Daniel Slotta
Research expert covering Greater China
Xbox - statistics & facts
The Xbox brand represents a significant milestone in the evolution of video gaming. As part of the Xbox is a video game brand created by Microsoft, the Xbox console is the most widely known product under the Xbox umbrella, with the first Xbox console released in North America in 2001, and worldwide the following year. Since then, Microsoft has released a further four video game consoles – Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. In addition to Xbox gaming hardware, the Xbox brand also consists of applications (games), streaming services, and an online service platform Xbox Network that allows users to play multiplayer games, chat, and watch digital content. Microsoft also has its own video game development arm called Xbox Game Studios.
In 2024, Microsoft unveiled a new disc-less variant of its powerful Xbox Series X console. The new white all-digital edition retains the same internal hardware specifications as the standard black Xbox Series X, ensuring an identical level of performance for games. Moreover, Microsoft announced in late 2024 the introduction of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot for Xbox, aimed at providing efficient support for users, alongside plans to implement AI-driven natural language search capabilities for the Xbox dashboard.
Overall, Xbox remains a significant player in the global gaming console market. As Microsoft continues to innovate its hardware and integrate advanced AI features, the Xbox brand is poised for further growth and enhanced user engagement.
Microsoft launches disc-less Xbox Series X, adds AI features to platform
Microsoft released its latest video consoles in 2020, the Xbox Series X and Series S, only two days before the release of the PlayStation 5. Both the Xbox Series X and Series S launched with solid-state drives to enhance loading times and support 4K resolution, with the Series X capable of up to 120 frames per second. The Series S is a digital-only model without a disc drive, directly competing with Sony’s PS5 Digital Edition.In 2024, Microsoft unveiled a new disc-less variant of its powerful Xbox Series X console. The new white all-digital edition retains the same internal hardware specifications as the standard black Xbox Series X, ensuring an identical level of performance for games. Moreover, Microsoft announced in late 2024 the introduction of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot for Xbox, aimed at providing efficient support for users, alongside plans to implement AI-driven natural language search capabilities for the Xbox dashboard.
Xbox competes for console supremacy
PlayStation 5 was the best-selling video game console worldwide in 2023, selling over 21 million units across the globe, followed by the Nintendo Switch and the Xbox Series X/S, respectively. Of the all-time sales of video game consoles, Microsoft registers just one device, the Xbox 360, in the top ten. The Xbox Series X and Series S have sold nearly 33 million units as of July 2025 since their release. Looking at the top of the list, Sony registers two of its products in the top five, with Nintendo’s Switch, DS, and Game Boy devices making up the rest. In terms of lifetime sales, Sony has sold over twice as many of its PlayStation 4 consoles compared to the Xbox One – a trend that is expected to continue with the latest generation of PlayStation and Xbox consoles.Overall, Xbox remains a significant player in the global gaming console market. As Microsoft continues to innovate its hardware and integrate advanced AI features, the Xbox brand is poised for further growth and enhanced user engagement.
