On this day 22 years ago, the Original Xbox was announced by none other than professional wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The announcement took place at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, where Johnson was joined on stage by Xbox co-founder Seamus Blackley. The two were there to unveil the first console in the Xbox series, which was set to be released later that year.
At the time, the gaming industry was dominated by Sony’s PlayStation 2 and Nintendo’s GameCube, so the announcement of a new console from a relatively unknown company was met with some skepticism. However, Microsoft’s entry into the market proved to be a major shakeup, as the Original Xbox quickly gained a reputation for its powerful hardware and impressive game library.
One of the standout features of the Original Xbox was its 733 MHz Intel Pentium III processor, which was significantly more powerful than its competitors. This allowed the console to handle complex games with ease, leading to a number of visually impressive titles such as “Halo,” “Fable,” and “Project Gotham Racing.”
The Original Xbox also had a number of innovative features, including a built-in Ethernet port for online gaming and the ability to play DVDs. This made it a popular choice for people looking for a multifunctional entertainment device, and helped it stand out in a crowded market.
Despite its success, the Original Xbox was eventually discontinued in 2005, with the release of the Xbox 360. However, it remains an important part of gaming history and is remembered fondly by many fans.
In the years since the Original Xbox’s release, the Xbox brand has continued to grow and evolve. The Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S have all been released, with each console building on the successes of its predecessor.
As we celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Original Xbox’s announcement, it’s interesting to look back on how far the Xbox brand has come. From its humble beginnings as a newcomer in the gaming industry, it has now become a major player and a household name.
While the Original Xbox may be a thing of the past, its legacy lives on through the continued success of the Xbox brand. Here’s to many more years of innovative gaming experiences from Microsoft.