The first Xbox was released in North America on 15 November 2001: Microsoft's console brand turns 25 this Sunday. In Europe, the console arrived four months later, on 14 March 2002. For the anniversary, Microsoft launched a limited edition console, the Xbox Series X25, on 13 November.

A chance to look back over 25 years of history, from the first Xbox to the Series X, and to go through the Xbox collectibles of every kind: consoles and controllers, a MEGA replica of the Xbox 360, the Xbox Studios games released in 2026 and the year's Funko POP figures, including a Master Chief for Halo's 25th anniversary.

Xbox Series X25: the 25th anniversary console

Unveiled on 7 June at the Xbox Games Showcase, the Xbox Series X25 is a Series X with 1 TB of storage in a translucent "OG Green" shell, the colour of the first Xbox. On start-up, the X on the front lights up green, like the boot animation of the 2001 console, and each unit is numbered and engraved. It comes with a matching controller and a download of Halo: Campaign Evolved. Pre-orders, limited to one console per person, opened on 27 August, and the console sold out in under five minutes.

The X25 controller is also sold on its own. Its A, B, X and Y buttons use the original colours, its bumpers recall the black and white buttons of the Duke, the 2001 controller, and its transparent back shell shows the old Xbox logo.

For 15 November, Microsoft is adding games from its back catalogue to Game Pass, including Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark and Gears of War: Judgment. Since 12 November, 21 more original Xbox games can be played on PC, bringing the total to 25, and an anniversary badge is given until the end of the year to every player who signs in to their account. Asha Sharma, head of Xbox since Phil Spencer retired in February, has also confirmed that Wolfenstein 3 is in production at MachineGames. For collectibles, this guide follows the brand's history console by console, from 2001 to the Series X.

2001-2005: the first Xbox and Halo

The Xbox is built around an Intel Pentium III processor and an Nvidia graphics chip, with an internal hard drive. It was released on 15 November 2001 in North America, on 22 February 2002 in Japan and on 14 March 2002 in Europe. Halo: Combat Evolved was among its launch games, alongside Dead or Alive 3 and Project Gotham Racing.

The first Xbox and its original controller, the Duke. Photo: Evan-Amos, public domain

On 15 November 2002, exactly one year after the console, Microsoft launched Xbox Live, its online gaming service, in the United States; it reached Europe in March 2003. The first Xbox sold around 24 million units worldwide.

Master Chief for Halo's 25th anniversary (#27)

Released on the same day as the console, Halo is also 25, and its 2001 campaign was remade this year in Halo: Campaign Evolved, covered below. Funko marks the series' anniversary with a Master Chief holding his M6D Magnum pistol, a figure of about 4.3 in (11 cm). This year's Halo items are gathered in our guide to Halo: Campaign Evolved.

2005-2013: the Xbox 360, the red ring and Kinect

The Xbox 360 was released on 22 November 2005 in North America and on 2 December 2005 in Europe. In July 2007, faced with failures signalled by three flashing red lights, Microsoft extended the console's warranty to three years, a decision costed at more than $1 billion.

The Kinect sensor arrived in Europe on 10 November 2010, a week after North America. With around 8 million units sold in two months, it entered Guinness World Records as the fastest-selling consumer electronics device.

The Xbox 360 in MEGA bricks

MEGA has reproduced the white Xbox 360 at 3/4 scale in a 1,342-piece set for adults. The replica includes the console and its controller, with lights that turn on, plus a removable hard drive and a game disc in its case. Its side panels come off to show the inside of the machine.

2013-2020: the Xbox One, then Game Pass

Unveiled on 21 May 2013, the Xbox One was originally meant to connect to the internet at least once every 24 hours and to restrict game resale. Following criticism, Microsoft dropped these rules on 19 June 2013, then released the console on 22 November 2013 in 13 countries, including the UK. The Xbox One S followed in 2016 and the Xbox One X in 2017.

