The Xbox 360 Redefined Gaming, but Microsoft Hasn’t Found a Successor.

Anearly two decades ago (specifically on December 1, 2005), I attended the launch event for the first video game console at London’s Leicester Square. The Xbox 360 made its debut in the US on November 22, 2005, and subsequently in the UK on December 2, 2005, only a few months after I began my first role as a junior staff writer at GamesTM magazine. My recollections from that night may be foggy due to a) the significant time lapse and b) an abundance of complimentary drinks, but I can distinctly recall DJ Yoda performing on a surprisingly empty dance floor. The atmosphere was overwhelmingly green; however, my memories of the console itself and the games played on it remain sharp. Xbox Crystal stands out as one of the best consoles ever created.

In 2001, the original Xbox disrupted the gaming landscape, particularly in Japan, selling millions more than Nintendo’s GameCube and ushering in the online gaming era with Xbox Live—a multiplayer service that outpaced the PlayStation 2. Despite its innovations, the PS2 ultimately sold over 150 million units, compared to the original Xbox’s 25 million. In contrast, the Xbox 360 achieved over 80 million sales throughout its eight-year run, matching the PlayStation 3’s figures (though it exceeded in the US market), which transitioned Xbox from a newcomer to a leading player in the industry.

Defying typical Microsoft standards, the Xbox 360 boasted a unique and appealing design, featuring a double curve interior (referred to as a “suck” by its designer) and an interchangeable faceplate. Its iconic Y2K startup animation coupled with a sleek, futuristic menu introduced features such as messaging, friends lists, and music. I still find Microsoft’s marketing from that era quite cringeworthy—view this developer video showcasing former Microsoft Entertainment chief J Allard with his renowned earrings, alongside a man juggling while discussing “three symmetrical cores.” Yet, despite the marketing missteps, the machines they produced felt modern and thrilling, particularly the new controller, which featured sleek white and eye-catching colors, a significant improvement over the bulky original Xbox controller. I know several gamers who exclusively use Xbox 360 controllers for PC gaming.

As the first gaming console to provide seamless connectivity, the Xbox 360 integrated various elements that shaped a gamer’s identity. Gamers could engage with a diverse range of titles online using a single unified gamertag. This concept drew from messaging capabilities, social features, and achievements, collectively creating a personal gaming history through the completion of smaller challenges. (Sony would soon follow suit with its trophy system.) Introducing a competitive element through the Gamerscore was a stroke of brilliance, incentivizing players to seek clout and fostering a community where friendships determined gaming choices. Personally, faced with the option to purchase a game for either PS3 or 360, I’d invariably choose the 360, as that’s where all my friends played.

When an overly confident Sony rolled out its pricier and less-than-attractive successor to the PlayStation 2 in late 2006, the Xbox 360 had already spent a year revolutionizing gamers’ experiences with its high-definition gaming approach. Players were accumulating game collections and online personas linked to their Xbox accounts. Major third-party publishers, finding the PS3’s technology cumbersome, began prioritizing Xbox for multiplatform releases. While the 360 struggled to gain ground in Japan, it emerged as the definitive console elsewhere, an impressive feat for Microsoft considering Sony’s dominance in the previous two generations with the PlayStation.

Xbox Live Arcade played a significant role in ushering in the contemporary era of indie gaming. Throughout the ’90s and late ’00s, publishers and physical retailers largely dictated which games reached players, especially on consoles. In 2008, Xbox Live Arcade began providing a platform for smaller, affordable games to be downloaded directly to consoles without dependence on physical shops or publishers. This development paralleled what Steam later achieved for PC gaming, familiarizing players with digital distribution. Titles released through the arcade included Geometry Wars, Braid, Limbo, Bastion, and notably, the finest digital rendition of Uno ever. While I immersed myself in Oblivion, Mass Effect, and BioShock during my late teens, I also eagerly anticipated each new wave of Xbox Live Arcade games.

