Not all consoles could stand the test of time. This became evident after brands like Sega, Atari, and Philips left the hardware space permanently. On the other hand, some influenced the entire gaming format.

This is especially true for the Microsoft-owned XBOX, which innovated online multiplayer gaming, the console FPS genre, and much more.

Here are ten ways in which XBOX innovated console gaming over the years. Some of these items are taken from PC Mag's list.

XBOX Game Pass changed how we play and pay

On June 1, 2017, XBOX introduced the XBOX Game Pass. The subscription model allowed you to access games from the platform's library for free.

Per PC Mag's report, it also allowed players access to third-party titles with a small fee. And by early April 2020, the platform had earned over 10 million subscribers.

Today, gaming subscriptions on consoles have essentially become the norm. The perks offered generally include free games, day-one releases, exclusive content, as well as access to multiplayer gameplay.

For better or worse, the subscription model introduced by XBOX is now almost the norm. However, it certainly raises questions about ownership of purchased media.

Halo brought FPS action to console

FPS games like Goldeneye 007 had previously made their mark on the genre. On MS-DOS, players had already seen the magic of first-person shooters thanks to the original Doom.

However, when Halo: Combat Evolved was released on the original XBOX in 2001, things changed. The game exposed home console owners to fantastic FPS action, reactive enemy AI, and an engaging weapons system.

The game carried a ton of positive qualities previously unseen on the console. It showed players that the XBOX was perfectly capable of delivering the same satisfying gunfights as the PC.

Players could throw grenades without holstering their gun while in engagements. All this action while playing as the iconic Master Chief made the title franchise-worthy.

Play Anywhere

XBOX Play Anywhere was unique in its own right. You could basically purchase a game on the console once and then play it on a range of Microsoft devices.

This included PCs, other consoles, and even compatible handheld devices. All of this was allowed at no extra cost, giving great control in the hands of the players. Cloud Saves made this process smooth and allowed players to get back to their game quickly.

XBOX Live

PC gamers had long enjoyed playing online games with friends sitting a continent away from them. On the other hand, common home consoles like the PS2 and Dreamcast let players play games together from the same console.

Microsoft broke the traditional console mold with XBOX Live. The online service offered players the traditionally PC-only multiplayer experience on console. Friends no longer needed to sit on the same couch. All they needed was an internet connection and an XBOX.

Built-in hard drive

Older consoles memorably relied on cartridges, CDs, and external storage devices. The PlayStation 2 even allowed gamers to purchase a separate hard drive to use for the console.

XBOX changed the game save landscape by introducing a built-in hard drive. You didn't have to purchase it separately, as it came with the console. This made it easier to save game data locally.

While every major console comes with its own hard drive today, the XBOX was the first to do it.

Indie games

Thanks to XBOX Live Arcade on the XBOX 360, many indie games finally got their limelight on the console. Mainstream games were already popular, but they came at a price.

On the other hand, indie titles were cheaper, which meant you could purchase multiple for a lower price. XBOX 360 allowed one to download them directly to the console and play.

Games like Super Meat Boy and Braid directly benefited from this innovation.

XBOX Adaptive Controller

Gaming is for everyone, so it should be accessible to all. XBOX achieved this via the Adaptive Controller, made primarily for players with limited mobility.

The Adaptive Controller allowed players to add assistive devices of their choice to make a custom gaming experience. This means one could add joysticks, triggers, switches, thumbsticks, and more to the Adaptive Controller.

These custom options can be extremely useful for players with limited mobility, as they can piece together input methods that work for them.

Digital distribution

While XBOX wasn't the first to step foot into the digital distribution system, it was certainly the one to pioneer in the area in the console space.

The console was released in 2005, and thanks to the XBOX Live Arcade service mentioned earlier, downloading games from the internet became common on console.

In 2006, when the PS3 was released, it offered similar capabilities.

Backwards compatibility

If you ever feel like playing the original Metal Gear Solid or Gran Turismo on the PS5, you'll simply hit a technological wall. These PS1 games can't be played on the modern platform.

However, if you decide to jump into BloodRayne 2 (2004) or Max Payne (2001) on XBOX Series X, you absolutely can. This is because of the platform's solid backwards compatibility.

It allows you to own certain games across generations and keep playing them despite technological changes and advancements. XBOX Series X|S has kept the tradition alive with hundreds of backwards-compatible games available.

Music while gaming

Since the original XBOX had its own hard drive, players could rip CDs to the console. Some games even allowed them to play their own music while gaming.

While other consoles such as the Philips CD-i also offered multimedia features, XBOX made a difference by giving players control over their own sound.

In this way, gamers weren't stuck with the music provided by their games. They could pick what they liked to listen to and play the games at the same time.

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Written by

Prit Chauhan

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit