Xbox Development History

v2.8 - September 2020

Why write alott of text when you can watch the tables and read wikis?.
THIS VERSION IS GOING AWAY, AN UPDATE IS SHEDULED SOON
exporting will maybe added aswell.

Click on the following to go see details of that Generation:

• The Classic Xbox
• The Xbox 360
• The Xbox ONE

Xbox Development History - classic

The classic Xbox was released in 2001, but development started long before that. With the tradition from Windows 2000, Microsoft started counting their development cycles and we headjump to arround build 3000. Its unkown if they had any builds before that, but reasons to believe that they where are high. Intrestingly enough we know they went with two teams working on a console first. A DirectX team and the hardware(? further investigation needed) group where tasked with making a console like device.

For some versions we only have some proof they should excist, others have files, kernels or even recoveries, sdk kits and dashboards. I try to make the tables as clear as posible as what you might expect to see. Not everything is shared on the internet.

A few special versions like the 4604.1 BETA live havent been released but enough evidences is there to proof their existance and even their importantce

Some of the recovery and SDK can be found here MEGA folder

"I got the 3146.3 iso from assemblergames, I noticed: A regular CDFS (not xbox) iso. DOS files (modded DOS 7.1 (win 98)) in the root A very NT-like boot sector. If you've seen those videos of early xbox alpha devkits, note the flash of 'Starting..' - that's io.sys." -someone

The Kernel and more sourcecode

Also known as Barnabas archive or 4400 xbox sourcecode, was a leak of stolen or found code of to me unkown origin. The original leak was claimed to be more complete and unedited. Due to its spread amoung the Modchip makers to make beter Kernels, its not precisly known what mods has been performed. Some files have copies that seem to be the unmodified versions and there are notes added like: "allow encrypted EEPROM on retail ^-^", "i see no reason not to do this here, but set american also ^-^" (about the gameregion).

There was also a archive named "KEY SIGN.7z" wich contained similair but less files and what apears to be an incomplete dashboard. File names and verion numbering indicate they belong to the same version of the xbox sourcetree. Included are some special tools MS used to sign or edit exectuables and certificates for geneology databases. It seems not only from the files but also documentation that signing xbe's with these tools could be done, but the right keys/certificates are missing.' there is a change people have other or more files for these. But according to insiders, we dont need these for emulation, live recreation or historical purposes. For Archival purposes, it apears the right public domain libraries hold copies of these sources atleast behind doors for future humans to discover. Microsoft highly likely dont want these on the streets ;) This is everything I can and will share at this moment.

Xbox Development History - 360

History about the 360s beginning has been documented well elsewhere but some details or intresting facts can still be told. Looking at the early software availeble Microsoft did not just start from scratch but actualy seem to take exsisting tools, file layouts and development methodoligies towards a project they called Xenon. Xenon was the work name for along time internaly and afterwards revert by the homebrew scene to the retail released hardware, mainly because the boards that sit inside the Xbox 360 also got this nickname.

Kernel version is the version mentioned inside files (this is assumed targeted version) the FLASH version means the version of the flash filesystem. whatever the real reasons or numbering is, FLASH is written down by me as being the retail availeble dashboard like version, the XKD dev goes waay higher faster.

Entries in green are retail dash

Below is the version table. First retail kernel/dash NXE Early Update NXE Official Update Latest official release - 2.0.17511.0

Most of the above files can be downloaded from:MEGA(broken) or MEGA or atleast MEGA (broken)

No files remark

This means we only have a reverence to this version and a specific part or parts. Like a kernel, dashboard, recovery or sdk. no files has been found to proof it. Sometimes an image or mention is the only source (these should be checked for authenticity)

Xbox Development History - ONE

Im realy a Xbox classic guy, but while I dont own a Xbox one, I am instrested :D So here we go

Microsoft Giano project

"Giano is a framework for the full-system simulation of arbitrary computer systems, with special emphasis on the hardware-software co-development of system software and Real-Time embedded applications" microsoft december 21, 2010

This system simulation framework enabled microsoft to test kernel funtions for the xenon quickly. its unkown if its realy used for the development of the xbox 360 or later to try PowerPC G5 simulation with Microsoft code but clearly contains a bootable image for a kernel with a framebuffer test for a simulated ATI R300/R500(?) of the Alpha period of development.

"The Xbox 360 software team used a simulator derived from Giano to develop the system software in advance of actual hardware availability. This has given them a net six months advantage on the software schedule and allowed them to meet an extremely demanding timeline for delivering the product on time for the Holiday season" - Giano: The Two-Headed System Simulator

Xbox executables

Alpha recoveries were xex0 while Beta were xex1, but even then 1888 is final (xex2), wich means no older executables can be run. (giano is what ?)

Xbox live server and service sourcecode

Its not known exactly, but atleast two archives containing Microsoft xbox live source code are know to have been leaked.
A smaller repack has been surfaced and was rumoured to be send to one of the ppl involved trying to make a working live server.

A May2020 leak contained a rumoured EA XONLINE_MAIN folder but also traces of this earlier leak. all seemingly from the same basis but slightly diferent builddates arround the same week.

Xbox ONE Durango alpha soft and hardware

XBox one durango Buildfeed mentions Durango software Multiple intresting things over: Thread on BetaArchive also the the xbox development team released a note for developers on Alpha kits:

Version History

2.8 Sept 2020 Added alott retail Xbox one versions, latest 2019 360 version checked MEGA links, added a OG xbox mega link at the bottom 2.7 August 2020 Added missing notes and preparing for bigger update
added: 1.0.3729.0 and added details to: 3146, 3223, 3823, 4361, 5558, 5659, 5788, 5849
2.6 April 2017 Edited some more details for the classic xbox
2.5 April 2017 Edited some details for the classic xbox
2.4 Januari 2017 Found some Xenon 360 PowerG5 information and added these details. Mostly before retail. 2.0.0198.0,2.0.1029.0, 2.0.1232.0. Also Fixed the Xbox classic table structure.
2.3 Januari 2017 added entries for the Xbox ONE, mainly thanks to BetaArchive
2.2 December 2016 Added barnabas and Xbox live server notes
2.1 November 2016 Added all versions from old documents and altered table layout to clean layout
2.0 November 2016 Rebuild version file in html, added tables for xbox, xbox 360 and xbox one