As the year winds down, we’re afforded the opportunity to take a beat and look back at a truly memorable year for players. Across Team Xbox we’ve been creating new worlds, telling fresh stories and bringing legendary franchises back to our screens – and ensuring you can enjoy these experiences on more devices than ever before. For all of us, it truly is more than a game.
It’s been one of the most game-packed, award-winning years in our history – and none of it would have been possible without you.
With 2025 coming to a close, we want to take this opportunity to reflect, relive our favorite moments, and say thank you for joining us to play together this year.
We’re looking forward to 2026 – Xbox’s 25th anniversary year – as it’s set to be another memorable one for players, with more to come from many of the studios we’ve seen this year, and many more at Xbox.
Finally, to celebrate the year – we invited the teams to look back at their 2025 and tease a little of what’s coming next:
If you want to skip right to a specific title, click the buttons below:
Age of Empires & Age of Mythology: Retold
What would you like to say to players after your updates and expansions to the Age games this year?
The main message would be a resounding “thank you!” We are so honored that, 28 years after this franchise began, we can continue to expand it with new content, and we continue to welcome new players, reaching 70 million this year. This year has been our most content-rich year yet! We’ve brought three of our titles to PS5 and welcomed new players, as well as launching record-breaking expansions. We’re continuing to listen to what our players want to see as we work to grow our games and we’re so grateful to have them on this journey with us. Thank you for a wonderful 2025 to every one of you!
Are there any stories about how players have engaged with your games that you’d like to reflect on?
We’re constantly enjoying seeing how players play Age of Empires and Age of Mythology. Everything from surprising new strategies to the mods that are created. Some ones we’ve enjoyed this year include the Vassal game mode by Firesstones and Hosein81’s custom Korean civilization, both for Age of Empires IV.
One real highlight this year was the partnership we did with the Louvre, their first ever gaming partnership. We created a brand new scenario in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition to allow players to live the history that their exhibition was built around, the Mamluk Dynasty. The scenario was also the focus of workshops people could attend at the Louvre to play through our game, with a historian teaching the context of the battle they were controlling.
It’s also worth noting that the way our developers play our games often has me tickled too. There’s definitely a lot of internal competition to complete in-game challenges, e.g. the monthly Pantheon Pin-Up event in Age of Mythology: Retold.
What is the studio most looking forward to in 2026?
We’ve released a blog to give our players some insight into what’s coming in the first half of 2026 and there’s so much good stuff coming! One thing we’re super excited about is the next installment of the Red Bull Wololo tournament series. This 8th edition is taking us to London, where we’ll have the biggest gathering of Age fans from around the world yet. The Grand Final is taking place at the iconic Royal Albert Hall and we can’t wait to have it as the venue for dramatic gameplay – we even have an orchestra playing tracks from the soundtracks. These events are such a great opportunity for our developers to meet our players in person and hear from them face to face. It’ll be a great celebration of all things Age of Empires!
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition
Xbox Game Studios
$39.99 $31.99
For years you’ve battled armies and made history your story. Now it’s time to make history once more with a new breakthrough in strategy gaming – introducing Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition now available on Xbox consoles.* Enjoy innovative ways to play one of the most beloved strategy games ever with native inputs for Xbox controller, console-specific user interface, and a new tutorial designed for first time players to help achieve easy setup and success. Additionally, if you prefer playing with a keyboard and mouse you can easily plug directly into your console. Return to History – The past is prologue as you are immersed in a rich historical setting of 10 diverse civilizations across the world from the English to the Chinese to the Delhi Sultanate in your quest for victory. Build cities, manage resources, and lead your troops to battle on land and at sea in 4 distinct campaigns with 35 missions that span across 500 years of history from the Dark Ages up to the Renaissance. Choose Your Path to Greatness with Historical Figures – Live the adventures of Joan of Arc in her quest to defeat the English, or command mighty Mongol troops as Genghis Khan in his conquest across Asia. The choice is yours – and every decision you make will determine the outcome of history. Challenge the World – Jump online to compete, cooperate or spectate with up to 7 of your friends in PVP and PVE multiplayer modes on Xbox One Series X I S and up to 3 friends on Xbox One. (Online console multiplayer requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold, subscriptions sold separately.) Play Custom Games with Mods (Beta) – Play custom skirmish and multiplayer maps, unique mission scenarios, data driven tuning packs and new modes of play for Age of Empires IV. An Age for All Players – Age of Empires IV is an inviting experience for new players with a console-specific tutorial that teaches the essence of real-time strategy and a Campaign Story Mode designed for first time players to help achieve easy setup and success, yet is challenging enough for veteran players with new game mechanics, evolved strategies, and combat techniques. *This content is available on Xbox consoles as a free download for current Xbox Game Pass subscribers and owners of Age of Empires IV on PC, excluding Steam purchasers.
