Original Xbox - Timeline
Tuesday28th Mar 2023
Deals All 20+ Backwards Compatible Games In This Week's Xbox Sales (March 28 - April 4)
Including a massive Call of Duty sale!
Xbox is hosting another 400+ deals on the Microsoft Store over the next week, and that means we've obviously got some backwards compatible discounts to share as well, with all of them taken from the Xbox 360 era this time around. In the table below, you'll find every single backwards compatible deal included...
Thursday23rd Mar 2023
News Xbox Co-Creator Reveals He Talked To Microsoft About Classic Console Idea
He first tweeted about it two years ago
Our friends at Time Extension recently got a chance to sit down with Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley as part of an exclusive interview (you can find more excerpts over on their site), and something he revealed was that he's actually talked to a couple of employees at Microsoft about the idea of creating a...
Tuesday28th Feb 2023
Deals All 60+ Backwards Compatible Games In This Week's Xbox Sales (February 28 - March 7)
A big selection of original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles
We've got good news if you're a fan of classic original Xbox and Xbox 360 games, as it's a big week for backwards compatible deals on the Xbox Store! This is primarily thanks to the massive Xbox Super Saver Sale that went live earlier today, bringing us some true Xbox classics with discounts of up...
Tuesday21st Feb 2023
News OG Xbox Live Replacement 'Insignia' Continues To Grow With 11 New Supported Games
Online multiplayer is back
You're probably well aware of Insignia at this point - it's a new replacement service for Xbox Live 1.0 on the original Xbox - and the good news is that it's continued to add new supported titles throughout the early part of 2023. When we last mentioned Insignia, the supported list sat at around 40 games, but we're going...
Deals All 20+ Backwards Compatible Games Included In This Week's Xbox Sales (February 21-28)
Some fantastic OG Xbox & Xbox 360 titles!
Another set of Xbox deals has just gone live on the Xbox Store which means another round of backwards compatible discounts from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 eras to get stuck into! We've got some great Xbox & Xbox 360 classics on sale this week, including a sizeable collection of Rockstar titles...
Saturday11th Feb 2023
Pick One Which Of These Xbox Classics Would You Remaster?
Tough choices
When Pure Xbox relaunched back in early 2020, one of the things we used to do as part of these weekly "Pick One" features was to ask the PX community which classic Xbox games they'd like to see remastered. We did a bunch of these over a number of weeks, and the first three games that came out as winners were The Simpsons Hit &...
Wednesday11th Jan 2023
Random Prince Harry Makes Headlines With Story About Diana Buying Him An Xbox
He says he has "no idea if it's true", and it can't be!
It's not often we find ourselves talking about Prince Harry and Xbox in the same sentence, but here we are! The British royal family member has published his memoir (called "Spare") this week, and he's making some headlines in the UK for a comment about receiving an Xbox in the late 90s. As...
Tuesday10th Jan 2023
Deals All Backwards Compatible Games In This Week's Xbox Sales (January 10-17)
Original Xbox and Xbox 360 classics
Alongside the huge selection of new Xbox sales this week, we've once again been treated to a variety of discounts for some classic Xbox 360 games (and one original Xbox title), available at up to 85% off. Below, you'll find a list of every single backwards compatible game on sale on the Xbox Store from January...
Monday9th Jan 2023
News The Rock Looks Back On Unveiling The Original Xbox 22 Years Ago
"What a journey for Xbox"
Can you believe it's been 22 years since we first locked eyes on the Original Xbox? Yep, back at CES 2001, Microsoft unveiled this beast of a machine courtesy of Bill Gates and The Rock. More than two decades later, the famous actor has been reminiscing about the console's grand reveal. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has been...
Wednesday21st Dec 2022
Deals All Backwards Compatible Games In This Week's Xbox Sales (December 20-27)
Original Xbox and Xbox 360 classics
The latest set of new Xbox sales went live earlier this week in the form of Deals with Gold and Spotlight offers, which sit alongside the massive ongoing Xbox Countdown Sale. We also got treated to a few extra reductions on backwards compatible OG Xbox and Xbox 360 games, including for the likes of Assassin's...
News Xbox Live 1.0 Replacement Adds More Supported Titles, 40 Games Now Playable
With more to come in the New Year
If you're wondering how progress has been coming along on the Insignia project for the original Xbox, the news is that the team are still working extremely hard on adding new supported titles, with plenty of additions in December already. The list of supported games now sits at 40, with new titles including DOOM 3,...
Friday16th Dec 2022
Deals All 40+ Backwards Compatible Games In The Xbox Countdown Sale 2022
Tons of original Xbox and Xbox 360 classics
The Xbox Countdown Sale 2022 has officially begun, treating us to discounts for over 800 games across Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Even Elden Ring has been reduced this time around! <related ids="142699"> As you'd expect, we've also got plenty of backwards compatible games in the Xbox...
