Editing Xbox network (section)

{{short description|Online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service by Microsoft}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox online service
| name = Xbox network
| logo = XBOX Network logo.png
| developer = [[Microsoft Gaming]]
| type = Online service
| status = Active<!-- Status of the subject of the article. Use one or two descriptive words, e.g. "Active", "Defunct", "Down", "Discontinued" -->
| launched = {{start date and age|2002|11|15}}
| platform = [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] <small>(Service was discontinued on April 15, 2010)</small><ref name="Xbox 1 Live Discontinued" /><br />[[Xbox 360]] <br />[[Xbox One]]<br />[[Xbox Series X and Series S]] <br />[[Windows XP]]/[[Windows Vista|Vista]]/[[Windows 7|7]] <small> as ([[Games for Windows – Live]])</small><br />[[Windows 8]]/[[Windows 8.1|8.1]]/[[Windows 10|10]]/[[Windows 11|11]] <small> as ([[Microsoft Store]]/[[Xbox (app)|Xbox App]])</small><br /><ref name="live-switch">{{cite web|last1=Morris|first1=Tatiana|title=Minecraft on Nintendo Switch to use Xbox Live login, Minecraft CEO "really" wants Sony cooperation|url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/minecraft-on-nintendo-switch-to-use-xbox-live-login-minecraft-ceo-really-wants-sony-cooperation-3454651|website=Gamezone|date=June 14, 2017|access-date=June 16, 2017|language=en|archive-date=June 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618005607/http://www.gamezone.com/news/minecraft-on-nintendo-switch-to-use-xbox-live-login-minecraft-ceo-really-wants-sony-cooperation-3454651|url-status=live}}</ref><br />[[Windows Phone]] <small>(Servers shut down on May 16, 2022)</small><br />[[iOS]]<ref name="news.xbox.com">{{cite web|url=https://news.xbox.com/2016/06/13/minecraft-realms-friendly-update/|title=Friendly Update with Xbox Live and Realms rolling out now on mobile and Windows 10!|first1=John|last1=Thornton|first2=Executive Producer for|last2=Minecraft|date=June 13, 2016|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016172321/https://news.xbox.com/2016/06/13/minecraft-realms-friendly-update/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />[[iPadOS]]<ref name="news.xbox.com"/><br />[[Android (operating system)|Android]]<ref name="news.xbox.com"/><br />
| pricing = Free for Xbox network<br/>$9.99/month for Xbox Game Pass Core<br/>$14.99/month for Xbox Game Pass Standard <br/>$19.99/month for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
| members = 120 million <small>(as of January 2023)</small><ref name="subs">{{cite web | url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsoft-says-xbox-monthly-active-users-hit-a-record-120-million/#:~:text=Xbox%20reportedly%20attracted%20a%20record,Game%20Pass%E2%80%9D%20during%20the%20quarter | title=Microsoft says Xbox monthly active users hit a record 120 million | date=January 24, 2023 | access-date=January 25, 2023 | archive-date=January 24, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124232503/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsoft-says-xbox-monthly-active-users-hit-a-record-120-million/#:~:text=Xbox%20reportedly%20attracted%20a%20record,Game%20Pass%E2%80%9D%20during%20the%20quarter | url-status=live }}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://www.xbox.com/live}}
| logo_size = 300
}}

