Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Will Never Have a Browser

April 2, 2010 By Ryan Fleming

Microsoft officially declares that the Xbox 360 will not be receiving a browser.

For years, 360 users have been scratching their heads and wondering when their gaming system- manufactured by the top software manufacturer in the world- would supply them with the software necessary to go online and surf the Web. The answer is never.

In an interview with Edge Magazine (via CVG) , Xbox product manager Aaron Greenberg confirmed that the 360 would not support a Web browser because Microsoft deemed exploring the Internet on a home TV to be a “poor experience.”

“We really believe that the web browsing experience on TV is a poor one, and the real magic is to take those Web experiences and optimise them for the living room. That’s what we did with Netflix. So, sure, you can go on the PS3 and go to Facebook and and try to navigate, but it’s an absolute nightmare.”

Both the Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 support Web browers. “No disrespect,” Greenberg said.”There’s things I love about the PS3, but that’s not one of them.”

Showing 24 comments

gum gum at 7:02pm 3rd February 2011 Either u like the xbox or not everybody got their own opinion anyway gaming console r made for games not for Internet
dung dee at 9:47pm 10th December 2010 why do i pay to play?
zachq at 3:24am 10th December 2010 Everyone one on this forum is like a PS3 fan boy or something. Personally i will use my computer to browse the Internet and my xbox 360 to play sports games and such
Piejoe at 3:05am 25th November 2010 That's why Move arrived sucker, great browsing since then
PS3 expected to overtake the 360 | Go Lab Studios at 4:22pm 23rd November 2010 [...] Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Will Never Have a B… [...]
swati at 11:21am 3rd November 2010 i have a never browser
jason at 5:28pm 15th October 2010 idk about anyone else but i play on a public network where every month i have to enter a passcode into the browser to finish enabling my internet and well no browser = no mslive = im screwed out of the 50 bucks i payed for it until i move gg m$
FAKEBOY101 at 6:47am 1st October 2010 PS3 browser has saved me many times when on trips or my PC was down. And it's nice to be able to watch videos on your TV. navigating on the PS3 isn't difficult at all...it's just different. If you sat down at a PC for the first time today, it'd take you a while to get used to it too....dumbass
Floyd69 at 6:38pm 7th August 2010 Now that we (the consumers) know about this generation of console's potential to be able to browse youtube right in your living room for everyone sitting on your couch, I'm sure 360 owners (myself included) will be better informed when the next generation of consoles comes out. I don't have everyone get up and shuffle into my computer room, beer in hands, while I show them a youtube video. We'll be chilled out, on the couch (beer in hands), watching youtube on my ps4. I'll use my $$$ to decide what is and what isn't a poor experience Mr. Greenberg and hopefully if everything goes my way, you'll be out of a job. Not that I want you to be out of a job, but that's the price of progress. DOWN WITH M$!!! I guess we'll miss halo 4. That's okay. Halo 1 and 2 were the good ones (sword flying from Halo 2...classic)
biaros at 5:19pm 2nd August 2010 I don't understand why Microsoft doesn't make a browser. It can't be too difficult because the PS3 comes with a browser and the Wii has a simple, free download for the browser. Parental settings can be set on the console to restrict access to the browser without the passcode (just like they do with games and movies). Nintendo is THE MOST family friendly gaming company, hands down (has the lowest amount of violent games and the highest amount of "franchise" games such as Mario and Zelda games and family games such as Wii Sports and Game Party). The Wii has a browser that supports Flash and sound (and pretty much any major browser functionality) and there is no big controversy about how millions of 10-year-olds are looking at porn and violence on the Wii. Making a console browser can't be too terribly expensive. The Wii browser is based off Opera and has a very simple interface. How hard could it be for Microsoft to do something like that? Microsoft needs to listen to their customers and add a browser or they could lose a chunk of gamers to the companies that do listen to their customers.
BonesRodriguez at 12:13pm 20th May 2010 This is pure stupidity. Having Twitter on there, and then not allowing it to go online to see what people post is assanine. Wouldn't it be EASIER to monitor what your kids are doing online if they do it in the living room? Whatever- There's some MONETARY reason they won't do it. Stupid.
Jack at 3:46pm 14th April 2010 Okay, but the 360 has been around since 2005. How many gaming PC's have been around since 2005 and are still going strong with the current games? Even if you have to buy another Xbox, you're still saving a whole bunch of money. Getting a decent PC rig for under $1000 is an achievement. The Xbox still has a couple years left.
1. Roger Dodger at 2:54pm 12th September 2010 Yes, it has been around, but as to how many of those xboxes from 2005 are around, I would guess not many 5 years out. Microsoft, up until the Falcon and beyond had a nightmare product. The new Xbox has a couple years left. I have seen so many Xenon and Zephyrs that must be reballed/ scraped/used for parts that I couldn't disagree with you more. Xbox Live service is in it for the long haul, but their machines from 2005 are quickly going the way of the dodo. I still have a PC from 2001 and this macbook from 2007. I plan on retiring the PC and building another since even running multiple tabs on the amd 2100 chipset is becoming a process. As for games, most PCs that can run games can do it on a sub 150 card and pretty cheap processor on Windows xp or 7. Even getting a decent PC for under 600 USD is doable and you will be able to run most games at high for the next couple years and at a decent rate for years to come.
2. FUCK OFF at 6:50am 1st October 2010 if you cant get a gaming rig for the price of a new xbox 360, controllers and a year's subscription you need to uninstall(being a gamer that is).
sbains at 8:37am 14th April 2010 Funny the browser on my PS3 hooked up fine to my 73" DLP and works great.

