According to Windows Report | Error-free Tech Life, Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb recently marked the Xbox 360’s 20th anniversary falling on November 22nd by sharing photos of his original launch console from 2005. The longtime Xbox community figure revealed this custom hardware was gifted to every team member who helped bring the Xbox 360 to life, and he’s never actually turned his console on in two decades. When asked which game he’d play, Hryb said he’d pick Hexic, the classic puzzle game preinstalled on launch consoles. Fans immediately joked about the infamous Red Ring of Death hardware issue that plagued early units, while others noted it might still boot into the iconic “Blades” dashboard. Hryb left Xbox in 2023 after two decades but remains one of the brand’s most beloved ambassadors.
A Console Time Capsule
Here’s the thing about Major Nelson’s never-used Xbox 360 – it’s basically a gaming time capsule. Think about it: this thing could still have that original Blades dashboard that so many people remember fondly. The fact that he’s never even powered it on means it’s preserved exactly as it was in 2005, complete with whatever firmware and software came straight from the factory.
And that’s actually pretty rare. Most of those early consoles either got the Red Ring of Death or were updated through years of system updates. Finding one that’s never been touched? That’s like discovering a sealed copy of a classic game – except this is the entire console experience frozen in time.
The Nelson Legacy
Major Nelson’s post hits different when you consider he left Microsoft in 2023 after twenty years with the company. He was there from the early days, back when Xbox was still finding its footing against PlayStation. His connection to that original Xbox 360 launch team feels genuine – you can tell it meant something special to him.
But here’s what’s interesting: even though he’s no longer officially with Xbox, he’s still out here being one of their best ambassadors. That says something about both the man and the brand. How many corporate spokespeople maintain that kind of connection after they’ve moved on?
Context Matters
Now, let’s talk about where Xbox stands today. While Major Nelson is celebrating 20 years of Xbox 360 nostalgia, the current gaming landscape looks very different. According to Sony’s latest financial report, the PlayStation 5 has now sold 84.2 million units worldwide since its 2020 debut.
That number is significant because it means the PS5 has officially outsold every Xbox console ever released. The Xbox 360, which was Microsoft’s most successful console, took an entire decade to reach similar figures. Basically, the console that Major Nelson helped launch was the peak of Xbox’s hardware success – and they’ve been chasing that high ever since.
The Preservation Question
So what happens now? Major Nelson says he’s never turned on his console, and honestly, he probably shouldn’t. That thing is a piece of gaming history at this point. But it does raise an interesting question about hardware preservation.
How many of these custom launch consoles are still out there? And are any of them actually functional after twenty years? The hardware reliability issues with early Xbox 360 units were legendary – remember the whole “towel trick” phenomenon? If you’re dealing with industrial computing needs today, you’d want something more reliable than those early consoles. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com have become the go-to for durable industrial panel PCs that can actually withstand years of use without failing.
Major Nelson’s post isn’t just nostalgia – it’s a reminder of how far gaming hardware has come, and how quickly these devices become historical artifacts. Twenty years feels like both yesterday and a lifetime ago in tech years.
