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The original Xbox was released 25 years ago today

Microsoft’s first games console hit North America 25 years ago today powered by a Pentium III CPU and Nvidia GPU.

The original Xbox was released 25 years ago today

On November 15, 2001, Microsoft launched its first gaming console, the original Xbox, marking 25 years ago today. This console was effectively a PC in a box, powered by an Intel Pentium III CPU and an Nvidia GPU, and featured a bulky black and green case. The Xbox sold 24 million units and was succeeded by the sleek Xbox 360 in 2005.

Despite stiff competition from Sony's PlayStation 2, Nintendo's GameCube, and Sega's Dreamcast, the Xbox established a strong presence in the market due to its powerful hardware and a popular game, Halo: Combat Evolved. Equipped with an Intel Pentium III 733 MHz CPU, an Nvidia NV2A 233 MHz GPU, 64MB of DDR SDRAM, and an 8GB HDD, the Xbox offered unique features like a built-in Ethernet jack and 8MB memory cards for removable storage.

As the console industry moves forward, Microsoft's strategy remains uncertain, making this anniversary celebration particularly significant with the release of a 25-year Xbox bundle containing 25 fan-favorite games.

Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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