Though Microsoft has remained quiet about an exact fail rate percentage, some analysts have that number as high as 40 percent, with recent reports hovering around a one in four odds of failing within the first two years of ownership. The defect can be traced to the system's inability to properly dissipate heat, which in turn renders some of the vital innards unusable. Most notably, the infamous 'red ring of death' controversy has plagued the system since its launch. The console is not without its shortcomings, though. Since then, the console has sold roughly 40 million units worldwide and has brought some innovative ideas to the gaming industry in the form of Xbox Live, the online marketplace, and gamer achievements.
Microsoft kick-started the 'next-generation' of gaming on November 22, 2005, when the company released the Xbox 360, beating both Nintendo and Sony to market.
