25 Years of Xbox: Secret Designs, Massive Updates & FanFest Dates Revealed!
Xbox Celebrates 25 Years of Play: Everything You Need to Know
The Big News: Xbox Turns 25!
Twenty-five years ago, Xbox started with a simple mission: bring players together through the games and worlds they love. Today, that mission is still the heart of everything Xbox does.
To celebrate this huge milestone, Xbox is rolling out special gifts, events, and surprises for the community. Here’s your complete guide to everything happening for the 25th anniversary!
Community-Created Designs: By Players, For Players
Over the years, fans have shared amazing Xbox-inspired artwork. Xbox teamed up with two talented community creators to make official designs you can use right now:
| Creator | What They Made | Follow Them |
|---|---|---|
| Klobrille | Dynamic backgrounds (wallpapers that move!) | @klobrille |
| Ben Kenobi | Gamerpics & profile themes | @benkenobi2020 |
What’s a dynamic background?
Think of it like a living wallpaper — it moves and changes on your Xbox dashboard instead of staying still!
How to Get These Designs on Your Xbox
On Your Console (Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One)
For Gamerpics & Themes:
- Press the Xbox button on your controller
- Go to Settings → Profile → Customize profile
- Pick your favorite gamerpic or theme from the new 25th anniversary collection
For Dynamic Backgrounds:
- Press the Xbox button on your controller
- Go to Settings → General → Personalization → My background
- Select Dynamic background and choose the new 25th anniversary designs
On the Xbox App (Windows PC)
For Gamerpics:
- Open the Xbox app on your PC
- Click View Profile
- Click the pencil icon on your current gamerpic
- Select a new 25th anniversary gamerpic
For Themes:
- Open the Xbox app on your PC
- Click View Profile → Customize profile
- Choose your new 25th anniversary theme
Feeling Creative?
Make your own Xbox-inspired art and share it! Tag @Xbox and use #Xbox25 — they love seeing what fans create!
Free Anniversary Badge — Claim Yours Now!
Starting today, just sign in to your Xbox account on:
- Your Xbox console
- The Xbox app on PC
- The Xbox mobile app
…and you’ll automatically get the Xbox 25th Anniversary Profile Badge!
Important Details:
- Available through the end of 2026
- Shows up on your profile for everyone to see
- No codes needed — just sign in!
Xbox Game Pass: 25 Years of Games in One Place
Xbox curated special Game Pass collections that take you on a journey through Xbox history. Each collection highlights the games that defined a generation:
| Generation | Example Games You Can Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Original Xbox | Fable Anniversary, Halo: Combat Evolved | |
| Xbox 360 | Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Fallout 3 | |
| Xbox One | Fallout 4, Forza Horizon 4 | |
| **Xbox Series X | S** | Psychonauts 2, Starfield, Forza Motorsport |
What is Game Pass?
Think of it like Netflix for games — you pay a monthly fee and get access to hundreds of games to download and play as long as you’re subscribed.
Play on: Console and/or PC (depending on the game)
Xbox FanFest World Tour: Coming to a City Near You!
Xbox FanFest is a global tour of fan-first events — think meetups, game demos, swag, and connecting with other players who love Xbox as much as you do.
Tour Schedule
| City | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, USA | Already happened! | Xbox Games Showcase kickoff |
| Cologne, Germany | August 26 | gamescom |
| Tokyo, Japan | September 17 | Tokyo Game Show |
| London, UK | September 26 | — |
| Mexico City, Mexico | October 17 | — |
| Sydney, Australia | October 17 | — |
| Toronto, Canada | November 6 | — |
| Seattle, USA | Coming soon! | More info later |
How to Get Tickets: Enter the Sweepstakes!
Tickets aren’t sold — they’re won! Each city has its own sweepstakes.
To enter:
- Visit the official page: xbox.com/fanfest
- Find your city’s sweepstakes
- Enter for a chance to win tickets
- Check back often for updates!
FanFest is about ONE thing: Bringing players together to celebrate the joy of play.
Your Home Base: The 25th Anniversary Hub
Want to stay in the loop on everything 25th anniversary related?
Visit the official hub: xbox.com/xbox-25th-anniversary
You’ll find:
- Latest news & announcements
- Exclusive experiences
- Special anniversary products
- Links to all the celebrations
- Surprise drops throughout the year!
Quick Summary: What You Can Do Right Now
| Action | Where | Time Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Claim your free 25th anniversary badge | Sign in on console, PC app, or mobile app | 30 seconds |
| Try the new community gamerpics & themes | Settings → Profile → Customize | 2 minutes |
| Set a dynamic background | Settings → Personalization → My background | 1 minute |
| Explore Game Pass anniversary collections | Game Pass app or dashboard | 5+ minutes (then hours of play!) |
| Enter FanFest sweepstakes for your city | xbox.com/fanfest | 2 minutes |
| Bookmark the anniversary hub | xbox.com/xbox-25th-anniversary | 10 seconds |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: Do I need Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to get the anniversary badge?
A: Nope! You just need an Xbox account (free to create) and to sign in on any Xbox platform — console, PC app, or mobile app.
Q: Are the community designs permanent or time-limited?
A: They’re available starting now and should stay in your customization options. The badge is available through December 31, 2026.
Q: Can I enter FanFest sweepstakes for multiple cities?
A: Yes! Each city has its own separate sweepstakes. Enter as many as you’d like — just check the rules on the FanFest page.
Q: Do the Game Pass collections include ALL games from each generation?
A: They’re curated selections — hand-picked memorable titles from each era, not every single game. But they include heavy hitters like Halo, Fable, Fallout, Forza, and Psychonauts 2.
Q: I don’t live near any FanFest cities. Can I still participate?
A: The in-person events are only in those cities, but Xbox often streams parts of FanFest online! Keep an eye on the anniversary hub and Xbox’s social channels for virtual participation options.
Final Thoughts
25 years is a BIG deal. From the original green box to today’s Series X|S, Xbox has always been about connection — between players, creators, and the games we love.
Whether you’re:
- Customizing your profile with community art
- Showing off your anniversary badge
- Replaying classics on Game Pass
- Hoping to win FanFest tickets
- Following along from home
…you’re part of this story. Here’s to 25 more years of play!
Share your celebration!
Tag @Xbox and use #Xbox25 on social media to show how you’re celebrating 25 years of Xbox.