When Was the Xbox 360 Released? (Invented vs. Launched)

Released: November 22, 2005 (North America) — the date consumers could buy it.

Development Started: ~2001 (codename "Xenon" / "Xbox 2") — 4 years before launch.

Global Launch Dates

• North America: November 22, 2005
• Europe: December 2, 2005
• Japan: December 10, 2005
• Australia: March 23, 2006

Key Milestones

• Announcement: E3 2005 (May) — MTV special "Xbox 360: The Birth of the Next Generation."
• Discontinuation: April 20, 2016 (manufacturing ended).
• Successor: Xbox One — November 22, 2013 (exactly 8 years later).

Invention ≠ Release. The console was invented/engineered 2001–2005; released 2005.