Age of Mythology: Retold
Xbox Game Studios
$29.99 $14.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
From the creators of the award-winning Age of Empires franchise, Age of Mythology: Retold goes beyond history to a mythical age where gods, monsters, and humans collide. Combining the best elements of the beloved Age of Mythology with modern real-time strategy design and visuals, Retold is an epic and innovative experience for old and new players alike. Secure your domain, command legendary monsters, and call upon the power of the gods to crush your enemies. Will you become Mythic? Call Upon the Gods Choose your gods from the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Atlantean pantheons. Devastate your enemies by summoning powerful lightning storms, earth-shattering quakes, and even the famed Nidhogg dragon. Or call upon nourishing rains and protective Dryads to help your people grow & prosper. Unleash the Monsters Unleash Centaurs, Trolls, Mummies, and more. From bejeweled crocodiles who harness the power of the sun to the mighty one-eyed Cyclops, you will command diverse units inspired by the world’s great mythologies. Limitless Adventure, Solo or with Friends Experience Age of Mythology: Retold like never before. In the main game, go head-to-head with friends or challenge the advanced AI across countless, randomly generated maps for endless strategic battles. For a fresh twist, step into Arena of the Gods—an all-new mode where you take on the role of a legendary hero, facing 35 mythic skirmishes filled with divine challenges. Play solo or join forces in co-op*, battling through epic trials from the frozen Tundra to the heights of Mount Olympus. Face world-changing twists and unlock godly blessings as you fight solo or with friends. Built for controller RTS on console? We’ve got you covered. Streamlined controls make it easy to build, battle, and conquer—all without a keyboard. *Requires Age of Mythology: Retold or Xbox Game Pass membership (Ultimate and PC only) **Online console multiplayer requires Game Pass Ultimate or Core, sold separately.
Avowed
What would you like to say to your players after releasing Avowed this year?
First and foremost, thank you for playing Avowed. It’s been a thrill to watch your playthroughs – seeing the choices you make, the kind of envoy you want to be, and the playstyles you gravitate toward. We love seeing your screenshots, your art, and especially the feedback you share about how we can keep improving. Every post, every comment, and every story helps us learn, grow, and make the world of Avowed even better.
How does it feel to have your game out there after development?
It’s both surreal and deeply rewarding. After years of internal playtesting and iteration, watching players finally experience the game on their own terms with their own characters and choices they’ve made is the best payoff we could ask for. It reminds us why we make RPGs.
Are there any stories about how players have engaged with your game that you’d like to reflect on?
We’ve loved seeing players approach quests and challenges in ways we never predicted. The speedrunning community, in particular, has been a joy – watching them push our systems to achieve unbelievable times has been fascinating. I especially loved seeing runners use Crackling Bolt to launch themselves into the air and skip entire sections. As developers, we always want to fix every issue, but moments like these remind us that games are ultimately about giving players the freedom to engage with them however they want.
What is the studio most looking forward to in 2026?
We’re excited to continue supporting the game and listening to the community. We’ve recently announced that we are moving our next update closer to the game’s anniversary, which will include New Game Plus, Photo Mode, a new Quarterstaff weapon, additional Character Presets, and much more, including some surprises. So stay tuned!
Avowed
Xbox Game Studios
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands – an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder? The Weird and Wonderful Living Lands The Living Lands is a place that feels foreign yet somewhat intrinsic to you as it feels the island itself is calling out to you for help. Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem. Visceral Combat to Play Your Way Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way. Dig into your grimoire for spells to trap, freeze or burn enemies, bash them with your shield, or use range bows to attack from a distance. Companions as part of your journey Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities. From a former mercenary to an eccentric wizard, they will be part of your journey with your choices shaping them as you help them with their quests. © Microsoft 2025. All Rights Reserved. Microsoft, Obsidian Entertainment, the Obsidian Entertainment logo and Avowed are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Acceptance of Microsoft Services Agreement and Privacy Statement required to play. Microsoft account registration required for cross-platform play. Internet connection required. Features, online services, and system requirements may vary by country and are subject to change or retirement over time.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
What would you like to say to your players after releasing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 this year?
Thank you so much for jumping into Call of Duty: Black Ops 7! The team at Treyarch is so incredibly proud of this game and we’ve been having a blast ourselves out there with you, whether it’s been a friendly revive in Endgame, a new Nemesis in Multiplayer, or riding shotgun in Ol’ Tessie in Zombies.
How does it feel to have your game out there after development?
There’s always a sense of relief once a game launches. With Black Ops 7, that has also come with an incredible amount of excitement knowing that Season 01 is the biggest in Black Ops history, and we have so much more fun content coming throughout the year and into next year!
Are there any stories about how players have engaged with your game that you’d like to reflect on?
We built Black Ops 7 as a fully cooperative and social experience with the goal of offering something for everyone. It’s been truly amazing to see friends and strangers coming together across the entire game. We’ve hopefully provided a platform for people to create some new friends for life or simply reinforce the friendships they already had.
What is your studio most looking forward to in 2026?
More content! More maps, more weapons, more zombies, even a Blackout-inspired mode in Warzone with our friends at Raven. The party doesn’t stop, so hop on board!
Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Vault Edition
Activision Publishing Inc.
$99.99 $79.99
The Vault Edition includes: – Cross-Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 — Includes Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox on PC versions of the game – BlackCell (1 Season)* — Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more – Operator Collection — 4 Operator Skins: Harper, Karma, T.E.D.D. and Reaper EWR-3 – Mastercraft Collection — 5 Mastercraft Weapons – Ultra GobbleGum Pack for Zombies — 8 GobbleGums of Ultra rarity for Black Ops 7 – Permanent Unlock Token for Black Ops 7 – Guild Override Weapon Camo In Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the biggest Black Ops ever. Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience. Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with a next level Omnimovement system. In Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies mode, the nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hells
