It's been almost two decades since the original Xbox launched in North America, and in that time, we've seen countless changes to the Xbox dashboard. What started out as a primitive design has evolved into a variety of memorable and nostalgia-ridden layouts, so let's take a brief stroll down memory lane!
The first Xbox dashboard arrived in 2001 with the release of the original Xbox, retaining a similar design throughout its lifespan. Four years later, the launch of Xbox 360 gave birth to the 'Blades' - a modern and intuitive layout, followed by the radically different New Xbox Experience in 2008. Finally, the Metro dashboard landed on Xbox 360 in 2011, and has been the system's dashboard of choice ever since.
The Xbox One has adopted a different approach to updating its dashboard, particularly in recent years, with Xbox Insiders receiving regular updates to sample ahead of a potential public release. Because of this, the system has received far more incremental changes than the Xbox 360 ever did.
However, it's had its fair share of major updates as well. The first was the initial launch dashboard for Xbox One, which prioritised tiles and TV-focused features such as the now-absent Snap Mode. The New Xbox Experience changed things drastically in 2015 with a faster design, while the 2017 dashboard altered its layout on multiple occasions, eventually setting on a similar design to the one we see today.
With all of that in mind, we want to know — which is the best Xbox dashboard of all time? Remember to drop your vote in the poll and let us know your pick in the comments. You can also hover over the images above (on PC) to identify the different designs, and if we've missed your favourite, give it a shout out down below!
Vote in the poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Comments 28
Blades, every time. It was clear, simple, and responsive, and then they went and did all that faffing about.
I loved the “blades” on the 360. Every time I see it now, I miss the simplicity & it’s awesomeness.
I loved the 360 dashboard it was so simple but it was just perfect
Bring back the blades.
@AlexOlney Completely agreed. Blades were perfect.
EDIT:
Where the heck are all the crazies that voted for the current Xbox One dashboard? No taste, I tell 'ya. No taste whatsoever...
I love the metro era of Xbox 360.
@GhostXSlime
I loved metro too. Current Xbox One dashboard is not bad imo.
I only have experience with Xbox one and I wouldn't vote for any of the designs.
Switch dashboard gets my vote.
I really REALLY hope the Series X moves away from the bland Windows based design the One has had since 2013. The 360 arguably had the best as a whole OS on any console. Pretty flexible for a system that came out in 2005.
I have to go with Xbox 360 metro since that's the only one I really know when it comes to the 360. The original Xbox was great for it's time but wouldn't work now Xbox One I couldn't stand untill this recent update to it. It took to many steps to play a game unlike say the PS4. Back to Xbox 360 Metro, it was easy to navigate you were able to find what you were looking for quickly and there wasn't any extra steps needed to access stuff.
The first Xbox I got was the Xbox One so I don't vote and just see the results. I like the latest Xbox One dashboard though.
I liked the Blades from the early 360 days but the current Dashboard tops it. Not much clutter and very easy to navigate.
Gotta be Blades. If only for the 'swoosh' noise as you cycled through them
They also remind me of such an exciting time in gaming!
I picked the Blades, but I actually have a soft spot for the 2013 launch Xbox One dash 🤷♂️
The Blades for me. Not for any reason other than it was the last one that wasn't constantly interrupted by loading spinners and blank screens.
I kinda wish they would just pick one and stick with it. You just get used to one and then it goes and changes again.
Blades, but this poll also is not complete as it should have 8 choices and not 7. The last two Xbox One dashboards aren't the same, so they shouldn't be lumped together. Kinda messes with the results when two different ones are getting votes.
I wish they would keep UI's simple. The latest Xbox one is too ADHD for my liking, I don't need 5,000 things thrown at me from different directions, I want tabs/pages for games, media and settings and everything to be simple, clear and fast. I wish I could configure my Xbone to default to the All Games and Apps page (and the Groups section at that). The Home screen is just a mess.
The Switch one would be about perfect for me if they just added some form of folders.
Blades because it was simple. And fast. Rather than what we have now, where the ui on Xbox One is slower than a slug crawling through molasses
@ThanosReXXX
The current Xbox One dashboard isn’t too bad, in my opinion.
The real crazies are the 3% that voted for the original 2013 Xbox One dashboard! Back then everything was an app, even achievements! 🤮
@FraserG
You are the first person I have ever seen to say you liked the 2013 Xbox One dashboard. To each their own! 😉
The Xbox 360 NXE, easy. The last dashboard to allow you to browse your 360 cheevos in HD.
Original 360 setup was awesome. RIP
I really don't like the current Xbox UI. It seems to me that Microsoft got it's priorities wrong and gave too much of the initial screen layout to advertising, which I really don't want to see.
Which one is Blades? On the right or below the first screenshot? The one in blue?
@KelticDevil Luckily, I was a relatively late adopter, so I jumped in when the Xbox One S was already well and truly launched.
But yes, the current dashboard isn't too bad either, but for the Xbox 360, I'd still rather have the option to return to blades. It's just more epic and it just has something that all the other, largely Windows 8 and 10 inspired dashboards had.
@BlueOcean Blades is the blue one, yes. And the bigger picture in orange, with Joanna Dark in it. And it was simply perfect. No change was needed, but unfortunately, Microsoft disagreed...
I always loved the OG Xbox dashboard, it was a SciFi interface, basically So cool!
Oh, and the boot screen!!! Pure love
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