January 3, 2001 is a day that changed the gaming industry forever. At the 2001 CES show in Las Vegas, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, along with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, unveiled the very first Xbox console to the world. Fast forward to 20 years later, and Xbox consoles remain a cornerstone of video games around the world.
Microsoft has decided to celebrate the two decades of its console history by launching a special 20th anniversary line of Xbox merchandise. Rather than releasing as a collaboration with another company, as it did with streetwear brand The Hundreds, the new anniversary gear is wholly Xbox.
Revealed by Microsoft on its official blog, the 20th Anniversary Collection spans a wide variety of products. Fans can get their hands on shirts, tote bags, hats, and more, all emblazoned with the newly revealed 20th anniversary Xbox logo in its signature shade of green. In addition to Xbox-themed merchandise, Microsoft is also celebrating the flagship franchise it is synonymous with - Halo.
Halo: Combat Evolved was the original console's launch title, something not lost on the new gear collection. Gamers can grab 20th anniversary Halo products as well, with the zero using Master Chief's silhouette in place of the Xbox logo. Some of the drinkware items are also customizable, letting players etch their name or gamertag onto mugs and tumblers.
Xbox's anniversary gear collection is just one facet of what Microsoft is doing to celebrate 20 years of its console and video game franchise. In addition to releasing specially marked products, the company is also holding a community event called FanFest. Unlike last year's all-digital FanFest, this year features a unique combination of physical and digital events, Xbox FanFest offers registrants exclusive content, sweepstakes, merchandise, and more. Its unclear if the FanFest merchandise will differ from the 20th anniversary products, so gamers with FOMO should be sure to register and keep an eye out for both.
It should be noted that the blog post reveals the 20th anniversary gear collection is "the first wave" of merch, so gamers should expect additional products in the coming months. While some fans may be disappointed there isn't a Craig meme shirt available like the one Halo Infinite's development team has, there's still plenty of good-looking gear that Xbox and Halo fans can purchase.
Microsoft's 20th anniversary collection feature a simple and clean design, and should likely sell well to many Halo fans and Xbox loyalists. However, Xbox and Halo aren't the only things the company is celebrating 20 years of. The face of Xbox Live Larry Hyrb, a.k.a. Major Nelson celebrates 20 years with Microsoft as well, making 2021 quite the significant year for the brand.
Source: Xbox