Xbox Development History

v2.4 - Januari 2017

Scroll down if you just want to see fancy tables. The Microsoft Xbox software and development software has been released using version numbers and various versions of these versions where either public or private release from Microsoft. Some released packages contained Symbol files and others where signed when downloaded while others where not. Sometimes we only got a file, like a kernel, Library or an executable. Its has sparked my intrest to collect them all. because I can.

This page tries to show as many versions as posible with the known released files with it in a "Compact" view. that means, that if we have a full recovery, we only mention that. files that are found elsewhere that are contained within a larger archive are not mentioned unless really special, like being the only proof for another version of a release.

Some sources cannot be disclosed or origins has been lost. We also try to make sure the source is Mircosoft and not some hacker that relabeled something as MS.if posible, a note is added how we got the version or how the proof of excistance was validated.

Especialy from the 360 and onwards version number series started to differ for dashboards, libraries and kernels. And even supporting files or programs where starting off from diferent version numbers. I try to update the tables accordingly so you can find the belonging kernel with dashboards or release dates. if available I try to sort the files nummericaly and by date. this could mean a kernel that has been proven to be used with a diferent dashboard that it will be mentioned twice. Such notation still has to be made as my understanding grows by expanding these lists. For example, Xbox live server code has been found, internaly a lott of version numbers excists, but where does it fit the kernel and dashboard releases? we will see. The main purpose is to have some kind of list where we can find what is known, what is availeble for hackers, researchers and collectors and what is not. Enjoy, dont take this as official and im not responsible for whatever you do with this info. also, this is sort of freely availble on the internet, so... anyone could have tried this.

-CodeAsm 2016-2017

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 to teams working on a console first. A DirectX team and the hardware(? further investigation needed) group where tasked with making a console like device.

The hardware group came with the pc hardware (AMD at first, last minute switch towards Intel and Nvidea) and the DirectX team had the best OS idea. This OS is based on the Windows 2000 kernel, this is proven many times by interviews and hints within files. But especialy after some group or person leaked the kernel,maybe complete source code for a xbox build. its not known to me what the original "release" contained, but traces for this build, 4400 where found for not only the kernel, but dashboard and extra tools microsoft used aswell. within this build, many earlier progress achievements can be found, including files that where part of the windows 2000 sourcecode. Because windows 2000 entire sourcecode has been leaked aswell, we now can compare diferences and similarities aswell. Because the first systems where mostly normal PC's and its been proven posible to build one yourself with the right compenents, we like to also dig into the earlier stages.

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 but most of it I got for free and was shared somewhat publicly. If I dont state a link or that you can get it, its in private hands. And there is a big change I dont even have it, because I like sharing. (note, if a owner asks, I never share, same goes for names of persons)

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

"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 Dashboard 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). But some people including myself, where able to compile and link enough parts using the supplied tools and windows DDK to make a somewhat booting Kernel. Its however looping or locked under Xqemu very early, probably due to incorrect modding, incorrect emulation or some more hacks has to be performed for this particular build to work.

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 geneolegy 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.'

Overall it seems kernel modders might have used this in combination with already compiled parts to only mod those parts that where needed to patch. So to eneble homebrew, custom bootpaths and changed bootsplashes beyound just color variations. Its might have contributed to kernelpatching and further undertstanding of the kernel. The keysign archive has been shared amoung people making homebrew games and it might have helped with controller input, video output and networking. Early version of Xbox live networking can be found and it might have helped modchip makers make their patched kernels to work under Live kernels and dashboards aswell. More research can be done, but for now, this article is long enough.

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 or MEGA or atleast MEGA

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 one archive containing Microsoft xbox live

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

Newest version
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