Ever wondered when did Xbox One come out? Microsoft’s Xbox One console the successor to the Xbox 360 was unveiled in 2013 and officially hit stores later that year. The Xbox One was first announced on May 21, 2013 and launched in November 2013. In fact, at E3 2013 Microsoft confirmed Xbox One would release in November 2013 across 21 countries. The key launch date was November 22, 2013, when Xbox One debuted in major markets including North America, Europe, Australia and South America. This made 2013 the Xbox One’s launch year. Below we detail the full release history and timeline, from announcement to debut, including later hardware revisions and age of the console.
Announcement and Reveal May 2013
The Xbox One was officially announced on May 21, 2013 in Redmond, Washington. At that press event, Microsoft introduced Xbox One as an “all-in-one gaming and entertainment system” for the next generation. A few weeks later at E3 2013, Microsoft revealed more launch details: Xbox One would release in November 2013 for US$499, and initially ship to 21 global markets. This official unveiling confirmed that the launch year was 2013, giving fans a clear timeline. (Before 2013, the Xbox One was often referred to by its codename “Xbox 720” in rumors.) The announcement also noted the console’s new features like voice control Xbox On and a redesigned controller setting it apart from the Xbox 360.
Xbox One Launch Date Nov 2013
Following the announcement, the Xbox One came out on November 22, 2013 in its initial markets. That day, retail stores in 13 major territories (including the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia, etc.) opened at midnight to sell Xbox One consoles. This launch date was strategically placed between Sony’s PlayStation 4 release dates (Nov 15 NA, Nov 29 EU. Microsoft’s own When Did Xbox One Come Out Wire blog celebrated the Xbox One’s debut, noting it was the biggest launch in Xbox history – over 1 million units sold in 24 hours. (For context, the original Xbox launched in 2001 and the Xbox 360 in 2005.)
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Release Date – Nov 22, 2013: Xbox One launched in North America, Europe (including the UK), Australia and South America.
Global Release Timeline:
After the November 2013 debut, Xbox One rolled out to additional regions in 2014. The staggered launch timeline is as follows:
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Sep 4, 2014 (Japan): Xbox One finally launched in Japan nearly 10 months later.
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Sep 29, 2014 (China): The Xbox One was released in China on September 29, 2014, following delays earlier that month.
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Throughout late 2014: Microsoft continued expanding Xbox One availability to more countries. (For example, in September 2014 the console began shipping to 29 additional markets including Hong Kong, India, Korea and others.
By the end of 2014, When Did Xbox One Come Out was available on every major continent. The console’s full release history shows a gradual rollout after the initial Nov 2013 launch in 13 markets, it reached Japan and China in September 2014 and then dozens more countries through late 2014.
Xbox One Hardware Revisions Timeline:
The Xbox One timeline didn’t stop at 2014. Microsoft later released updated models:
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Xbox One S (Slim) – August 2, 2016: A slimmer 2TB model called Xbox One S launched worldwide. This revision replaced the original launch edition in many markets.
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Xbox One X – November 7, 2017: A high-end Xbox One X (project “Scorpio”) was released globally on Nov 7, 2017 offering upgraded 4K-capable hardware.
These milestones show that the Xbox One line continued evolving over 2016–2017. In summary, the Xbox One family timeline includes its 2013 debut, followed by the Xbox One S in 2016 and Xbox One X in 2017.
Xbox One Age and Legacy:
As of 2025, the original Xbox One is about 12 years old (2013–2025). Microsoft officially ended production at the end of 2020 as the company shifted focus to the next-generation Xbox Series X|S. In fact, GeekWire reports the Xbox One “originally debuted in 2013” and was discontinued by late 2020. Despite its mixed reception at launch (some gamers criticized early policies the Xbox One left a legacy of game streaming, backwards compatibility, and record launch sales (over 1M in 24 hours. Today it’s succeeded by the Series X|S, but when did the Xbox One come out remains a key piece of gaming history – November 22, 2013 in its debut markets.
FAQs
Q: When exactly when did xbox one come out?
A: The Xbox One was officially released on November 22, 2013. On that day it launched in 13 major markets (including North America, the UK and Europe).
Q: When was the Xbox One first announced?
A: Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One on May 21, 2013. It was shown as part of a press event in Redmond ahead of E3 2013.
Q: When did Xbox One launch in Japan and China?
A: The Xbox One hit Japan on September 4, 2014 and China on September 29, 2014 after the initial 2013 launch elsewhere.
Q: How old is the Xbox One now?
A: Since the Xbox One debuted in 2013 it is about 12 years old as of 2025. Production stopped at the end of 2020.
Q: What is the Xbox One release timeline?
A: In summary, When Did Xbox One Come Out timeline started with its November 22, 2013 launch in 13 markets. It expanded to Japan and China in September 2014. Later hardware revisions include the Xbox One S August 2, 2016 and Xbox One X (November 7, 2017.
The When Did Xbox One Come Out launch marked the beginning of Microsoft’s 8th-generation console era. For more on Xbox One history and release dates, check out official Xbox sources and gaming news archives. We hope this detailed timeline answered when did Xbox One come out and provided useful context. If you found this article helpful, share it with fellow gamers, and leave a comment below with your memories or questions about the Xbox One’s launch!