Tuesday13th Dec 2022
Deals All Backwards Compatible Games In This Week's Xbox Sales (December 13-20)
Original Xbox and Xbox 360 classics
Update: You'll also now find more backwards compatible offers in the Xbox Countdown Sale 2022: <related ids="142699"> Original story: This week's Xbox sales have now gone live, and although the current selection of deals is somewhat limited, there are some really good backwards compatible games from the...
Thursday17th Nov 2022
Deals All 40+ Backwards Compatible Games In The Xbox Black Friday Sale 2022
A wide array of Xbox 360 classics
As you may have already seen, the Xbox Black Friday Sale 2022 got underway earlier today, bringing us hundreds and hundreds of discounts on everything from tiny indie games to the latest major AAA behemoths. <related ids="141212"> Of course, we've also got some backwards compatible games from the Xbox 360...
Wednesday16th Nov 2022
News The Xbox Live 1.0 Replacement Is Out Now, And It's Adding 3 More Games Next Week
"A lot of time and effort went into this"
Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of Xbox Live, and it also marked the return of Xbox Live 1.0 for the original Xbox in the form of an unofficial replacement service called Insignia, which has launched in beta form for a few thousand people. The service, which requires a fairly complicated softmod of...
Tuesday15th Nov 2022
Soapbox It's Been 20 Years Since Xbox Live Launched, And It Brings Back Some Fond Memories
We salute you!
20 years ago to the day, Microsoft launched Xbox Live, just a year after its first ever console hit the market. It was a momentous day for gaming, as the console world took a gargantuan leap towards mass adoption for online play. Admittedly, I'm a bit young to have too many memories of its initial launch, but Xbox Live in general...
Feature 21 Today! The Original Xbox Hits Legal Drinking Age In The US
First round on me
Today's the day for the original Xbox! Yes, believe it or not, Microsoft's very first gaming console is now 21 years of age, originally launching all the way back on November 15, 2001. We have some very fond memories of the OG Xbox, from its star-studded reveal presentations to its uniquely chonky design, and who can forget the...
Thursday3rd Nov 2022
News The New Version Of Xbox Live 1.0 Will Now Support 25 Games At Launch
More titles added to the list!
We've been going on about Insignia, the replacement service for Xbox Live on the original Xbox, for some time now, and that's simply because it looks really cool! The beta launch date is less than two weeks away, and it's just added a few extra games to its launch lineup, with more set to be added every month in the...
Monday24th Oct 2022
News Xbox Live 1.0 Is Coming Back, And Signups Are Now Available
Insignia launches its Beta next month!
Last week, we provided an update on the progress of Insignia, which is a replacement service for Xbox Live 1.0 on the original Xbox. Now, signups for the beta are finally available, with the playtest set to begin on November 15th, 2022. To get involved, you'll need to head to the Insignia website and request...
Monday17th Oct 2022
News The New Version Of Xbox Live 1.0 Will Now Support 17 Games At Launch
A replacement service known as "Insignia"
A few months ago, you may remember that the replacement for the original Xbox Live 1.0 (known as "Insignia") revealed its launch lineup of 13 games, but now we've also got a few more to add to the finalised list. Taking to Twitter last week, the team confirmed that Conker: Live and Reloaded, Dance Dance...
Wednesday31st Aug 2022
News OG Xbox Creator Reveals The Type Of Games He Still Plays In 2022
"Games will always be a central part of my life"
One of the creators of the original Xbox, Seamus Blackley (often dubbed the "Father of Xbox"), recently appeared on the latest episode of the Xbox Expansion Podcast, where he had all sorts of things to say in an hour-long interview. Blackley talked about his beginnings at Microsoft and joining the...
Thursday4th Aug 2022
News Almost 20 Years Later, 'Nearly Unbeatable' Halo 2 Challenge Finally Beaten
Never give up
It's been way more than a 'hot minute' since Halo 2 released, but that hasn't stopped folks playing it since release in 2004. Of course, its inclusion in Halo: The Master Chief Collection probably helped, but it hardly needed any help, did it? Having said all that, this is not something we expected to read in August 2022... After 18...
Monday25th Jul 2022
News OG Xbox On Steam Deck Shows Why We Need A Dedicated Xbox Handheld
Microsoft, make it so
The open nature of Valve's Steam Deck handheld is turning the hardware into something more than Steam-on-the-go. Users are starting to emulate various other systems on the device, including the original Xbox, although it's safe to say the experience could be improved. One such user is YouTuber MVG, who has taken a look at OG...
