Xbox 20th Anniversary: Everything Microsoft announced
Learn about all the announcements made during Xbox’s 20th anniversary
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It has been a long journey for the Xbox brand since the original console launched on Nov. 15, 2001. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Microsoft hosted a livestream event looking back on the history of the Xbox, the impact it has made on the gaming community, and made several big announcements for Xbox fans.
The biggest announcement is thatHalo Infinite’smultiplayer mode will be available to download for free right now on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC via Steam. Do note that thismultiplayer mode is in a beta formand it does not contain the full single-player campaign which will launch on Dec 8. 2021. In addition, a teaser for the long-awaited, live-action Halo TV show was shown off along with a release date for 2022, and it will premiere on Paramount Plus.
The second biggest announcement is that over 70 games have been announced forXbox Backwards Compatibility. These games include the Max Payne series, the F.E.A.R. series, FromSoftware’s Otogi series, Dead or Alive: Ultimate, Star Wars: Jedi Knight II and many more. In addition to new Xbox Backwards Compatibility games, 37 existing games in the Xbox’s library will getting aFPS Boost. Titles such as Kameo: Elements of Power, NIER, Alan Wake, the entire Gears of War series, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, F.E.A.R. 1 and 2, and much more can now be played at higher framerate for a smoother gameplay experience.
Lastly, a six-part documentary titledPower On: The Story of Xboxwill be debut on Dec. 13, 2021 and it will premiere on Youtube, IMDb TV, Redbox, Roku, and more. This documentary will chronicle the development history of the Xbox brand from the initial conception of the original Xbox all the way up to the modernXbox Series X.
Microsoft have certainly pulled out all the stops this year to honor the Xbox’s legacy. With the growing success ofXbox Game Passand releasing critically-acclaimed titles likePsychonauts 2,Microsoft Flight Simulator, andForza Horizon 5, Microsoft is not planning on stopping anytime soon.
The greatest Xbox hits all for a cheap price
If you become a member of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can try out hundreds of the greatest video games in the Xbox’s library for a monthly fee. Whether they be a AAA action game or a story-driven indie adventure, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has something for everyone.
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Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran of 30-plus years, primarily covering PC and Xbox games here on Windows Central. Gaming since the 8-bit era, Alexander’s expertise revolves around gaming guides and news, with a particular focus on Japanese titles from the likes of Elden Ring to Final Fantasy. Alexander is always on deck to help our readers conquer the industry’s most difficult games — when he can pry himself away from Monster Hunter that is!
