Microsoft owns the professional network LinkedIn and the gaming brand Xbox.
Microsoft acquired LinkedIn in 2016 for approximately $26.2 billion. LinkedIn, founded in 2003, is a professional networking service used for recruiting, employment information, and business communication. Microsoft has kept LinkedIn as a distinct service within its broader corporate portfolio.
Xbox is Microsoft’s video-game brand, encompassing consoles, studios, subscriptions, and online services. The first Xbox console launched in 2001, while Xbox Game Pass became a major subscription offering. Microsoft also operates Windows, Azure, Microsoft 365, and GitHub. These businesses differ from the company’s original identity as a personal-computer software maker, but together they help explain why Microsoft regularly ranks among the world’s largest companies by market capitalization.