5 moments that defined the first year of Xbox Series X

From the acquisition of Bethesda to the re-reveal of Halo Infinite, here's a brief look at Xbox Series X in 2021 [{ "selector": ".krluw-a", "duration": "4000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "3500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".xgjkp-a", "duration": "4000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "2000ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".pjhoj-a", "duration": "4000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "5000ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".qhbvi-a", "duration": "2000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1000ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-22.42em)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0.74%)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

It's been a busy console launch year for Xbox. Here are the key moments of the past 12 months for the Series X...

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1. The Bethesda acquistion

The strategy behind Microsoft's $7.5bn purchase of Bethesda and its parent company ZeniMax last September seems clear: to bring more first-party exclusives to Xbox Series X and Game Pass. That said, upcoming games like Starfield will still appear on the PS5. [{ "selector": ".qkdsz-a", "duration": "1500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-29.96em)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0.53%)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".ewiqa-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(100%)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(Infinity%)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

2. Flight Sim becomes Microsoft's Animal Crossing

The first Flight Sim in 14 years makes astonishing use of Bing Maps, OpenStreetMap and cloud computing. It's provided a relaxing escape for thousands of players during lockdown. [{ "selector": ".zhnrv-a", "duration": "1500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-30.49em)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0.52%)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".fxlhg-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(100%)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(Infinity%)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

3. Cloud gaming, PC, and the death of the console exclusive

This year it was made clear Microsoft's vision of the Xbox Series X is as the showy figurehead to a broader games ecosystem; one that includes Xbox Cloud Gaming and day-one releases of first-party games on PC via Game Pass. [{ "selector": ".xiqen-a", "duration": "1500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-23.82em)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0.65%)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".gsobw-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(100%)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(Infinity%)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

4. The Xbox Fridge at E3

Microsoft's response to jokes about Xbox Series X looking like a fridge was to really go with it, with the company releasing an actual mini-fridge that sold out immediately. [{ "selector": ".udtyz-a", "duration": "1500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-28.36em)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0.56%)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".yzkez-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(100%)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(Infinity%)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

5. The Halo Infinite redemption arc

After an underwhelming announcement trailer, Infinite stormed back with an exciting re-reveal of its campaign – the technology behind the open world campaign now looking more assured. [{ "selector": ".jrygp-a", "duration": "1500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-23.29em)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0.67%)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".glvrf-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(100%)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(Infinity%)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

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