Xbox 25th Anniversary Celebration: Global FanFest Tour, Special Features, and Game Pass Collection
Xbox is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a global FanFest Tour that will visit seven cities, starting with Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, on August 26. The tour will also stop in Tokyo, London, Mexico City, Sydney, Toronto, and Seattle, with tickets available through city-specific sweepstakes. The goal of the tour is to bring players together through in-person events focused on games, community, and the Xbox brand.
As part of the anniversary celebration, Xbox is offering special features such as a 25th Anniversary profile badge for anyone who signs into an Xbox account on console, PC, or the Xbox mobile app. Additionally, new gamerpics, wallpapers, and a dynamic console theme created by community creators Klobrille and Ben Kenobi are available. The company encourages fans to share their own creations using the hashtag #Xbox25.
A special anniversary collection of games has been introduced on Game Pass, featuring titles that have defined each Xbox generation, including Fable Anniversary, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Fallout 4, and Psychonauts 2. This collection is a tribute to the games that have shaped Xbox's 25-year legacy, allowing players to relive or experience these classics for the first time.
The anniversary celebration coincides with significant changes in the Xbox ecosystem. In April, Microsoft announced a 23% price cut for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, following feedback that the service had become too expensive. While future Call of Duty releases will no longer launch into Game Pass on day one, the service continues to expand with legacy Activision titles. Recent additions to Game Pass include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Hades II, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Final Fantasy IV, and EA Sports NHL 26, with Call of Duty: Vanguard joining the lineup on June 17.
In conclusion, Xbox's 25th anniversary celebration includes a global FanFest Tour, special profile badges, community-created customization options, and a curated Game Pass collection. The tour aims to unite players through live events, while the anniversary features pay tribute to the games that have defined Xbox's legacy over the past 25 years. With ongoing changes to Xbox Game Pass pricing and content offerings, the celebration reflects Xbox's commitment to evolving its gaming business and engaging with its community.