On 1 June 2017, Microsoft launched Xbox Game Pass, a monthly subscription giving access to more than 100 Xbox One games. From January 2018, new games from Microsoft's studios joined it on release day, and the Ultimate tier, announced in April 2019, combined Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Game Pass Ultimate gives access to more than 400 games on Xbox console, on PC and via streaming, including some new releases on day one, such as Forza Horizon 6.

2020-2026: Xbox Series X|S, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard

The Xbox Series X and Series S were released on 10 November 2020. In September 2020, Microsoft announced the purchase of ZeniMax, the parent company of Bethesda (Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom), for $7.5 billion, a deal completed on 9 March 2021. On 13 October 2023, it completed the purchase of Activision Blizzard, the publisher of Call of Duty, for $68.7 billion, the largest acquisition in video game history.

Some Xbox games now also come out on PlayStation: Halo: Campaign Evolved was released on 28 July 2026 on PS5 on the same day as on Xbox Series and PC, a first for a main Halo game.

Xbox Series X and Series S

The black 1 TB Series X displays games in 4K at up to 120 frames per second, resumes a game in progress with Quick Resume and plays games from all four Xbox generations. It comes with a wireless controller, an HDMI cable and two AA batteries.

The 1 TB Series S Robot White, white with a round black vent, offers the same features and also goes up to 120 frames per second.

The Xbox Wireless Controller in four colours

The Series X|S controller also works on Xbox One, Windows PC, iOS and Android, with a hybrid D-pad and up to 40 hours of battery life. The Carbon Black version is entirely black, apart from the coloured letters on its buttons.

The Robot White pairs a white shell with black thumbsticks and D-pad.

The Shock Blue is blue from the front to the thumbsticks, with a black D-pad and a white underside.

On the Pulse Red, the same design turns red, thumbsticks included.

Elite Series 2 Core: adjustable thumbsticks and three profiles

The white Elite Series 2 Core has adjustable-tension thumbsticks and black rubberised grips, and it stores up to three button profiles. It connects via Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth or the included USB-C cable.

Xbox Studios games in 2026

Three Xbox Studios series returned this year, and each gets free content for the brand's 25th anniversary.

Forza Horizon 6 and its limited edition controller

Released on 19 May 2026 on Xbox Series and PC, Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan, with more than 550 cars. For the 25th anniversary, the 2025 GR GT from its cover gets a livery in the colours of the original Xbox, to claim in the game. The PS5 version is covered in our article on the release of Forza Horizon 6 on PS5.

The game also has its own limited edition wireless controller: translucent blue top shell, pink thumbsticks, multicoloured A, B, X and Y buttons and the Horizon logo engraved on the battery cover. Its Xbox button glows pink and green through the shell.

Halo: Campaign Evolved

This remake of the first Halo's campaign adds three new missions with Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson. For Xbox's 25th anniversary, the Damascus Prototype armour style is free for all players, and the Firefight co-op mode arrives this winter in a free update, detailed in our article on Firefight mode.

Gears of War: E-Day

Released on 6 October 2026 on Xbox Series and PC, with no PS5 version, Gears of War: E-Day is set fourteen years before the first Gears of War: Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago fight monsters coming up from underground. On 17 November, the in-game shop will offer a set of weapon skins in Xbox 25th anniversary colours, available with currency earned by playing. The game is covered in detail in our release article.

Xbox video games

The Xbox games in the catalogue range from the Halo games on Xbox One to the 2026 releases on Xbox Series, including Starfield and DOOM: The Dark Ages, two Bethesda games. The following selection brings these games together, sorted by popularity.

Funko POP Xbox 2026: Fallout and Halo

Fallout, the Bethesda series, takes up most of this year's Xbox Funko POP figures: Lucy MacLean, Hank MacLean, Robert House, Victor, Caesar, a Deathclaw and a power armour in the first half of the year, then the mascots Vault Boy, Cappy, Bottle and Nuka-Girl, covered in our article on their pre-order. Halo's Master Chief #27 completes the list.

Xbox accessories and merchandise

Paladone and Numskull make Xbox-licensed lamps with the brand's logo, an alarm clock and storage units for controllers and games. 8BitDo and Turtle Beach round off the selection with a controller charging dock and a wireless headset.