Xbox Turns 15, Celebrates So, So Many Gaming Hours!
Briefly: Can you believe that the Xbox brand turned 15 today?
Microsoft’s first console released when I was just 11 years old, and what a time its been. The original Xbox was actually the first platform that I played Half Life 2 on, I had some of my first four-player multiplayer experiences with Halo, and my friends all loved Fusion Frenzy even though I thought it stunk. I think I may even still have one of those giant early controllers in a box somewhere.
To help celebrate this momentous occasion, Microsoft has shared some incredible data marking just how much Xbox has grown over this period. Some of the numbers are pretty incredible:
– Number of players: 222,468,423
– Number of total gaming hours: 100,539,390,670
-Number of total multiplayer hours: 29,000,304,183
– Number of Achievements unlocked: 32,667,582,157
– Gamerscore racked up: 572,605,554,587
– Highest Gamerscore: 1,416,465
– Number of Xbox Live friendships made: 4,233,891,482
That highest Gamerscore though… Wow.
Naturally, there’s a hashtag to go with the celebration, and Microsoft would love it if you shared your favourite Xbox memories on social media using #15YearsOfXbox.
Here’s what else is going on, straight from Xbox Wire:
Team Xbox Gaming with the Community
The team here at Xbox is full of gamers, so most of us will be spending the day on Xbox Live, playing games with and against our awesome community. In fact, we’ll have kiosks set up around the Xbox offices that will allow any employee to hop on Xbox Live for a quick multiplayer match. All you need to do is follow us at the Club named “Celebrate 15 Years of Xbox” and get to playing! Or, if you want to focus your gaming energy solely on Halo, join the “Halo” Club to take on the developers.
Livestreams
If you’re not able to join us on Xbox Live for some gaming, why not watch some of the talented folks on our teams play instead? You can take a look at the Forza livestream on Beam starting at 1PM PT at www.beam.pro/ForzaMotorsport. Then, beginning at 3:43PM PT, check out our Halo live stream at www.beam.pro/Halo or www.twitch.tv/halo, featuring videos from various members of the 343 team and Bungie sharing memories of Halo, live gameplay with community influencers, and more.
We also have special Game With sessions planned throughout the day starting 11:00AM PT. Major Nelson will kick off the day followed by special appearances from the Killer Instinct Team, Back Compat Team, Beam Team, Ambassadors Team, and a surprise executive Game With! Tune in to www.beam.pro/Xbox or www.twitch.tv/Xbox for an exciting day of Game With Xbox.
In-Game Events and Giveaways
A few of our teams are working on special giveaways and in-game events in honor of our 15 year celebration. First up, the Forza team is gifting a 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor complete with a custom livery celebrating Xbox’s 15th anniversary. All players will receive this livery for free and Forza Horizon 3 VIPs will receive a bonus truck with an alternative Xbox 15th anniversary livery as well.
There will be two Rivals events created as well, with one in Forza Motorsport 6 and the other in Forza Horizon 3. In addition, there will be a special Bucket List Challenge in Forza Horizon 3 (TITLE: Celebrate #15YearsofXbox), which players can find by traveling to the Pink Lakes Bucket List point in the game.
If you’re a Halo fan, if you simply log in to Halo 5: Guardians between November 15 at 10AM PT and November 22 at 10AM PT, you will receive a free “15th Anniversary REQ Pack”, which contains consumable items for use in Warzone game modes and the legendary Mark IV Gen 1 armor set, worn by Spartan IIs in the darkest hours of the Covenant War!
What’s been your favourite Xbox game or memory over the last decade and a half? Sound out below!
Happy anniversary, @Xbox! Congratulations on 15 fantastic years. pic.twitter.com/BjGHjZG11d
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) November 15, 2016
