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Xbox Live Gets Renamed as Xbox Network by Microsoft

Xbox Live Gets Renamed as Xbox Network by Microsoft

Xbox Live was introduced in 2002 with the first Xbox console.

By Satvik Khare | Updated: 23 March 2021 17:02 IST

Xbox Live Gets Renamed as Xbox Network by Microsoft

Xbox Live lets users play games and interact with friends online

Highlights

Microsoft hinted at the name change in August 2020
Xbox network is necessary for gamers to connect online
EA Play has been added to Xbox Game Pass free of cost

Xbox Live is being rebranded as Xbox network by Microsoft. The first instance for the change in name, where clips were uploaded to Xbox network rather than Xbox Live, appeared for Xbox beta testers on the Xbox dashboard recently. Xbox Live was introduced in 2002 for the original Xbox and has subsequently been updated in some way or the other with each Xbox console launch. The online service was launched for gamers to connect and interact with their friends who own Xbox consoles, download games, and much more.

“'Xbox network' refers to the underlying Xbox online service, which was updated in the Microsoft Services Agreement,” a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed in a statement to The Verge. “The update from ‘Xbox Live' to ‘Xbox network' is intended to distinguish the underlying service from Xbox Live Gold memberships.”

Microsoft had hinted about the name change through its Services Agreement in August 2020 but didn't make an official announcement yet. Xbox network, formerly Xbox Live, is the company's online service that lets gamers play online, interact with friends, and download games. Without this, users cannot access any Internet-based service on the consoles.

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Microsoft is also reportedly planning to remove the Xbox Live subscription requirement for free-to-play games like Fortnite and Apex Legends in the future. However, the company hasn't announced when the paywall for the games will be removed.

In other Xbox-related news, EA Play was introduced to Xbox Game Pass free-of-cost to subscribers first on Xbox and then subsequently to subscribers on Windows. This brings titles like FIFA 20, Need for Speed Heat, Battlefield V, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to subscribers.

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PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Which is the best "next-gen" console in India? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

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Microsoft Xbox Series X

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Good
Really powerful
Delivers constant 4K 60fps
Reduced loading times
Great backward compatibility
Support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
Capable of 8K / 120fps
Network transfer feature

Bad
Expensive
Lack of truly next-gen exclusives
Not a generation leap over Xbox One X at launch
Proprietary storage expansion
No rechargeable battery with controller
Implementation of Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos

Read detailed Microsoft Xbox Series X review

HDD 1TB PCie Gen 4 NVME SSD

Processor Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8GHz

Graphics Custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU 52 CUs @ 1.825GHz

RAM 16GB GDDR6

USB 3

Weight 4.45kg

Ethernet Gigabit

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Microsoft Xbox Series S

KEY SPECS
NEWS

HDD 512GB PCie Gen 4 NVME SSD

Processor Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8GHz

Graphics Custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU 20 CUs @ 1.565GHz

RAM 10GB GDDR6 RAM

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Microsoft Xbox One X

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Good
Worthy upgrade over the Xbox One S
Improves a lot of games
Excellent build quality

Bad
Not available officially yet
Microsoft’s download system needs work

HDD 1TB

Processor AMD Jaguar 2.3GHz 8-core

Graphics AMD Radeon GCN 4.0

RAM 12GB

AV HDMI-out, Optical Out

USB 3 USB 3.0 ports

Weight 3.81kg

Ethernet Yes

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Microsoft Xbox One S

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Good
Gorgeous industrial design
Sweet form factor
No power brick!
Whisper quiet

Bad
Robot white is easy to smudge
OS concerns still persist

Read detailed Microsoft Xbox One S review

HDD 500GB, 1TB, 2TB

Processor AMD Jaguar 1.75GHz 8-core

Graphics AMD Durango 2 GCN 1.0

RAM 8GB

AV HDMI-out, Optical Out

USB 3 USB 3.0 ports

Weight 2.9kg

Ethernet Yes

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