Reflecting on that period, the designers behind the Xbox 360 displayed a keen understanding of players’ motivations and desires for the next generation of gaming consoles. They recognized the transformative potential of the Internet, not merely for multiplayer gameplay but for enriching the social experiences surrounding games and shaping how people discover and purchase them. However, when Microsoft launched the Xbox One in 2013, it was an outright disaster, suggesting a loss of that insightful perspective. By then, Microsoft seemed to think gamers wanted to juggle gaming with watching picture-in-picture sports and mandated connected cameras to monitor their activities.

Microsoft has yet to recapture its former dominance in the gaming market. A revitalized Sony harnessed invaluable lessons from the Xbox 360, integrating them into the PlayStation 4, while the Nintendo Switch debuted in 2018, outperforming all competitors. Currently, Xbox finds itself trailing in a distant third in the shrinking console wars, seemingly opting for a semi-exclusive gaming subscription model rather than focusing solely on hardware. Franchises that defined the 360 era, such as Halo and Gears of War, are now accessible on PC and PlayStation, and others, including Fable, have dwindled for over a decade.

The 360 era represented an exhilarating juncture for gaming, characterized by significant change and rivalry introduced by online play. The console market was smaller yet unpredictable; a time before free-to-play games, still leaving space for “7/10 fun” games that sometimes became more memorable than the blockbuster titles. Games hadn’t yet congealed into the five dominant mega-series that currently prevail, and the emergence of indie titles on consoles truly revolutionized my gaming preferences.

What to play

Writing about Xbox Live Arcade inspired me to revisit Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, the unexpectedly addictive Xbox Live Arcade top-down shooter that dazzles like fireworks and serves as a sensory sensation. I quickly downloaded it on Steam and found myself hooked once again. Developed by Bizarre Creations, known for Project Gotham Racing, the game consistently outperformed Uno as the most downloaded digital title during the 360’s reign and still retains that status. I had forgotten how mesmerizing the grid backgrounds are as they ripple with each explosion, providing a touch of high-definition flair to this arcade classic.

Available: Steam, Xbox (if you don’t mind trying the sequel instead)
Estimated playtime: 10 minutes left until 2020.

What to read

• Lately, I’ve been reflecting on challenging games. My ongoing interest led me to explore various perspectives on game design, culminating in this insightful article by veteran designer Raph Koster, titled Game design is actually simple, which is essential reading.

• For fans of the original Xbox, you’ll be thrilled to know that Crocs has launched the Xbox Clog, inspired by the iconic black and green controller. It’s truly fantastically unattractive.

• Poncle, creators of the BAFTA Game of the Year-winning Vampire Survivors, have announced a new title: Vampire Crawler. Check out the sarcastic trailer. It’s an eclectic mix of a card game and a classic first-person dungeon crawler.

What to click

Question block

Recently, reader Jude inquired about which video game world I’d most like to inhabit (with Cyrodiil from The Elder Scrolls topping my list). We’ve now posed that question to you all. The responses were delightful and varied. Here’s what you had to say:

“For a spot to grab a drink, Cyberpunk 2077 seems surprisingly inviting. ” – Spence Bromage

“I know it’s quirky, but I’m irresistibly drawn to the ship in System Shock 2! ” – Charles Rouleau

“I long to live in the universe of Dragon Age. Give me Fereldan, Denerim, and Orlais. A skyhold to call home and a bard to manage sounds perfect for me.” – Caitland Vernon

“I can’t help it if people label me a weirdo; I wish to exist in the world of Fallout 3. Witnessing a segment of humanity navigate the conflict between good and evil in the wasteland was quite impactful for me.” – Toby Darnall

“There’s something uniquely captivating about Animal Well. The freedom to explore a self-contained map filled with hidden nooks and crannies gives me a strong sense of orientation. Even after ‘completing’ the game, I’ve found a strange solace recently just wandering its spaces for delight.” – Ben Gibb Read

If you have a question for the Question Block or want to share anything else regarding the newsletter – Email us at pushbuttons@theguardian.com.