The truth is Microsoft wants your money on Windows, they make more on royalties and giving away a XBOX360 at $299+$99 WiFi adapter with browser may hurt PC sales. Has nothing to do with the experience. Position that Fatberg.
1. zachq at 3:15am 10th December 2010 I don't consoles making computer sale decline if they put a web browser on the X box. They don't put one on because its a clunky mess trying to navigate the internet with a controller and almost everyone has a computer, which is a much better tool to use for many different reason. Besides my computer is like 4 or 5 times more powerful than a xbox 360 or a PS3 so chances are the browser would be slower. Just sayin
2. bubu45 at 7:16pm 13th January 2011 Lool...fatberg...but you are right with your theory
kurgen at 7:19pm 11th April 2010 well I made up my mind due to this report. I will not buy an Xbox I will stick to PC gaming besides if I stcks to PC gaming I dont have to Pay to Play. unlike Xbox live and what ever I have to pay to play on PS3. I already have a pc so why spend my money on Junk.
1. biaros at 5:10pm 2nd August 2010 Gaming on a PS3 is absolutely free, by the way.
2. Dylan at 7:22pm 13th November 2010 NO!!!!!!!!! ONCE YOU BUY A PS3 YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR PSN OR OTHER NOT-INCLUDEDES BECAUSE IT HAS EVERYTHING BUILT-IN UNLKE THE XBOX WHERE IT'S JUST THE OPPISITE!!!!!!!!!
pgfjhg jkhjk at 9:40am 3rd April 2010 That guy doesn't know what he's talking about, I watch live sports games, you-tube, everything off my ps3 web browser it's great. Best part is it's all free. Unlike stupid Microsoft (rips off everyone).
John at 9:24am 3rd April 2010 Really the hardcore tech 18 to 24 year olds we going to lean towards the PS3 due to its features.. Browsers included.. The Microsoft business plan never included these features and its no surprise that their policy matches their features.. In this case for the time being less is more.. When the day comes Im sure Microsoft might have a web browser up its sleeve..

Microsoft needs to sell those gold memberships.. Anything that could limit their golden goose is forbidden.. Microsoft knew they couldn't win over the Sony fanboy so they laid out a ten year plan that included taking over the well spring if new gamers.. (the 8 to 12 year old male) Who needs old gamers when you own the tap..
John at 9:03am 3rd April 2010 Its about the porn/online relationship.. Its a family friendly game console that steers around the PR disaster bad press that happens when you hand kids a pack of matches.. My son got our account banned from uploading pics for childish suggestive (what could be defined as funny to 13 year olds) pics.. They do try and run a clean ship.. and they plan to keep it that way..

I think its a good idea.. Keep the focus on the fun and games.. Let the competition spend resources on pushing away the parents that are concerned about this type of thing..
1. Gaston Fernandez at 2:08pm 9th January 2011 hey john, there can always be a security system for that kind of situation. such as a password or key. there is passwords for log in, so why cant there be passwords for web browser usage?