotaku. Retrieved October 9, 2015.</ref>

On October 16, 2012, Xbox Video and Xbox Music were released, replacing the Zune Marketplace. Xbox Video is a digital video service on that offers full HD movies and TV series for purchase or rental on Xbox 360, Windows 8, Windows RT PCs and tablets, and Windows Phones.<ref>Tom Phillips (October 16, 2012). "Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Rolls Out from Today". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 11, 2015.</ref>

On August 18, 2015, Microsoft rolled out an update renaming it Movies and TV similar to the Windows 10 App.<ref>Andy Weir (August 18, 2015). "Microsoft Update Movies & TV and Groove Music Apps on Windows 10". Neowin. Retrieved October 9, 2015.</ref>

Groove Music

Template:Main Xbox Music provides 30 million music tracks available for purchase or access through subscription. It was announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012 and it integrates with Windows 8 and Windows Phone as well.<ref>Wesley Yin-Poole (July 3, 2012). "Microsoft's iTunes, Spotify Rival Xbox Music Out This Year – Report". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 10, 2015.</ref>

In August 2015 Microsoft rolled out an update renaming it to Groove Music similar to the Windows 10 App.

Xbox SmartGlass

Xbox SmartGlass is one of the newer features that allows for integration between the Xbox 360 console and mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones.<ref>"Microsoft aposenta aplicativo do Xbox 360 SmartGlass". Olhar Digital. Olhar Digital. Retrieved 18 August 2018.</ref> An app is available on Android, Windows Phone 8 and iOS. Users of the feature can view additional content to accompany the game they are playing, or the TV shows and movies they are watching. They can also use their mobile device as a remote to control the Xbox 360 console.<ref>"E3 2012: A closer look at Xbox SmartGlass". CNET. CNET. Retrieved 18 August 2018.</ref>

Game development

PartnerNet, the developers-only alternative Xbox Live network used by developers to beta test game content downloads and games developed for Xbox Live Arcade,<ref>Why PartnerNet is a PR Nightmare for Microsoft on GameSetWatch</ref> runs on Xbox 360 debug kits, which are used both by developers and by the gaming press. In a podcast released on February 12, 2007, a developer breached the PartnerNet non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by commenting that he had found a playable version of Alien Hominid and an unplayable version of Ikaruga on PartnerNet. A few video game journalists, misconstruing the breach of the NDA as an invalidation of the NDA, immediately began reporting on other games being tested via PartnerNet, including a remake of Jetpac.<ref>ludwigk. "Xbox 360 PartnerNet video hints at Jetpac, Juiced 2007 [update 1]". Retrieved December 30, 2016.</ref> (Alien Hominid for the Xbox 360 was released on February 28 of that year, and Ikaruga was released over a year later on April 9, 2008. Jetpac was released for the Xbox 360 on March 28, 2007 as Jetpac Refuelled.) There have also been numerous video and screenshot leaks of game footage on PartnerNet, as well as a complete version of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, which caused for the whole PartnerNet service to be shut down overnight on April 3, 2010.<ref>"The Sonic 4 "Leak Week," One Year On". Tssznews. Tssznews. Retrieved 24 August 2018.</ref> In the following days, Microsoft reminded developers and journalists that they were in breach of NDA by sharing information about PartnerNet content and asked websites to remove lists of games in development that were discovered on the service.<ref>"MICROSOFT INVESTIGATING HALO: REACH LEAK". IGN. IGN. Retrieved 15 August 2018.</ref> Sega used feedback from fans about the leaked version of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I to refine it before they eventually released it.<ref>"Yakuza 6's Demo Glitch is Another Mishap in Sega's History of Leaks". US Gamer. US Gamer. Retrieved 15 August 2018.</ref> Additionally, a pair of hackers played their modded Halo 3 games on PartnerNet in addition to using PartnerNet to scoop up unreleased and untested software. The duo passed their hacked Halo pics to their friends before they were eventually caught by Bungie engineers who left a message for the hackers on PartnerNet which read "Winners Don't Break Into PartnerNet.".<ref>"THE YOUNG AND THE RECKLESS". Wired. Wired. Retrieved 15 August 2018.</ref> Other games that were leaked in the PartnerNet fiasco include Shenmue and Shenmue 2.<ref>"European retailers list Bayonetta, Vanquish and Shenmue releases for". VG 247. VG 247. Retrieved 15 August 2018.</ref>