Monday18th Jul 2022
News Xbox Live 1.0 Is Getting A Replacement, And It'll Support 13 Games At Launch
Online multiplayer returns to the original Xbox!
If you've been following us here at Pure Xbox for a couple of years, you'll probably recall something called Insignia. It was announced back in 2020 as a replacement for the original Xbox Live, which sadly shut down in 2010. The team has been slowly chipping away at Insignia since then, and plenty of...
Friday15th Jul 2022
News Footage Revealed Of 'Long-Lost' Xbox Exclusive That Phil Spencer Was Forced To Cancel
From the studio behind Star Wars: X-Wing
We've been treated to details on a "long-lost" Xbox exclusive courtesy of Axios and Totally Games, and it just so happens that cancelling the game was apparently Phil Spencer's first assignment on the Xbox gaming team. The game was known as Knights of Decayden, but it had a working title of Archipelago, and...
Wednesday22nd Jun 2022
News Xbox Exec Talks The Struggles Of Adding Games To Backwards Compatibility
"Every title is a unique challenge"
When Microsoft dropped the mic at E3 2015 with its backwards compatibility announcement, it was clear that a ton of work went into the program. Xbox One launched with no ability to play Xbox 360 games at all, let alone anything from the original Xbox. Now, of course, both libraries work on modern Xbox platforms in...
Friday20th May 2022
Video Here's A Nostalgic Look At Official Xbox Magazine Demo Discs
Remember these?
The folks over at Digital Foundry have decided to crack out some old Xbox demo discs, and we're swimming in nostalgia right now. The hosts sit down and play a selection of demos from PGR to Arctic Thunder and everything in between, and it takes us back to the good old days. There's even a trailer on there highlighting some of Xbox's...
Monday28th Mar 2022
Random This Original Xbox Hot Tub Post Has Gone Viral
Too bad it's digital
Alright, we catch our fair share of the weird and wonderful on a whole range of gaming subreddits, but this post might just take the cake. An Xbox hot tub image started doing the rounds yesterday, March 27th, and you could say it looks 'unique'. The core of this thing is based on an original Xbox console, with the tub section...
Friday18th Mar 2022
News This Rare Original Xbox Development Kit Is An Absolute Monster
90's desktop life
It's another normal Friday morning on Twitter, browsing the news, checking for discourse, y'know, the usual, and then this absolute unit appears on my feed. An Xbox collector who goes by the Twitter handle GameboxUkv has acquired an original Xbox development kit that we've never seen before. This thing looks like a proper 90's...
Friday21st Jan 2022
News Xbox Creator Shares NSFW Quote That Nearly Got Him Fired From Microsoft
Bill Gates was "VERY upset"
If you weren't aware, Seamus Blackley was a key part of the original Xbox team, even going on to be coined the "father of the Xbox". He's one of the major reasons why Xbox got off the ground, so he's kind of a big deal around here! However, he didn't get everything right. Earlier today, he highlighted an NSFW quote of...
Sunday9th Jan 2022
News OG Xbox Creator 'Feared It Was All Over' At The Xbox One Launch
"There was a moment..."
We've been hearing a lot from the "Father of Xbox" Seamus Blackley in recent weeks to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Xbox, and he happened to mention on Twitter yesterday that he felt Xbox One almost killed off the brand entirely. In response to a comment about the Power On: The Story of Xbox documentary, Blackley (who...
Thursday6th Jan 2022
News The Rock Comments On Unveiling The Xbox With Bill Gates In 2001
"We were the coolest cats in Vegas..."
The unveiling of the original Xbox by Bill Gates and The Rock at the CES trade show is one of the most famous moments in the brand's history, and it took place exactly 21 years ago today on January 6th, 2001. At the time, it seemed like such a bizarre crossover — Dwayne Johnson was still a WWF wrestler back...
Thursday16th Dec 2021
News 'Father Of Xbox' Seamus Blackley Admits He Was Wrong About GTA 3
"Not going to lie, I was sceptical"
The recent Xbox documentary series Power On: The Story of Xbox revealed that the team passed on the chance to bring GTA 3 to the original console in 2001 (possibly as an exclusive) — the decision made by some "newly important executives". Following this, the 'Father of Xbox' Seamus Blackley, who was a key part...
Wednesday15th Dec 2021
News Xbox 'Rejected' GTA 3 In 2001, Didn't Think It Would Be Successful
"It was the top-selling game of 2001..."
The new Xbox documentary series called Power On: The Story of Xbox briefly discusses the huge success that was Grand Theft Auto 3 in 2001, and also explains why the game never ended up on Xbox until a few years later. As revealed by former Xbox Director of 3rd Party Relations Kevin Bachus, Microsoft was...
