Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 31, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
How It Works • Gaming Console

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed and produced by Microsoft as the successor to the original Xbox and the second console in the Xbox line.

Updated July 31, 20261 min readCited sources

The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft, released in 2005 as the successor to the original Xbox and the second console in the Xbox line.

What it is

The Xbox 360 is a seventh-generation home video game console that competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. It launched in North America on November 22, 2005, and was discontinued on April 20, 2016. Microsoft unveiled the console on May 12, 2005.

Why it matters

The Xbox 360 is remembered as one of Microsoft's most commercially and culturally significant consoles. It helped establish expectations for online console ecosystems and digital distribution through its Xbox Live service, which supported online multiplayer, downloadable content, and multimedia features.

Key details

The console launched in Canada on the same day as the United States, November 22, 2005. Its main competitors were the PlayStation 3 and Wii. Microsoft ended hardware production in 2016, marking the end of its lifecycle.

In short

  • Released in 2005, competed with PlayStation 3 and Wii.
  • Xbox Live provided online multiplayer and digital content.
  • Discontinued in 2016 after a long lifecycle.
  • Launched in Canada on November 22, 2005.
Canadian angle

The Xbox 360 launched in Canada on November 22, 2005, alongside the United States release, making it a familiar console for Canadian gamers.

Quick questions

What is the Xbox 360?
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft and the second console in the Xbox family.
When was the Xbox 360 released?
It was first released on November 22, 2005, in North America.
When was the Xbox 360 discontinued?
Microsoft ended Xbox 360 hardware production on April 20, 2016.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360
    Supports: Developer, identity as successor to Xbox, announcement date, competition context
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360
    Supports: Release date, discontinuation date, competition, hardware production end
  3. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360
    Supports: Initial release dates in North America, Europe, and Japan; Xbox Live features