Xbox network

Xbox network
DeveloperMicrosoft Gaming
TypeOnline service
Launch dateNovember 15, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-11-15)
Platform(s)Xbox (Service was discontinued on April 15, 2010)[1]
Xbox 360
Xbox One
Xbox Series X and Series S
Windows XP – Windows 7 as (Games for Windows – Live)
Windows 8/8.1/10/11 as (Microsoft Store/Xbox App)
[2]
Windows Phone (Servers shut down on May 16, 2022)
iOS[3]
iPadOS[3]
Android[3]
StatusActive
Members120 million (as of January 2023)[4]
Pricing modelFree for Xbox network
$9.99/month for Xbox Game Pass Core
$14.99/month for Xbox Game Pass Standard
$19.99/month for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Websitewww.xbox.com/live

The Xbox network, formerly known and commonly referred to as Xbox Live, is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Gaming for the Xbox brand. It was first made available to the original Xbox console on November 15, 2002.[5][6][7][8] An updated version of the service, adding the Xbox Live Marketplace, became available with the Xbox 360 console launch in November 2005, and a further enhanced version was released in 2013 with the Xbox One.[9][10] The service is used on the latest Xbox Series X and Series S and, in addition to a Microsoft account, is the account for Xbox ecosystem; accounts can store games and other content.

The service was extended in 2007 across the Windows platform, named Games for Windows – Live, now defunct, which made most aspects of the system available on Windows computers. The Xbox app is now used to cross over the Xbox ecosystem into PC gaming, in addition to handhelds and mobile phones as part of the Play Anywhere initiative.[11] Microsoft's former mobile operating system, Windows Phone, included full Xbox Live functionality until it was discontinued.[12] The service shut down for the original Xbox on April 15, 2010, and original Xbox Games are now only playable online through Insignia, an unofficial Xbox Live replacement service, or through local area network (LAN) tunneling applications.[13][1]

Xbox network service is available as both a free service and a subscription-based service known as Xbox Game Pass Core. In 2021, Microsoft renamed Xbox Live as simply the "Xbox network" to cover all of its services related to Xbox, and began slowly phasing out all "Live" branding until it was fully removed in 2023.[14]

  1. ^ a b Whitten, Marc. "A Letter from Marc Whitten: Discontinuation of Xbox LIVE for Original Xbox Games". Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  2. ^ Morris, Tatiana (June 14, 2017). "Minecraft on Nintendo Switch to use Xbox Live login, Minecraft CEO "really" wants Sony cooperation". Gamezone. Archived from the original on June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Thornton, John; Minecraft, Executive Producer for (June 13, 2016). "Friendly Update with Xbox Live and Realms rolling out now on mobile and Windows 10!". Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  4. ^ "Microsoft says Xbox monthly active users hit a record 120 million". January 24, 2023. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  5. ^ "Xbox Live Arrives in Stores, Sparking the Next Revolution in Video Games". Microsoft Stories. November 15, 2002. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  6. ^ "Microsoft to launch Xbox Live on 15 November". ITWeb. August 13, 2002. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  7. ^ "Xbox Live launches". GameSpot. November 15, 2002. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  8. ^ "Xbox Live". Gaming Nexus. November 15, 2002. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "Microsoft Unveils Initial Xbox 360 Marketplace Content". Gamasutra. November 15, 2005. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  10. ^ "Xbox One: what you get for Xbox Live Gold". Eurogamer. November 20, 2013. Archived from the original on May 12, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  11. ^ "Imagine A Live Anywhere!". January 12, 2007. Archived from the original on March 24, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2008.
  12. ^ "Microsoft Unveils Windows Phone 7 Series". Microsoft. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010.
  13. ^ "The original Xbox Live can now play online games again with some help from Insignia". Neowin. October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  14. ^ Boddy, Zachary (March 22, 2021). "Microsoft officially ends 'Xbox Live' brand, changes to 'Xbox network'". Windows Central. Retrieved May 8, 2023.