Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine was a video game magazine focused on Xbox consoles, games, services, and accessories.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Official Xbox Magazine, commonly abbreviated OXM, was a licensed video game publication devoted to Microsoft's Xbox platform. The United States edition began around the launch of the original Xbox, with a preview issue associated with E3 2001 and regular monthly publication beginning in November 2001. It developed a distinctive format that combined conventional print journalism with platform-specific editorial coverage, game reviews, hardware reporting, previews, reader interaction, and a bundled disc containing playable demonstrations and other digital material. The magazine's editorial scope expanded as Microsoft's business moved from the original Xbox to Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. Coverage included upcoming retail releases, downloadable games and content, console accessories, online services, user-created material, and developments in the broader Xbox business. Recurring departments included previews of unreleased games, longer-form features, reviews, reader mail, business reporting, technology and accessory coverage, and columns connected with Xbox Live communities. The publication also used its disc to distribute demos, trailers, gamer pictures, dashboard software, themes, downloadable material, and other promotional or editorial extras. OXM was notable for treating the disc as an important part of the product rather than as a simple supplement. Readers could test games, view video content, unlock digital items, and in some cases access material that was otherwise distributed through Xbox Live. The discs also helped users obtain Xbox 360 system software and backward-compatibility-related updates when broadband access or Xbox Live access was unavailable. A disc-based feature called OXM Universe, which rewarded activity with points used for in-game construction and research, was later discontinued. The magazine's review practices changed over time. The United States edition initially used a 100-point scale expressed as scores from 0.1 to 10.0, with games scoring at least 9.0 receiving an Editor's Choice designation. Beginning with issue 53 in the holiday 2005 period, the United States edition adopted half-point increments on a 10-point scale. The British edition used its own 10-point approach. OXM also reviewed downloadable content using a short recommendation scale, while unusually substantial expansions could receive the regular game-review treatment. OXM existed in multiple national and language-market forms, including United States, United Kingdom, and Mexico editions. A highly limited Chinese-language edition was presented at a Microsoft Taiwan video-game event in Taipei in August 2004. In the digital era, the American website was combined with the British site in 2014, but that arrangement lasted only a few months. Future subsequently closed the standalone OXM website and redirected its video-game web properties, including OXM, to GamesRadar in February 2015. The print magazine was discontinued in April 2020 during Future's review of its publication portfolio. The May 2020 issue was the final issue. The COVID-19 pandemic was cited among the reasons for the closure. OXM's legacy remains tied to the formative years of Xbox magazine journalism, the growth of Xbox Live and downloadable content, and the transitional period in which print magazines used discs, podcasts, and online video to extend their relationship with readers.
History
Official Xbox Magazine was created as a dedicated editorial publication for Microsoft's Xbox platform. A preview issue appeared at E3 2001, followed by another preview issue in November of that year, and the regular United States magazine began monthly publication around the original Xbox's launch. Its licensed positioning gave it a close association with Xbox while leaving the editorial product focused on reviews, previews, news, hardware, services, and reader-oriented features. During its early years, the magazine was sold with a disc containing playable demonstrations, trailers, video previews, updates, gamer pictures, and other Xbox-related material. As Xbox 360 and Xbox Live expanded, the disc became a distribution channel for content that could otherwise be difficult to obtain, including system software and selected downloadable extras. Some issues carried notable promotional or preview material, such as an early Final Fantasy XI beta, downloadable quests for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, content connected with Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, demos for Eternal Sonata and Beautiful Katamari, a Guitar Hero III demo, Rock Band songs, and an Xbox-related Guitar Hero downloadable track. The disc-based OXM Universe activity system, which rewarded readers with points, was eventually retired, and the final demo disc appeared with issue 131. The magazine organized its editorial identity through recurring departments. Xbox Next focused on upcoming games, Features provided extended previews and special guides, and Xbox Now reviewed Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, and downloadable content. Xbox 365 covered business news, gaming culture, accessories, budget games, codes, community activities, and related media. Reader mail and staff commentary appeared in Message Center, while We Heart Xbox highlighted unreleased games, modified hardware, and enthusiast projects. The publication also experimented with audio and video formats. Its KOXM podcast combined news, release discussion, trivia, and developer interviews, while OXM content became part of Inside Xbox through the OXM Report. OXM's scoring system evolved alongside its editorial practice. The United States edition moved from fine-grained 100-point scoring to half-point increments on a 10-point scale in 2005. The British edition used a separate 10-point scale. The magazine's terminology included an Editor's Choice distinction for highly rated games and a deliberately hypothetical score above the normal range. Downloadable content generally received a simpler recommendation of Buy, Fanboys Only, or Deny, except when an expansion was large enough to warrant a conventional review. The brand operated across several markets. The United Kingdom edition developed its own editorial identity and was recognized as the Best Xbox Magazine at the 2007 Games Media Awards. Editions also existed in Mexico, and a Chinese-language issue with a very limited print run was introduced at a Microsoft Taiwan event in Taipei in August 2004. In the digital transition, Future merged the American and British OXM web operations in 2014. The combined site was short-lived; in February 2015, Future redirected OXM and several other games sites to GamesRadar. Future discontinued the print title in April 2020 as part of a review of its magazine portfolio. The May 2020 issue was the final edition. The COVID-19 pandemic was cited as one factor in the decision. The publication therefore ended after nearly two decades spanning the original Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, the rise of Xbox Live, and the industry's movement from disc-based magazine supplements toward digital distribution.
