Xbox and Halo Set to Celebrate 25th Anniversary with Confirmed Future Plans

As the iconic Halo game and Xbox console approach their 25th anniversary, Xbox has exciting plans in store. In a recent interview, the company also shared insights into its future business strategies.

Xbox Confirms Plans Are In Store for Halo's 25th Anniversary

Xbox is gearing up for a grand celebration of Halo, the renowned military sci-fi shooter franchise developed by 343 Industries. In a recent interview with License Global Magazine, John Friend, Xbox's head of consumer products, discussed the significant milestones achieved by the company and its intellectual properties. He highlighted Xbox's increasing focus on licensing and merchandising, following the successful expansion of other game franchises like Fallout and Minecraft into TV and movie adaptations.

Friend revealed that Xbox is "building plans" for the upcoming 25th anniversary of both Halo and the Xbox console. He emphasized the rich heritage and active communities surrounding Xbox's franchises, including "World of Warcraft," "Halo," "Call of Duty," and "StarCraft." "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," Friend stated. However, the specifics of these plans remain undisclosed.

Halo's 25th anniversary in 2026 marks a significant milestone for the franchise, which has generated over $6 billion since the debut of Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001. The first Halo game not only achieved commercial success but also played a crucial role as the launch title for the Xbox console on November 15, 2001. Over the years, Halo has expanded into various media forms, including novels, comic books, and films. The most recent addition, Paramount+'s "Halo" TV series, has received critical acclaim.

Friend stressed the importance of tailoring strategies to each franchise and its community. "I often use the phrase ‘no matching luggage,’" he noted. "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. We have an incredibly broad and exciting portfolio to work with, but we’ve got to be smart."

Halo 3 ODST Celebrates 15th Anniversary

In related news, Halo 3 ODST recently celebrated its 15th anniversary. The game shared a 100-second YouTube clip reflecting on the past 15 years since fans "dropped feet first into hell as the Rookie, on a mission to find Alpha-Nine." The team wished, "Happy Birthday, Halo 3: ODST!"

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