The '''Xbox network'''<!--"network" is not capitalized, per Microsoft-->, formerly known and commonly referred to as '''Xbox Live''', is an [[Internet|online]] [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer gaming]] and [[digital media]] delivery service created and operated by [[Microsoft Gaming]] for the [[Xbox]] brand. It was first made available to the original [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] console on November 15, 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2002-11-15|title=Xbox Live Arrives in Stores, Sparking the Next Revolution in Video Games|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2002/11/15/xbox-live-arrives-in-stores-sparking-the-next-revolution-in-video-games/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801203934/https://news.microsoft.com/2002/11/15/xbox-live-arrives-in-stores-sparking-the-next-revolution-in-video-games/|archive-date=2020-08-01|access-date=2020-08-24|website=Microsoft Stories|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2002-08-13|title=Microsoft to launch Xbox Live on 15 November|url=https://www.itweb.co.za/content/8OKdWqDE1G8vbznQ|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815151518/https://www.itweb.co.za/content/8OKdWqDE1G8vbznQ|archive-date=August 15, 2020|access-date=2020-08-24|website=ITWeb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2002-11-15|title=Xbox Live launches|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-live-launches/1100-2897734/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824205130/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-live-launches/1100-2897734/|archive-date=2020-08-24|access-date=2020-08-24|website=GameSpot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2002-11-15|title=Xbox Live|url=https://www.gamingnexus.com/Article/71/Xbox-Live/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824211341/https://www.gamingnexus.com/Article/71/Xbox-Live/|archive-date=2020-08-24|access-date=2020-08-24|website=Gaming Nexus|language=en}}</ref> An updated version of the service, adding the [[Xbox Live Marketplace]], became available with the [[Xbox 360]] console launch in November 2005, and a further enhanced version was released in 2013 with the [[Xbox One]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-11-15|title=Microsoft Unveils Initial Xbox 360 Marketplace Content|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/microsoft-unveils-initial-xbox-360-marketplace-content|access-date=2020-08-24|website=Gamasutra|language=en|archive-date=August 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824213330/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/98142/Microsoft_Unveils_Initial_Xbox_360_Marketplace_Content.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2013-11-20|title=Xbox One: what you get for Xbox Live Gold|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-19-xbox-one-what-you-get-for-xbox-live-gold|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512005830/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-19-xbox-one-what-you-get-for-xbox-live-gold|archive-date=2020-05-12|access-date=2020-08-25|website=Eurogamer|language=en}}</ref> The service is used on the latest [[Xbox Series X and Series S]] and, in addition to a [[Microsoft account]], is the account for Xbox ecosystem; accounts can store games and other content.

The service was extended in 2007 across the [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] platform, named [[Games for Windows – Live]], now defunct, which made most aspects of the system available on Windows computers. The [[Microsoft Store]] and [[Xbox (app)|Xbox app]] are now used to cross over the Xbox ecosystem into PC gaming, in addition to [[Mobile device|handhelds]] and [[mobile phone]]s as part of the [[Play Anywhere]] initiative.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.consolewatcher.com/2007/01/imagine-a-live-anywhere/ |title=Imagine A Live Anywhere! |date=January 12, 2007 |access-date=July 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324103541/http://www.consolewatcher.com/2007/01/imagine-a-live-anywhere/ |archive-date=March 24, 2008 }}</ref> Microsoft's former [[mobile operating system]], [[Windows Phone]], included full Xbox Live functionality until it was discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/feb10/02-15MWC10PR.mspx |title=Microsoft Unveils Windows Phone 7 Series |website=[[Microsoft]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218182001/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/feb10/02-15MWC10PR.mspx |archive-date=February 18, 2010 }}</ref> The service shut down for the original Xbox on April 15, 2010, and original Xbox Games are now only playable online through [[Insignia (Xbox)|Insignia]], an unofficial Xbox Live replacement service, or through [[local area network]] (LAN) [[tunneling protocol|tunneling]] applications.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-01 |title=The original Xbox Live can now play online games again with some help from Insignia |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/the-original-xbox-live-can-now-play-online-games-again-with-some-help-from-insignia/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Neowin |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Xbox 1 Live Discontinued">{{cite web|last=Whitten|first=Marc|title=A Letter from Marc Whitten: Discontinuation of Xbox LIVE for Original Xbox Games|url=http://gamerscoreblog.com/press/archive/2010/02/05/gh789.aspx?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209024133/http://gamerscoreblog.com/press/archive/2010/02/05/gh789.aspx|archive-date=February 9, 2010|access-date=June 19, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Xbox network service is available as both a free service and a subscription-based service known as ''Xbox Game Pass Core''. In 2021, Microsoft renamed Xbox Live as simply the "Xbox network" to cover all of its services related to Xbox, and began slowly phasing out all "Live" branding until it was fully removed in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boddy |first=Zachary |date=2021-03-22 |title=Microsoft officially ends 'Xbox Live' brand, changes to 'Xbox network' |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-officially-ends-xbox-live-brand-changes-xbox-network |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Windows Central |language=en}}</ref>