Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Xbox 360 in the UK, a console that remains the most influential of its generation despite being outsold by the PlayStation 3 and Wii. Its legacy is defined by a library of games that set trends and captured the cultural zeitgeist, though Microsoft has since struggled to maintain that momentum.
Among the standout titles, Halo 3 was a cultural phenomenon that cemented online multiplayer as a mainstream activity. Gears of War popularised the cover shooter genre with its gritty, brown-and-grey aesthetic. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare transformed the franchise into a household name with its modern setting and refined multiplayer.
Left 4 Dead thrived on the Xbox 360's online capabilities, allowing friends to fight zombies cooperatively. Its success epitomised the era's zombie obsession. However, many of these franchises have since declined, with Halo, Gears of War, and Call of Duty failing to recapture their former glory.
Microsoft has not officially acknowledged the anniversary, but the console's impact is undeniable. From the rise of online play to the dominance of first-person shooters, the Xbox 360 era left an indelible mark on gaming that is still felt today.