Thursday25th Nov 2021
News Microsoft Shares Early Dashboard Concepts For The Original Xbox
It could have looked very different
We all remember the iconic original Xbox dashboard and its incredible intro sequence (the latter still viewable today with backwards compatible titles on modern consoles) but Microsoft had plenty of alternate ideas for these as well. A few examples have been published on the Xbox virtual museum, broken down into...
News Xbox 360's Logo Was Almost Used For The Original Xbox Instead
Along with a variety of alternate designs
Did you know that Microsoft was considering using (a version of) the Xbox 360 logo for the original Xbox? Thanks to the new Xbox virtual museum, we can see what it would have looked like, and there are various other alternate designs on display as well. You can see the logo on the right side of the image...
News When The Original Xbox First Leaked, Microsoft Openly Lied About It
"You guys, I think they're onto us"
We've been treated to a bunch of fascinating information about the original Xbox courtesy of the new Xbox virtual museum, and one of the sections goes into detail about the first time the original console leaked to the press. Next Gen Magazine was the first outlet to get word of Microsoft's new "Xbox" project,...
Tuesday9th Nov 2021
News Gen Z Reacts To The Original Xbox, And It’s As Cringe-Inducing As You’d Expect
Please, make it stop
Halloween may be over, but Xbox has dropped the scariest video of 2021. A new reaction video sees Gen Z coming across an original Xbox for the first time whilst millennials sit back and watch in horror. In what we can only describe as ten minutes of pure hell, seeing the younger generation interact with the console and describe...
Tuesday2nd Nov 2021
News The Official Xbox Website Has Received An Early 2000s Makeover
A trip down memory lane
The 20th anniversary celebrations for Xbox are continuing, this time with the official website sporting a look reminiscent of the original Xbox console itself. On the back of the site being redesigned to have a retro Xbox 360 feel, we're now going true old school with the original Xbox. Complete with the classic logo, the...
Wednesday13th Oct 2021
News Xbox Creator Apologises To AMD For Last Minute Awkward Switch To Intel On Original Xbox
Uh-oh
20 years is a long time, right? Surely any bad blood in those years has been squandered. Well, original Xbox creator Seamus Blackley is still feeling pretty guilty towards AMD, after a last-minute change at the console's reveal saw their work swapped for Intel hardware. Blackley took to Twitter to make a public apology to Lisa Su, the...
Friday8th Oct 2021
Rumour Seven Original Xbox Games That Could Be Getting Backwards Compatibility
'But don't jump to any conclusions'
Earlier this week, we reported on a story that Xbox might be thinking about adding more backwards compatible titles to the library this November, and now a few rumoured possibilities have cropped up on the original Xbox side. As highlighted by True Achievements, the outlet spotted a few bizarre original Xbox...
Wednesday6th Oct 2021
Rumour Xbox Could Be Adding New Backwards Compatible Games This November
Possibly for Xbox's 20th anniversary
Stop us if you've heard this one before, but it's been rumoured that Xbox might be thinking about adding some more backwards compatible games to the library later this year, possibly to celebrate Xbox's 20th anniversary. This is according to XboxEra co-founder Shpeshal_Nick, who mentioned back in January that a...
Saturday17th Jul 2021
Pick One Which Is Your Favourite OG Xbox Title On Game Pass?
Remember, you can only pick one!
It's time for another round of Pick One! This week, we thought we'd take a look at the Xbox Game Pass library and pick out the five original Xbox games that are currently available via the service. Which is your favourite? Remember, you can only pick one! Let's take a look at what we're working with: Black Join...
Sunday11th Jul 2021
News Halo Co-Creator Shares Footage Of Prototype Build From 2000
Weapons, models and more...
Over the past week, the co-creator of the Halo universe, Marcus Lehto, has dug up some of his "old" Halo 2000 PC footage and shared it on social media. He started off with a look at the Covenant weapon prototypes - one of the highlights is the "microwave gun" - with Marcus himself noting how hilarious it would have been...
Sunday23rd May 2021
Video A Closer Look At That OG Xbox Dashboard Easter Egg
And there's still another one to find!
Old-school Xbox fans got a surprise this week when an original Xbox dashboard Easter Egg emerged after 20 years. In short, it brings up the credits of the team who worked on the original system's dashboard and is similar to a previously known Easter Egg, which reveals a credits list for the entire console...
Wednesday17th Feb 2021
News 16 Years Ago Today, Xbox Decided To Recall Millions Of Power Cords
The issue affected just over 14 million consoles
Remember the mid-2000s? Remember the days of the original Xbox? Then you may recall the time Microsoft recalled 14.1 million power cords after it was found they had the potential to catch fire. As reported by CBS News back in 2005, the mass recall was made after 30 customers had reported they had...
