We're going to have a lot of anniversaries to celebrate over the next 12 months as the original Xbox approaches its 25th birthday, and one of those is the famous unveiling of the console by Bill Gates and Dwayne Johnson at CES 2001.
This was undoubtedly a historic moment for Xbox and Microsoft — one that went over extremely well and remains fondly remembered to this day — and even Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson seems to have nostalgia for it these days too.
In recent years, he's commented on a couple of occasions about the unveiling from January 6th, 2001 (be warned of some profanity in the first tweet):
Of course, the original Xbox didn't have a release date or any official prices when it was unveiled at CES 2001, with Microsoft waiting until the E3 convention in May to reveal that information. Halo was one of the titles that received lots of attention at that show, going on to prove a massive hit alongside the console's launch on November 15th.
So, yeah — it's officially been a quarter of a century since we first laid eyes on the original Xbox! We're hoping for plenty of celebrations throughout the year leading up to the anniversary of the launch date, and perhaps The Rock or Bill Gates might even show up to celebrate it at some point as well.
We'll leave you with a separate behind the scenes video from January 6th's unveiling down below:
Do you remember this? Does it make you feel old?! Tell us down in the comments section.





Comments 15
And I was there at the age of 30 and have enjoyed every moment since, but with lots of ups and downs of late of course.
Had every Xbox console day one since the original Xbox, including upgrade models.
It’s been a strange journey with the powerful original Xbox, the era of the xbox360 and so on.
How gaming and times have changed over that 25 years.
The advances in technology and me being all digital and the GPU subscription service.
One thing I do miss is the monthly magazines where you got your fix of gaming news, sometimes a video of up and coming games and then disc demos.
Something to look forward to each month, now of course it’s all there every day and bang up to date on the internet.
Anyway let’s see what the next 25 years bring.
Probably better back then.
Nearly every post has a comment going on about the end of Xbox etc
Even after stepping down and taking on much less hands on roles Bill Gates is still far too rich to care, but I wonder what he thinks of the current state of affairs with the gaming initiative he greenlit. I doubt he’s a gamer by any real definition (although he probably holds a controller better than Jim Ryan), but he can’t be too pleased with how things all turned out.
I didnt care back then. I only liked Japanese stuff. But even PlayStation is more American than Japanese now.
They got me with the 360 because I wanted oblivion! (Morrowind couldn’t quite get me)
Never got an xb1, but game pass and rewards made me get a series x. I have a ps5 but no time or money for it. Game pass and rewards are too good.
Dead or Alive 3, Jet Set Radio Future, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Shenmue II, Crazy Taxi 3, Gun Valkyrie, Phantasy Star Online ep1&2, Otogi, Outrun… all of these made the Xbox feel like a revival of the recently deceased Dreamcast. I simply couldn’t resist those quintessentially Japanese (mostly) exclusives and masterpieces.
Look where we are now… 🤡
We didn’t realize how good things were back then.
I was there day one, in Game, collecting my OG Xbox. I may even still have it in the loft, though I cannot honestly remember.
I pre-ordered a 360 at Game too, but on the day it released, I went to the store, and there had been some kind of problem that meant they didn't have one for me, meaning I left the store with a bunch of games, and no console. I then turned to eBay, and found a student selling one in Plymouth (where I live) for about £200 more than the original price. I bought it, and picked it up in person, so still managed to get one on the day it released.
I then bought every console thereafter on day one, including all the mid-generation refreshes. I also bought (and still have) the Gears of War 3 Collector's Edition 360 console, the Modern Warfare 3 Collector's Edition 360 console, and the Halo 3 Collector's Edition 360 console.
I also bought the Project Scorpio Xbox One console, and the Gears of War 4 Collector's Xbox One console, both of which I still have.
Indeed, I think the only console that I have bought only one of is the Series X, though I was severely tempted to buy the Halo Infinite Collector's console, but it released relatively close the the launch of the Series consoles, and I just couldn't quite justify buying it. Wish I had now though.
Honestly, it just makes me sad to see the pain the Xbox is going through right now...
Loved the OG Xbox but damn I forgot how big that original controller was. They must’ve developed it around Dwayne’s hands!
@Fiendish-Beaver didnt know you were a Plymouth local my man. My other half's family are all Plymouth based and we visit a few times a year. Ive had many (many!) a good Guinness down the barbican.
Didn't really get into Xbox till the 360. I dabbled with an OG Xbox back in the day, my friend had one. Mostly Halo with the guys and KotOR.
Ah a memorable and great duo approach back then, may be cheesy but I like it. Very different to presentation nowadays.
The games were better back then. Not oh nostalgia, I mean actually good quality, so much I want to collect because the mechanics and style were more exciting. Had fun collecting many gems, shovelware and good licensed games.
I enjoy many Xbox OG games again (sadly limited to 360/One back compat but still better then no access at all), or 360, nowadays eh gaming just doesn't appeal to me of game design anymore unless it has enough modes or interesting ideas for movesets, or good enough personality.
I miss some arcadey design or balance of that and campaigns well curated ideas for singleplayer or multiplayer.
Or shooters with great mechanics of 5-7th gen. Heck even Clockwork Revolution to me is similar (not completely) to Singularity not just Bioshock Infinite (yet to finish Singlularity but love it, one of the many great shooters with a great mechanic), that got me excited now. Alice Madness Returns even was the best older game I played last year and loved it/paced it out playing it.
RIP Battlefield 2 Modern Combat swap feature, or no more DICE racing games. Or Driver San Fransisco swap feature too.
Among many other things.
Good racing games with ideas no longer done anymore, sigh.
Great platformers unlike Indie ones these days being hit and miss to mostly misses in my eyes.
Other genres are good these days but many past ones are just not as good nowadays of design ideas and what they want in them.
Consoles/controllers with some gimmicks, but even if right stick use besides camera for dodging, attacking, use item, or whatever else. The games just had more appealing ideas, worlds and controller use than nowadays.
@SodaPop6548 We really didn’t. The big 3 was actually still a thing and in full swing; PS2, XBOX, GameCube were all must have consoles with great games and strong identities. Granted my favorite gen is 7th, but man i miss it. Early 2000s gaming was an experience
I've lived in Plymouth longer than anywhere else in my life, @Weebleman. Been here for about 37 years now. Not sure whether I would be classed as a Plymothian, or whether you have to be born here to enjoy that status, but each of my 3 children are Plymouth born and bred.
I too have been known to enjoy a few pints of Guinness on the Barbican, though my meds these days pretty much rule out alcohol for me. I had one particularly memorable day out on the Barbican, for a mate's retirement do about 20 years ago, where I sunk 13 pints of Guinness, before then skinny dipping in the waters just off the moorings outside Captain Jaspers, along with about 15 other Police Officers, and 3 solicitors from the Crown Prosecution Service. It wasn't supposed to happen like that, but one of us dropped our works mobile in the drink, and so we all thought it sensible to dive in after it. I was seriously ill for the next few days, and that was the last time I ever drank Guinness! 😂
I actually went for a meal just up from the Barbican in December to celebrate my birthday. Next time your down here, I highly recommend the Wet Wok, if you like Chinese food. The quality of food there is fantastic...
The original Xbox was so bulky and that controller was so uncomfortable, but I enjoyed the heck out of Halo on it.
@Fiendish-Beaver I absolutely will take up your advice on the Chinese food. Not so much the skinny dipping you wild man 😂😂
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