Xbox 360

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The Xbox 360 is a seventh generation game console and is the successor to Microsoft's Xbox video game console, developed in co-operation with IBM, ATI, Samsung Electronics and SiS. Information on the console first came through viral marketing campaigns and it was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged later that month at the prominent Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Upon its release, the Xbox 360 became the first console to have a simultaneous launch across the three major regions, as well as the first console to provide wireless controllers as a standard. It also serves as the first entrant in a new generation of game consoles and is competing against Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. Microsoft believes that its push towards high-definition gaming, year-early head start and its Xbox Live online gaming service will help the console be successful. The Xbox 360 can also be System Linked with other Xbox 360s as well as the original Xbox, allowing multiplayer games to take place much more easily among gamers.

There have been a few different types of the Xbox 360, including the Core, Arcade, Premium and the Elite. However, special editions have also been available with unique console and controller designs.

By the end of the Xbox 360's life, it had sold 84 million units (sales numbers last counted in 2014). By contrast, its competitors—the PlayStation 3 and Wii, sold 87.4 million (last counted in 2017) and 101.63 million units (last counted in 2016) respectively.

Halo media available for Xbox 360

Games

Between 2007 and 2014, eight Halo games were released for the Xbox 360.

• Halo 3 (September 25, 2007)
  • Halo 3 Limited Edition
  • Halo 3 Legendary Edition
• Halo Wars (March 3, 2009)
  • Halo Wars Demo
  • Halo Wars Limited Edition
• Halo 3: ODST (September 22, 2009)
  • Halo 3: Mythic
• Halo: Reach (September 14, 2010)
  • Halo: Reach Demo
  • Halo: Reach Limited Edition
  • Halo: Reach Legendary Edition
• Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (November 15, 2011)
• Halo 4 (November 6, 2012)
  • Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition
• Halo: Spartan Assault (January 31, 2014)

Other media

• Halo Waypoint

Backward-compatible Xbox titles

Main article: Backward compatibility

The following titles were available to play on the Xbox 360 via backward compatibility. Notably, Halo: Combat Evolved could be purchased on the Xbox LIVE marketplace. A hard drive was required for backward compatibility.

• Halo: Combat Evolved
• Halo 2
• Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack

Continued legacy

Impact of Xbox 360 online service sunsetting on the Halo games.

The Xbox One was released as a successor to the Xbox 360 in 2013. At launch, the Xbox One did not support backward compatibility, meaning games released for the Xbox 360 could not be played on it. As such, a port known as Halo: The Master Chief Collection was created, aiming to bring Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4 to the platform updated to run at 1080p and 60fps - alongside a newly-remastered Halo 2: Anniversary. Halo 3: ODST was later added to the collection in early 2015, and Halo: Reach in 2019 alongside the collection's launch on PC. The titles were released in succession throughout the following months, with all Xbox and Xbox 360 Halo titles available on PC as of November 2020.

In 2017, all Xbox 360 Halos were made backward-compatible on Xbox One consoles, with Halo 3 later given Xbox One X enhancements. In the summer of 2017, all Xbox 360 Halo downloadable content was made permanently free.

On December 18, 2020, 343 Industries announced that in around one year, all Xbox 360 Halo online services would shut down. At the time of this announcement, digital sales of Xbox 360 titles were halted (though DLC still remains available). Originally planned for December 2021, the shutdown was completed on January 13, 2022.

Halo on the Xbox 360 Dashboard

In the 360 dashboard, the user can apply Halo-themed backgrounds, one of which came preloaded on the original version of the console, while others must be downloaded. There are also Halo gamer pictures available; three of which were preloaded on the original 360, with the rest downloadable. The Limited or Legendary Edition Halo 3 disc two included codes to download more Halo 3 themes for the 360 console, such as a Bungie theme, Red vs Blue theme and the This Spartan Life theme. Every other theme must be purchased.

Halo-themed editions

The Halo: Reach special edition Xbox 360 S.

A Halo 3 edition of the Xbox 360 was released on September 16, 2007. The console included a copy of the game, a green wireless controller with a play-and-charge kit, a wired Halo 3 headset, as well a code to download the Halo 3 dashboard theme.

Though no special edition was released with Halo 3: ODST, a Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack was made available alongside the standard version. This included the game itself, along with a limited edition UNSC-style Xbox 360 controller.

A Halo: Reach special edition Xbox 360 S was released on September 14, 2010. It features a Xbox 360 S Edition, a copy of the game, two controllers, and a wireless headset, all of which are based on the game. Colored silver gray, the console is based on an in-game archive reader unit and associated controller used by the Office of Naval Intelligence. The console actually appears in the game in Halsey's lab. The controller and headset were also released individually. The disc eject button emits a Spartan energy shield recharging sound, and the power button emits the spawning sound of a Halo 3/Reach multiplayer powerup.

A Halo 4 version of the console was released alongside the game on November 6, 2012. The special edition console also includes a copy of the game, two special-edition controllers, and a wired headset. It also includes Xbox LIVE tokens for exclusive in-game and avatar marketplace downloadable content (FOTUS armor avatar costume, in-game FOTUS Spartan Armor, avatar Promethean Crawler prop, in-game Lightrifle Skin, and in-game unique Unicorn emblem). The console and controllers feature a blue-white geometric pattern on a translucent, black body; the ring of light on the console and controller guide button (normally green) feature blue lights to match the overall color scheme. The buttons on the console emit electronic sounds when pressed. An alternate Halo 4 controller featuring the UNSC emblem on a translucent, dark grey body, was made available individually on October 21, 2012, and includes an Avatar T-shirt as exclusive downloadable content. The controller also features a transforming D-Pad.

Trivia

• All three original Xbox Halo discs are backwards compatible on Xbox 360; Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack.
  • Halo 2 however features a bug that causes screen burn-in to appear during select missions or cutscenes. When this happens, it can only be resolved by quitting to the title screen, or restarting the Xbox 360 altogether.
• As of April 15, 2010, the Xbox LIVE service for all original Xbox games (including Halo 2) was discontinued. It was possible to play Halo 2 online on the Xbox 360, but was not possible if the person did not play Halo 2 on Xbox LIVE for the original Xbox. The person needed to have the map packs in order to play LIVE for Halo 2 on the 360.

Gallery

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  The original Xbox 360 console.

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  The Xbox 360 Halo 3 special edition console.

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  The Xbox 360 Halo 3 special controller with an image of Spartan-IIs.

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  The Xbox 360 Halo 3 special controller with an image of a Brute Chieftain.

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  The Xbox 360 Elite console.

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  The Xbox 360 Arcade console.

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  The Collector's Pack edition of ODST.

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  The Xbox 360 S.

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  The Halo: Reach special edition console.

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  Halo: Reach limited edition Xbox 360 controller.

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  Halo: Reach limited edition wireless headset.

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  A stack of Xbox 360s featured within the Tribute Room in Halo: Reach.

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  The Halo 4 special edition console and controllers.

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  The alternate Halo 4 special edition controller.

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  An Xbox 360, along with two controllers and an Xbox, in Halo Infinite map Illusion.

External links

• Official website
• Xbox-scene.com Forum