Xbox, Halo Mark 25th Anniversary with Confirmed Future Celebrations

As the iconic first Halo game and the Xbox console near their 25th anniversary, Xbox has exciting news: they are gearing up for major celebrations. In a recent interview, Xbox also shared insights into their future business strategies, focusing on licensing and merchandising.

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

Xbox Talks Expansion Into Licensing and Merchandising

Xbox is set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Halo, the beloved military sci-fi shooter franchise now under the stewardship of 343 Industries, an Xbox-owned developer. In a detailed discussion with License Global Magazine, John Friend, Xbox's head of consumer products, highlighted the milestones achieved by Xbox and its intellectual properties. He emphasized the company's growing focus on licensing and merchandising, a strategy that has been successful with other franchises like Fallout and Minecraft, which have expanded into TV and movie adaptations.

Friend revealed that Xbox is actively "building plans" for the upcoming 25th anniversary of both Halo and the Xbox console. "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," he stated. "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." While the specifics of these plans remain undisclosed, the anticipation is palpable.

Halo, which will mark its 25th anniversary in 2026, has been a monumental success, generating over $6 billion since the launch of Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001. This game was not only a commercial hit but also pivotal as the launch title for the Xbox console on November 15, 2001. Over the years, Halo has expanded into various media, including novels, comic books, and films. The franchise's latest venture, the "Halo" TV series on Paramount+, has received critical acclaim.

Friend emphasized the importance of tailoring strategies to each franchise and its community. "I often use the phrase ‘no matching luggage,’" he explained. "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 other news, Halo 3 ODST recently celebrated its 15th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, the game's team released a 100-second clip on YouTube, reflecting on the journey since players first "dropped feet first into hell as the Rookie, on a mission to find Alpha-Nine." The team wished everyone a "Happy Birthday, Halo 3: ODST!"

Halo 3 ODST is part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, available on PC. This collection includes several titles from the Halo series: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4.