Xbox Celebrates 25 Years With New Community Designs, Updates and FanFest Tour Dates (Gaming News Roundup)

As Xbox approaches its 25th anniversary on November 15, the brand is rolling out an array of new features and community-driven initiatives to commemorate a quarter-century of gaming innovation. Among the highlights are updated profile customization options, specially curated game collections, and an expansive FanFest Tour set to engage fans across multiple continents.

To mark this milestone, Xbox has collaborated with prominent creators Klobrille and Ben Kenobi to develop a suite of digital assets including new gamerpics, backgrounds, and a dynamic console theme, now accessible to the community. Additionally, users logging into their Xbox accounts via console, PC, or mobile devices will be awarded a 25th Anniversary profile badge, which will remain available until the end of 2026, reinforcing the celebration's longevity.

Central to the anniversary offerings are the curated Game Pass collections, which spotlight iconic titles that have defined each generation of Xbox consoles. This lineup features notable games such as "Fable Anniversary," "Halo: The Master Chief Collection," "Fallout 4," and "Psychonauts 2," providing both longtime fans and newcomers with a curated experience of Xbox's rich gaming legacy.

The Xbox FanFest Tour 2026 has already commenced, debuting at the Xbox Games Showcase in Los Angeles on June 7. The tour is slated to continue with stops at major gaming events worldwide, including gamescom in Cologne on August 26, the Tokyo Game Show on September 17, and additional events in London, Mexico City, Sydney, and Toronto leading up to early November. A date for a Seattle event remains forthcoming, signaling ongoing engagement with the core Xbox community.

In parallel gaming news, the crossover between music and gaming continues to deepen. Influencer and musician Addison Rae will join Fortnite's Icon Series starting August 6, introducing multiple outfits inspired by her music videos and stage performances, alongside themed emotes and in-game items. This collaboration reflects the growing trend of artists leveraging gaming platforms for cross-media promotion.

Meanwhile, PUBG: Battlegrounds is launching a global user-generated content competition in partnership with CurseForge, offering substantial prize pools across combat, survival, and creative categories. With submissions opening in mid-August and winners announced in September, the initiative encourages community-driven innovation within the PUBG universe, particularly anticipating the release of the PUBG: Playgrounds hub for community-created modes.

The collectible card game arena is also seeing fresh developments as Wizards of the Coast introduces the Secret Lair Commander Deck featuring virtual singer Hatsune Miku. This set, blending classic lifegain strategies with the pop culture iconography of Hatsune Miku, will be available during a limited 24-hour ordering window, underscoring continued efforts to diversify gaming-related merchandise.

On the indie front, Soft Rains has released "Ambrosia Sky: Act Two," concluding the first act of its immersive cleanup simulation game. Players continue the narrative-driven quest of field scientist Dalia as she searches for her missing partner amid an apocalyptic backdrop, with the update available as a free download for existing users.

Financial shifts are also notable this week as Devolver Digital prepares to delist from the UK’s AIM market and transition to a private company by mid-September. The publisher’s move follows a significant decline in share price since its 2021 public offering, with management citing challenges in meeting growth expectations amid volatile market conditions.

Together, these developments illustrate a dynamic intersection of gaming culture, community engagement, and commercial strategy as the industry navigates evolving player demands and market realities. Xbox’s 25th anniversary serves as a focal point for this momentum, celebrating past achievements while signaling ongoing innovation and fan connection.