Microsoft Launches the Xbox in North America

Microsoft released the Xbox in North America, marking the company’s entry into the home video game console market. The launch positioned Microsoft alongside established competitors Sony and Nintendo in the sixth console generation. The original Xbox launched at a retail price of $299. It featured an Intel Pentium III–based processor running at 733 MHz, an NVIDIA-designed graphics processor, and an internal hard disk drive—an uncommon feature for consoles at the time. The built-in hard drive enabled game data storage without requiring separate memory cards and supported features such as downloadable content and custom soundtracks. Among the launch titles was Halo: Combat Evolved, developed by Bungie. The game became closely associated with the Xbox platform and contributed to strong initial sales. Within three weeks of release, Microsoft reported that more than one million Xbox consoles had been sold in North America. The system later launched in Japan on 22/02/2002 and in Europe on 14/03/2002. During its production run, the Xbox sold approximately 24 million units worldwide. The 15/11/2001 launch marked Microsoft’s first hardware entry into the console industry and established the Xbox brand, which would continue with subsequent generations including the Xbox 360 in 2005. #Xbox #Microsoft #VideoGameHistory #2001 #Halo