XBOX is turning 25 next year, and Microsoft has big plans for the celebration. From what Jason Ronald, the vice president of Xbox, hinted in a recent BBC interview, we might see more classic Xbox titles on Game Pass. When asked directly about this, he skillfully avoided giving a clear answer but left room for hope.
He stated, “I can’t announce anything today… but 2026 is the 25th anniversary of Xbox. We want to celebrate our great legacy and the direction we’re heading.” This gives fans a glimmer of optimism for potential new additions to the library, especially for those nostalgic about retro games.
Ronald pointed out, “Great games are timeless. We feel a responsibility to preserve them and enable new ways to play.” Historically, Microsoft has worked hard to keep older games accessible. Though they stopped their backward compatibility updates in 2021, around 630 Xbox 360 games and about 60 original Xbox titles are still playable on newer consoles. This shows their commitment to preserving gaming heritage.
Interestingly, last year Microsoft created a new team dedicated to video game preservation. This suggests they might want to broaden their game library in exciting ways. One example is the upcoming remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s single-player campaign, titled Halo: Campaign Evolved, which will also be available on PlayStation for the first time. This adds an interesting twist to the celebration, merging past and present.
Recent surveys show that more gamers are interested in retro titles than ever before. According to a 2022 report from the Entertainment Software Association, 30% of gamers play titles older than five years. This growing trend emphasizes the importance of preserving gaming history.
User reactions on social media reflect a mix of excitement and skepticism. Many fans are eager for classic titles, while others worry about how remakes might impact the original games they love. As we approach this anniversary, one thing is clear: Xbox’s past, present, and future are intertwined, and how they choose to celebrate will resonate with gamers across generations.
For more details on Xbox’s history and future plans, you can visit the official Xbox website.
