2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the original Xbox, the console that signaled Microsoft’s entry into the console gaming market. Although Microsoft hasn’t shared specific plans to celebrate this milestone, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer hinted that 2026 will be a particularly exciting year for Xbox enthusiasts as some classic franchises make their comeback.
Speaking on the official Xbox podcast, Spencer expressed that Fable, Gears, and Forza are integral to Xbox’s identity. He also mentioned that the upcoming lineup for the following year will be impressive. He is pleased with the games released in 2025 so far and believes we have an excellent end to 2025 coming up. Looking ahead to 2026, which marks Xbox’s 25th anniversary, he anticipates it will be a particularly memorable year for Xbox due to the new franchises set to launch.
2026 is slated to see releases of Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, and a fresh Forza game for Xbox. In the autumn of last year, Microsoft unveiled grand plans for the Halo series, but it remains uncertain if a new Halo title will come out in 2026. There’s speculation that another edition of the original Halo, either remade or remastered, might hit shelves next year instead.
In Spencer’s recent chat, there was no clarification about whether the highly anticipated Xbox flagship games of next year will also be available on PlayStation 5. The release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation 5 resulted in both games leading the PlayStation Network (PSN) charts in April. Even Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a game published by Microsoft-owned Bethesda, made it to PSN’s top 20 titles for April. Additional content (DLC) for this game is scheduled for release later this year.
Back in 2001, November 15 was the day when the first Xbox was released in North America. It’s likely that Microsoft will announce their plans for the anniversary, which falls on that same date in 2026.
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2025-06-11 14:39