E of pie . Xbox One is the successor to Xbox 360, Microsoft’s previous video game console, which was introduced in 2005 as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles.[23] As of January 2016, the 360 remains in production by Microsoft, having received a number of small hardware revisions to reduce the unit’s size and improve its reliability.[24] In 2010, Microsoft’s Chris Lewis stated that the 360 was about "halfway" through its lifecycle; this was aided by the introduction of the Kinect device that year which Lewis stated would extend the lifecycle by five years.[25]
Initial hardware for the 360’s successor, commonly referred to by the industry as the "Xbox 720", [26] was reportedly in hands of developers as early as May 2011.[27] The official developer kit was codenamed Durango, [28] and appeared to be available to developers by mid-2012.[29] Leaked documents suggested that the new console would include an improved Kinect device, cloud access to games and media, integration with phone and tablet devices, and technology to provide players heads-up displays on glasses worn by the player, codenamed "Fortaleza"; Microsoft did not comment on these reported features.[30] Similar, leaked design documents also suggested that Microsoft was seeking to eliminate the ability to play used games, though Microsoft later clarified they were still reviewing the design and were "thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology like we did with Kinect", but did not comment on the validity of the information.[31]
The console was publicly unveiled under the name Xbox One on May 21, 2013 in a press conference designed to cover the unit’s broad multimedia and social capabilities.[32][33][34] A second press event for the console was held during E3 on June 10, 2013, focusing on its video game-oriented functionality.[35] At that time, Microsoft announced that the console would be released in 21 different markets on November 22, 2013, but this was later amended down to 13.[3][4] The change, which pushed the release date for the other eight markets to 2014, was attributed to unforeseen complexity in localizing the device’s voice recognition capabilities.[36] Later, in September 2014, the Xbox One was released in 26 markets, including remaining markets in Europe, the Japanese market, and Middle Eastern markets.[37]
In 2015, four members of an international hacking group pled guilty to gaining unauthorized access to Microsoft’s computer network and obtaining sensitive information relating to Xbox One and Xbox Live.