X (sometimes called the "X0 events") is an annually held trade show hosted by Microsoft, showcasing its Xbox - and more recently, Games for Windows - portfolio of hardware, software, and services. The X show has been held every year since 2001 (with the exception of 2004) in diverse European cities. Microsoft Canada also organises an X Show every year to presents its games to the Canadian press. This show first started in 2002 and was open to the public in 2006.[1].
From 2001 to 2006 Microsoft held major trade shows in Europe to showcase new titles and make major announcements.
X01 was held in Cannes, France in October 2001, before the release of the Xbox, to generate interest in the Xbox. Microsoft announced a new game with the working title Project Ego, which later became Fable, as well as Brute Force. Other games that headlined the show included Rallisport Challenge, Project Gotham Racing, Fuzion Frenzy, Azurik, Nightcaster, Halo: Combat Evolved, Blood Wake, Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding, and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee.
Other game publishers showcased Xbox games as well, the most notable being SEGA, with a showing of Jet Set Radio Future, Sega GT 2002, and GunValkyrie.[2][3]