Microsoft's Xbox was launched in 2001, and swiftly became one of the world's premiere gaming consoles, as have its successors, the Xbox 360 in 2005, the Xbox One in 2013 and now the Xbox Series X. From the start, the idea was to link console units up to an online entertainment store, where users could purchase new games and enhance the ones that they already owned. Hence, Xbox Live was born.
The major attraction of the service was the ability to play the latest console games over a broadband connection – something that no console had offered until Xbox Live came along.
Since its release in 2002, Xbox Live membership has been the place to go for all forms of digital products relating to the Xbox series. It was updated in 2005 and again in 2013 when new Xbox systems were introduced, and in 2007 it was also extended to Windows computers, making it potentially available for billions of people around the world. In the future, it will also be extended to smartphones and handheld Xbox devices.
Xbox Live is organised around a system of points or rewards that gamers can buy or earn through their play, and then use to purchase products at the Xbox Store. When they set up their Xbox Live account, every user chooses a GamerTag, which identifies them to all other users on the network. They can then start earning GamerScore points. These can be earned through achievements on particular games and are stored in every user's Xbox Live account.
When playing online, each user can select which GamerZone they prefer to occupy. This allows them to avoid hardcore gamers and to enjoy a more relaxed gaming experience in the Recreation or Family zones. The Pro and Underground sectors are available for experienced gamers and can be tailored to all skill levels and ages.
This software matches up individual Xbox Live users with approximately the same skill level, allowing for more evenly matched gameplay. Instead of climbing up large ranking tables, players can now be effectively ranked in as few as 20 matches on titles like Warhammer 40,000.
The more players use the Xbox Live system, the more rewards they earn. When they complete missions, participate in online surveys or spend money in the Live Store, they accumulate reward points in their local currency.
These reward points cannot be cashed out into actual money, but they can be used to buy products like streaming movies, games, apps and TV shows.
