Xbox and Halo Approach 25th Anniversary with Future Celebratory Plans Confirmed

As the first Halo game and Xbox console approach their 25th anniversary, Xbox has confirmed that plans are indeed in store, with the company additionally delving into their business outlook for the future in a recent interview.

Xbox Confirms Plans Are In Store for Halo's 25th AnniversaryXbox Talks Expansion Into Licensing and Merchandising

Xbox revealed it has mega celebratory plans in store for Halo, the popular military sci-fi shooter game franchise now being handled by the Xbox-owned developer 343 Industries. In a recent interview with License Global Magazine, Xbox's head of consumer products John Friend talked about the milestones the company and its IPs have reached, as well as about licensing and merchandising—a business that Xbox and parent company Microsoft have geared more towards. More recently, the company has been known to expand its game franchises, such as Fallout and Minecraft, which see cross-media expansions in the form of TV and movie adaptations.

In the interview, Friend shared that Xbox is "building plans" for Halo and the Xbox console's upcoming 25th anniversary, among other endeavors they've set their eyes on as other franchises approach milestones. "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," Friend added, "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." As to what exactly these plans are, however, were kept under wraps.

Halo celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026. The military sci-fi franchise has reportedly raked in over $6 billion since the first game —Halo: Combat Evolved—debuted in 2001. Apart from the commercial and financial successes the franchise has provided, the first Halo game holds great significance for Xbox as it served as the launch game for the Xbox console on November 15, 2001. Over the years, Halo has been adapted into different forms of media, ranging from novels to comic books, and films. Most recently, Halo has found critical acclaim as Paramount+'s "Halo" TV series—an original adaptation for the streaming platform.

"I often use the phrase ‘no matching luggage,’" Friend commented. "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 uploaded a 100-second clip on YouTube looking back on the past 15 years since fans "dropped feet first into hell as the Rookie, on a mission to find Alpha-Nine," the Halo team wrote out. "Happy Birthday, Halo 3: ODST!"

Halo 3 ODST is available to be played on the PC as an installment in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, a collection of games in the Halo series. To date, the collection includes Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4.