Xbox, Halo Celebrate 25th with Events

Celebrating 25 Years of Xbox and Halo: Future Festivities Confirmed!

With the 25th anniversary of both the original Halo game and the Xbox console fast approaching, Xbox has officially announced plans for a major celebration. This confirmation came during a recent interview where the company also discussed its future business strategies.

Xbox Unveils Expansive Licensing and Merchandising Plans for Halo's 25th Anniversary

Xbox has revealed ambitious plans to commemorate the milestone anniversary of Halo, the iconic military sci-fi shooter franchise developed by 343 Industries. In an interview with License Global Magazine, John Friend, Xbox's head of consumer products, highlighted the significant achievements of Xbox and its intellectual properties, emphasizing the company's growing focus on licensing and merchandising. This strategy mirrors the successful cross-media expansion seen with franchises like Fallout and Minecraft, which have been adapted into television shows and films.

Friend confirmed that Xbox is actively "building plans" for the 25th anniversaries of both Halo and the Xbox console, alongside other franchise milestones. He stated, "We have these massive, fantastic franchises ranging from ‘World of Warcraft’ – celebrating its 20th anniversary this year – to ‘Halo,’ ‘Call of Duty,’ to ‘StarCraft’ and much more. We’re building plans for the 25th anniversary of ‘Halo’ and Xbox—we have such a rich heritage and history, and these communities have been active for so long, you have to celebrate that." Specific details about these plans remain undisclosed.

Halo's 25th anniversary falls in 2026. The franchise has reportedly generated over $6 billion in revenue since the debut of Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001. Beyond its financial success, Halo: Combat Evolved holds a pivotal place in Xbox history as the console's launch title on November 15, 2001. The franchise has expanded into various media, including novels, comics, and most recently, the critically acclaimed Paramount+ TV series.

Friend emphasized a strategic approach to these celebrations, stating, "I often use the phrase ‘no matching luggage.’ Meaning that it’s important to assess a franchise and a community based on who they are and what that franchise is and make sure that you’re designing a program that’s additive to fans and building fandom, both for that group and for that franchise."

Halo 3: ODST Marks its 15th Anniversary

Separately, Halo 3: ODST recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a commemorative 100-second YouTube video reflecting on the game's impact. The video's description reads: "Happy Birthday, Halo 3: ODST! Fifteen years ago, fans dropped feet first into hell as the Rookie, on a mission to find Alpha-Nine."

Halo 3: ODST is currently playable on PC as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which also includes Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4.