eventually gained popularity due in part to the success of the Halo franchise. The Xbox was the first console to include an Ethernet port and offered high speed online gaming through the Xbox LIVE service.

Seventh generation
The features introduced in this generation include the support of new disc formats: Blu-ray Disc, utilized by the PlayStation 3, and HD DVD supported by the Xbox 360 via an optional accessory, that was later discontinued as the format war closed. Another new technology is the use of motion as input, and IR tracking (as implemented on the Wii, and demonstrated by the PS3). Also, all seventh generation consoles support standard wireless controllers.

Microsoft Xbox 360 was released on November 5th, 2005. A HD DVD drive was later available as an accessory; however, with the termination of the HD DVD format, this accessory's production has been ceased by Microsoft.[4] The Xbox Live service allows the Xbox 360 to connect to the internet via a built-in Ethernet port or a wireless accessory. The Xbox 360 is currently available in two versions, an "Arcade", a regular Xbox360 "Elite" version. The biggest difference between these versions is the addition of a 120 GB hard drive in the "Elite" edition. The regular has a 60/20GB hard drive. The "Arcade" version is not packaged with a hard drive. The Xbox 360 is capable of outputting 1080p through HDMI and component. On June 15, 2010, Microsoft released a new, slimmer version of the Xbox 360 containing built in connectivity features, a quieter cooling system and a 250 GB hard drive.
Sony PlayStation 3 was released in Japan on November 11, 2006, in North America on November 17, 2006 and in Europe on March 23, 2007. All PlayStation 3s come with a hard drive and are able to play Blu-ray Disc movies and games out of the box. The PlayStation 3 was the first video game console to support HDMI output out of the box, utilizing full 1080p resolution. Up to seven devices (including controllers, with tilt-sensing capabilities) connect to the console using Bluetooth. Five versions of the PS3 currently exist; a 20 GB HDD version (discontinued in North America and Japan, and was never released in PAL territories), a 60 GB HDD version (discontinued in North America, Japan and PAL territories), a 40 GB HDD version, 80 GB HDD version (only in some NTSC territories and PAL territories) and a 160 GB HDD in addition, as well as a 120 GB "slim" and 250 GB "slim" version. The hard drive can be replaced with any standard 2.5" Serial ATA drive and the system has support for Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, USB, SD, MiniSD, and CompactFlash (CF) digital media.
Nintendo Wii was released in North America on November 19, 2006, in Japan on December 2, 2006, in Australia on December 7, 2006, and in Europe on December 8, 2006. It is bundled with Wii Sports in all regions except for Japan. Unlike the other systems of the seventh generation, the Wii does not support an internal hard drive, but instead uses 512 MB of internal Flash memory and includes support for removable SD card storage. It also has a maximum resolution output of 480p, making it the only seventh generation console not able to output high-definition graphics. Along with its lower price, the Wii is notable for its unique controller, the Wii Remote, which resembles a TV remote. The system utilizes a "sensor bar" that emits infrared light that is detected by an infrared camera in the Wii Remote to determine orientation relative to the source of the light. Like Nintendo's hand-held systems, it is also backwards compatible with previous Nintendo consoles, as it is capable of playing Nintendo GameCube games and supports up to four Nintendo GameCube controllers and two memory cards. It also includes Virtual Console, which allows the purchase and downloading of games from older systems, including those of former competitors.