Aug. 2001 - Windows XP Launched
Nov. 2001 - Xbox Launched
Nov. 2004 - Half-Life 2 Released with Steam requirement
Mar. 2005 - We care about PC gaming, Longhorn (Vista) to usher in modern PC gaming with "Tray and Play"
(Microsoft Windows Graphics and gaming general manager Dean Lester) reaffirmed his group's commitment to making Windows gaming "a simple, straightforward, and robust experience" that isn't marked by long game-install times, driver conflicts, and downloading patches. To this end, we were shown a demonstration of "Tray and Play" with the PC version of Need For Speed Underground 2. "Tray and Play" is exactly what it sounds like--dropping a game disc into an optical drive and loading it up immediately, rather than having to install it to a hard drive.