A nostalgic gamer recently rediscovered a special-edition Halo Xbox tucked away in their attic. Both the first Xbox console and the original Halo: Combat Evolved were released on November 15, 2001, a date that would ultimately hold major importance to the history of gaming. Halo would define the modern FPS genre on consoles, with series protagonist Master Chief becoming one of gaming's most beloved icons. Meanwhile, the success of the original Xbox cemented Microsoft as the third major console brand in the modern gaming industry, a status that continues to this day.

Xbox Controller with glowing green Nexus button edit 2x1 composite
Rumor: Xbox Working on 3 New Controllers

Microsoft is currently said to be working on at least three new gamepads, including the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 3.

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Reddit user vault13exile was lucky enough to find their own Halo: Combat Evolved Xbox bundle in their attic, still in its original box and in relatively good condition. They asked other Reddit users if they still had their own Halo-themed Xbox hardware, leading to many sharing fond memories of playing with their friends in Halo’s classic online multiplayer and recalling the other special Halo consoles they owned.

Gamer Finds Classic Halo Xbox Bundle in Their Attic

Even as gamers look back on Halo’s past, the future of the seminal sci-fi shooter franchise moves ever onward. Late last year, 343 Industries announced that it was rebranding itself as Halo Studios and that all future Halo projects would be built using Unreal Engine 5 instead of the Slipspace Engine used to make Halo Infinite. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but rumors have suggested that Halo Studios could be working on a brand-new Halo game or a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved.

Meanwhile, it is believed that Microsoft is looking to shift its focus away from designated consoles in favor of sharing its software across a wider range of platforms. The recent “This is an Xbox” marketing campaign seems to indicate a renewed focus on Xbox Game Pass being available for PCs and mobile devices, and rumors have hinted at Halo games being released on PlayStation 5 or even the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console. While there is nothing to indicate an end to Xbox consoles altogether, this does make the classic Halo: Combat Evolved system seem even more of a relic of Xbox's early days.

OriginalXboxTagimage
Xbox (Original)
Brand
Microsoft
Original Release Date
November 15, 2001
Hardware Versions
Xbox (Original)
Original MSRP (USD)
$299, £299, €479
Weight
8.8 lbs
Operating System
Proprietary, Windows NT-based

The Xbox marked Microsoft's first formal entry into the video game console wars and acted as a direct foil to Nintendo's GameCube and Sony's PS2. It was part of the sixth-generation of consoles.

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