Xbox, Halo Mark 25th Milestone, Unveiling Future Festivities

With the 25th anniversary of the first Halo game and the Xbox console fast approaching, Xbox has confirmed celebratory plans are underway. This was revealed in a recent interview where the company also discussed its future business strategy, particularly its expansion into licensing and merchandising.

Xbox's Mega Plans for Halo's 25th Anniversary

In an interview with License Global Magazine, John Friend, Xbox's head of consumer products, highlighted the significant milestones reached by Xbox and its franchises. He emphasized the company's increasing focus on licensing and merchandising, mirroring successful cross-media expansions seen with franchises like Fallout and Minecraft.

Friend confirmed that Xbox is actively developing plans for the 25th anniversary of both Halo and the Xbox console, stating, "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, however, remain undisclosed.

The significance of Halo's 25th anniversary in 2026 extends beyond its impressive $6 billion revenue since its 2001 debut. Halo: Combat Evolved was the pivotal launch title for the original Xbox console. The franchise's success spans various media, including novels, comics, and most recently, the critically acclaimed Paramount+ TV series.

Friend stressed a strategic approach to these celebrations, stating, "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."

Halo 3: ODST's 15th Anniversary

To mark the occasion, Halo 3: ODST recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a commemorative 100-second YouTube video. The video reminisced on the game's impact, referencing the iconic line, "dropped feet first into hell as the Rookie."

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.