With the 25th anniversary of both the first Halo game and the Xbox console fast approaching, Xbox has confirmed celebratory plans are underway. This was revealed during a recent interview where the company also discussed its future business strategies, particularly its expansion into licensing and merchandising.
In an interview with License Global Magazine, John Friend, Xbox's head of consumer products, highlighted the significant milestones achieved by Xbox and its franchises. He emphasized the company's increased focus on licensing and merchandising, drawing parallels to successful cross-media expansions of franchises like Fallout and Minecraft into TV and film. Friend confirmed that Xbox is actively developing plans to commemorate 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.
Halo, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026, has generated over $6 billion in revenue since its debut in 2001. Beyond its commercial success, Halo: Combat Evolved holds immense historical importance as the launch title for the original Xbox console. The franchise has expanded into various media, including novels, comics, and most recently, the critically acclaimed Paramount+ TV series.
Friend emphasized the importance of a thoughtful approach to franchise 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."
To mark the 15th anniversary of Halo 3 ODST, a commemorative 100-second video was released on YouTube, reminiscing about the game's impact on fans. Halo 3 ODST remains accessible 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.
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