X (sometimes called the "X0 events"[1]) is an annually held trade show hosted by Microsoft, showcasing its Xbox - and more recently, Games for Windows - portfolio of hardware, software, and services. The X show has been held every year since 2001 (with the exception of 2004) in diverse European cities. Microsoft Canada also organises an X Show every year to presents its games to the Canadian press. This show first started in 2002 and was open to the public in 2006.[1].
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From 2001 to 2006 Microsoft held major trade shows in Europe to showcase new titles and make major announcements.
X01 was held in Cannes, France in October 2001, before the release of the Xbox, to generate interest in the Xbox. Microsoft announced a new game with the working title Project Ego, which later became Fable, as well as Brute Force. Other games that headlined the show included Rallisport Challenge, Project Gotham Racing, Fuzion Frenzy, Azurik, Nightcaster, Halo: Combat Evolved, Blood Wake, Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding, and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee.
Other game publishers showcased Xbox games as well, the most notable being SEGA, with a showing of Jet Set Radio Future, Sega GT 2002, and GunValkyrie.[2][3]
X02 was held in Seville, Spain in September 2002, with the main focus of Xbox Live. Specific plans for Xbox Live in Europe were unveiled, as well as the highly controversial purchase of Rare for $375 million. One of Rare's games under development is announced, Kameo. Project Ego was announced to be named Fable, as well as announcements of Sudeki, Xbox Live support for Splinter Cell, and the later cancelled game B.C. was discussed.
With Xbox Live being the main focus, a few announcements were made such as server specifications and the development of over 50 Xbox Live enabled games. A subtle announcement was made towards the Xbox 360, with Microsoft stating that they will get a head start on PlayStation 3, and that they expect every game, 5 years from then, to be Xbox Live aware.[4][5][6][7]
X03 was held on a beach in southern France in 2003, with over 100 previews of games, including Halo 2, and discussions over the Xbox Christmas season. The first Xbox Live tournament takes place on Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder. Games showcased include Rallisport Challenge 2, Dead Or Alive: Online, Halo 2, Deus Ex: Invisible War, Ninja Gaiden, Dancing Stage Unleashed, Counter-Strike, Top Spin and Xbox Music Mixer.[8][9][10]
After the show's absence in 2004, X05 brought back the X show in Amsterdam, with a very heavy focus on Xbox 360, which had already been revealed on MTV and showcased at E3. Held on October 4 and 5 of 2005, Microsoft revealed the launch line-up for the new console, as well as new titles coming to the system. Games shown included Perfect Dark Zero, Gears of War, FIFA 06, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Dead or Alive 4, among others. [11][12][13]
X06 was held between the September 27 and September 28, 2006, in Barcelona, Spain. The show featured games like Fable 2, Mass Effect, Alan Wake, and Gears of War. The show also featured several notable announcements.[14][15]
September 27, 2006 Announcements included:
In recent years, Microsoft Canada has held scaled-back X events showcase the Xbox 360 lineups to a Canadian audience. The Canadian venue is significantly smaller and lower key than the Europe events, and is organized by Microsoft Canada primarily for the Canadian press, rather than an international audience.
Annual event showcasing current and upcoming titles for Xbox, PC and then later Xbox 360 with developers giving interviews to members of the press at various small scale venues.
The X07 event took place in Toronto, Canada on August 28. [16] However, this X07 has nothing to do with the European variant that was cancelled for 2007, it was smaller and not organized in the same way. [17]
Between August 21 and August 22 Microsoft organised X08 in Canada. This Canadian show is unrelated to its European equivalent and was used to showcase the fall line-up for the Xbox 360 to the Canadian audience.
The X09 event took place in Toronto, Canada on October 1.
The X10 event took place in Toronto, Canada on August 19.
The X10 show was held on February 11, 2010 at the Terra Event Center in San Francisco, U.S. Games included:
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