One Xbox gamer made an unexpected discovery while helping clean their grandmother’s house, sharing a picture of what was once a must-have accessory for many Xbox 360 players. In recent years, many gamers have looked back fondly on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 not only as a platform that played home to some of the best games of its era but also as a precursor to many of the hardware and software features seen in modern consoles.
Released in 2005 as a follow-up to Microsoft’s first foray into the world of console gaming four years earlier, the Xbox 360 included a number of interesting hardware features and sported a sleek appearance as compared to the decidedly industrial design of its predecessor. The Xbox 360 also supported a wide range of gaming and entertainment peripherals ranging from wireless headsets and controllers to the ill-fated Kinect camera. The controller for Microsoft’s second console is regarded by many gamers as one of the best of its generation, and one company even recently announced plans to release an Xbox 360-style controller for Xbox Series X/S consoles.
In a new picture posted to r/xbox, Redditor AbnormalPirate showed off their old Xbox 360 wireless headset that they discovered while cleaning their grandma’s house. Looking like a slightly bulkier, grey-and-white version of the early Bluetooth headsets that were beginning to gain popularity in the mid-2000s, the Xbox 360’s wireless headset had a futuristic look compared to other console accessories that made it instantly catch the eye of gamers when it released. For players who were looking to use voice chat in Xbox 360 multiplayer games with their friends, the headset offered a sleek alternative to its corded counterparts.
Responses to the photo of the unexpected find were filled with gamers waxing nostalgic about their love for the coveted console accessory. One Redditor replied that his love for the Xbox 360 wireless headset inspired his daughter to ask for “what Daddy used to wear” when she got into gaming years later. Somewhat surprisingly, he found that Xbox 360 headsets are still for sale and was able to order one for her so she could play her games just like her dad used to. Other responses noted their appreciation for the headset’s “future gamer” design but expressed complaints about its ergonomics. Several Redditors complained that the headset, while sleek, caused ear pain during extended gaming sessions.
While the servers for many of the best Xbox 360 games have long since been shuttered, AbnormalPirate’s post is sure to bring back nostalgia for the days when online console gaming was still a relatively new and exciting frontier. And even though their Xbox 360 wireless headset may no longer be fulfilling its original purpose, it makes for a great memento of console gaming’s past.