What was the original name of the Xbox console project before launch?

The original Xbox console project was first called the DirectX Box. The name referred to Microsoft’s DirectX technology, a collection of multimedia and gaming programming interfaces widely used in Windows development.

Microsoft began exploring a dedicated game console in the late 1990s. The project was intended to use familiar PC-derived technology while giving developers a platform designed specifically for console gaming. “DirectX Box” was shortened to “Xbox” as the product moved toward commercialization.

The console launched in North America on November 15, 2001. It used a custom Intel Pentium III-based CPU, an NVIDIA graphics processor, a built-in hard drive, and an Ethernet port. Those specifications gave the machine a strong emphasis on 3D graphics, downloadable content, and network play.

Several other code names belong to different Xbox generations. Project Natal was the development name for Kinect, Durango was associated with Xbox One development, and Project Scorpio referred to the development of Xbox One X. They are therefore common but incorrect answers to this question.

The Xbox brand ultimately expanded into consoles, online services, accessories, and first-party studios. Its original project name remains a concise example of Microsoft’s roots in PC software technology.