- 2020
Print publication discontinued
[1]Future shut down the magazine in April; the May issue was the final print edition.
- 2015
Web presence moves to GamesRadar
[1]Future closed the standalone site and redirected OXM's online content into GamesRadar.
- 2014
American and British websites are combined
[1]Future combined the American OXM website with the British version for a brief period.
- 2012
Demo discs end
[1]The January issue marked the end of the regular bundled demo disc, with issue 131 identified as the last disc issue.
- 2007
United Kingdom edition receives industry award
[1]The UK edition was recognized as Best Xbox Magazine at the Games Media Awards.
- 2005
United States review scale changes
[1]Starting with issue 53, the United States edition changed from 0.1-point scoring to half-point increments on a 10-point scale.
- 2004
Limited Chinese-language edition
[1]A Chinese version was presented at a Microsoft Taiwan video-game event in Taipei, with a reported run limited to 200 copies.
- 2001
Preview issues and launch
[1]OXM previewed its concept at E3 and issued another preview later in the year before beginning regular monthly publication around the original Xbox launch.
Products and positioning
A platform-specialist magazine positioned as an official-style editorial guide to Xbox hardware, games, services, downloadable content, and player culture.
Print magazine · 2001
Official Xbox Magazine print edition
The core monthly publication covered Xbox games, hardware, services, downloadable content, industry developments, and reader interests. Its content mix included reviews, previews, features, business reporting, accessory coverage, community material, and recurring columns tailored to Xbox players.
Digital and physical supplement · 2001
OXM demo disc
For most of its earlier life, each issue included a disc containing playable demos, videos, trailers, gamer pictures, updates, themes, and selected bonus material. The disc also helped some readers access Xbox software without broadband or Xbox Live. The supplement ended in 2012.
Podcast
KOXM
KOXM was the magazine's weekly audio podcast. It discussed recent Xbox news and releases, included trivia contests, and featured interviews with game developers. Hosting and production changed over the life of the program.
Video program · 2008
OXM Report on Inside Xbox
The OXM Report was a video segment associated with Microsoft's Inside Xbox programming. It extended the magazine's editorial style into Xbox Live video coverage, with timely discussion and features about games such as Gears of War 2 and Mirror's Edge.
Marketing campaigns
- 2008Inside Xbox editorial integration
Xbox Live markets
OXM extended its video coverage through the OXM Report segment on Inside Xbox, connecting magazine journalism with Microsoft's online video service.
Outcome. The format provided more timely game coverage than the earlier, irregular video podcast.
- 2004Chinese-language event edition
Taiwan
A limited Chinese-language version was distributed at Microsoft's Xbox Summer Video Game Show in Taipei.
Outcome. The edition was restricted to 200 copies.
- 2001Launch-era preview issues
United States
OXM used E3 and pre-launch preview issues to establish its identity alongside the arrival of Microsoft's first Xbox console.
Outcome. The magazine entered regular monthly publication in November 2001.
Brand decisions
2020
Discontinue the print magazineStrategyBackground
Future reviewed its magazine portfolio amid changing media economics and the disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Action taken
Future ended OXM in April 2020, making the May 2020 issue the final edition.
Aftermath
The print brand became defunct, while its historical web material had already been absorbed into GamesRadar.
2014
Merge national web operationsStrategyBackground
Future reorganized its online video-game publishing portfolio and combined the American and British OXM websites.
Action taken
The two web presences were merged on a shared site.
Aftermath
The arrangement lasted only a few months before Future closed the standalone site and redirected OXM content to GamesRadar.
2012
Remove the bundled demo discStrategyBackground
OXM determined that its audience no longer wanted the physical DVD supplement as digital distribution and broadband access became more common.
Action taken
The magazine stopped including demo discs beginning with the January 2012 issue.
Aftermath
Issue 131 became the final issue associated with a demo disc, ending one of the publication's defining formats.
Recent events
- 2020
Official Xbox Magazine print publication closes[1]
Other · Bankruptcy
Future ended the magazine in April 2020, with the May 2020 issue serving as the final issue. The company cited a portfolio review and the COVID-19 pandemic among the reasons.
- 2015
OXM website is redirected to GamesRadar[1]
Other
After Future closed its standalone video-game websites, the OXM web presence was redirected into GamesRadar.
- 2012
OXM discontinues its bundled demo disc[1]
Other
Beginning with the January 2012 issue, the magazine stopped including demo DVDs after concluding that readers no longer wanted the physical disc.
- 2001
Official Xbox Magazine begins regular publication[1]
Other · Product launch
The United States edition launched as a monthly magazine around the release of the original Xbox.
Sources2 sources
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