The June 2026 Xbox Games Showcase is almost here, and it’s a special one as it’s celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original Xbox, which helped Microsoft become the video game powerhouse it is today.
For over a quarter of a century, the Xbox brand has brought the gaming community a ton of unforgettable reveals, like consoles presented by WWE superstars, the return of underrated franchises, and the debut of brand-new IP that would go on to become modern classics.
So in honor of the Xbox’s 25th anniversary, I’m looking back at some of the most memorable Xbox game/hardware reveals or announcements, whether they’re world-renowned moments or lesser-known examples that struck a personal chord with my colleagues here at Windows Central.
Bill Gates tag teams with The Rock to reveal the original Xbox
Let’s start by looking back on the grand unveiling of the original Xbox on January 6, 2001. Bill Gates, then-CEO of Microsoft, was on stage at CES to present Microsoft’s debut home gaming console, but he wouldn’t be doing it alone.
He teamed up with none other than the WWE wrestling legend and Hollywood megastar, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, to show off the Xbox console to the world.
Bill Gates would go into the technical details of the Xbox’s capabilities, while The Rock would use his charisma to hype it, while also making light jokes about Bill Gates to give the presentation a fun atmosphere rather than have it be a generic tech talk.
The presentation certainly paid off, as the original Xbox would later be released on November 21, 2001, and kickstart a new generation of video game franchises, give rise to legendary successor consoles like the Xbox 360, and give Sony and Nintendo new competition to motivate them into improving their games in the face of this newcomer.
It was such an iconic moment in Xbox history that 20 years later, Microsoft would invite The Rock again to help present The Xbox Vault, an online experience where fans could interact with Xbox-related items to learn about its history and win limited-edition prizes like a painting of The Rock, 12 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription time, and more in honor of the Xbox’s 20th anniversary.
Backwards compatibility
On June 15, 2015, Phil Spencer took the stage at E3 to announce a long-requested feature for the Xbox One: Xbox Backward Compatibility. With this feature, players who owned digital and physical copies of OG Xbox and Xbox 360 titles will be able to play them on Xbox One via emulation, record their gameplay footage, and show them off online.
The best part was that if you already own digital copies of backward-compatible Xbox games from older systems, you didn’t need to rebuy them to play them on the Xbox One.
This was one of the biggest reasons I grew to prefer playing Xbox One over PlayStation and Nintendo consoles in the 2010s, as they couldn’t play physical copies of games from previous console generations, and they required you to buy digital copies of older games every time a new console came out.
This service would carry over onto the Xbox Series X|S until it went on hiatus in 2021. Five years later, however, Microsoft announced that it would revive the Xbox Backward Compatibility program, promising to add more classic Xbox games while ensuring four generations of Xbox games would be playable on current consoles.
I’m happy to know that all these games I’ve bought over the years will still be playable on current Xbox consoles, and I can’t wait to see which classic title will be Backward Compatible next.
Xbox 360 reveal
On May 12, 2005, the original Xbox’s successor, the Xbox 360, was revealed on an episode of MTV hosted by famous Hollywood actor Elijah Wood of The Lord of the Rings fame.
While this reveal isn’t remembered as much as the original Xbox’s, it’s still a significant moment in gaming history because it would be the first time a gaming console was revealed on live television before E3, allowing it to reach out to a wider audience than just hardcore gamers.
It certainly paid off in the long run, as the Xbox 360 went on to become one of the best home gaming consoles of the 2000s (despite the infamous ‘Red Ring of Death’ crippling several units), selling over 85 million units and housing some of the greatest video game series of all time, like Gears of War, Mass Effect, and the Batman Arkham series.
The Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S
The Xbox One, as I remember, had a fairly standard reveal but faced a huge backlash from the gaming community.
It was marketed as an all-in-one TV device that prioritized non-gamer features like ESPN and Kinect voice controls; it had strict 24-hour DRM checks that made it harder to buy and trade used games; it had a high listing price of $499, and worst of all, no backward compatibility with Xbox 360 discs.
Microsoft would quickly roll back on these maligned features while eventually launching a cheaper version of the Xbox One without a built-in Kinect, which ultimately salvaged the system in the long-run.
And it’s a good thing the Xbox One ultimately was able to bounce back after that disastrous reveal, as it would go on to house some of the best games of the modern HD-era like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7, DOOM (2016) Devil May Cry 5, and one of my favorite games of all time, Monster Hunter World, to name a few.
Xbox Series X reveal
It’s hard to believe that the Xbox Series X was first revealed six years ago, but time sure does have a way of slipping by you when you’re not looking.
When I first saw the Xbox Series X, I admit I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. There was no way this box that looked like the Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey was a game console, let alone one that could match the power of PCs.
Sure enough, I was proven wrong because the graphical and frame rate quality this powerhouse of a console can pull off is phenomenal.
Plus, this system has given us some amazing games over the years, like Kingdom Come 2: Deliverance, Pragmata, and Indiana Jones: The Great Circle, and provided a spotlight to lesser-known titles that have gone on to become megastars like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 through the power of Xbox Game Pass.
Whatever the next console Project Helix turns out to be, I’ll still be playing the Xbox Series X when it comes because this system has plenty of life in it yet.
Halo 3 E3 Reveal trailer
![Halo 3 - First Announcement Trailer [HD] - E3 2006 - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/T9Ezd2FqxAU/maxresdefault.jpg)
I think I speak for many old-school Halo fans when I say that the ending to Halo 2 disappointed many, especially if you were into Halo during the height of its popularity.
My friends and I had spent hours fighting the Covenant and the Flood in one of the most single-player campaigns ever in co-op, only for the game to end when the action was just hitting its climax, with Master Chief saying, “Sir.. finishing this fight”.
It was one of the worst cliffhangers in video game history, yet it left us hungry for Halo 3, and we would eventually get our chance to ‘finish the fight’ when the Halo 3 reveal trailer was showcased at E3 2006.
The eerie opening with Cortana glitching out, Master Chief walking out of a smoldering wreckage, ready to fight the Covenant one more time, as the ringworld of Halo is falling apart, still gives me goosebumps to this day.
The final game didn’t disappoint either, as the single-player campaign was incredibly fun (especially in co-op) and provided a satisfying conclusion to the original trilogy, which, in my opinion, has not been topped by any Halo game since.
Gears of War “Madworld” trailer
Sometimes the most memorable trailers for a game aren’t its initial reveal trailer or action-packed gameplay deep dives, but a simple, emotional cinematic, as is the case with Gears of War‘s “Mad World” launch trailer from 2006.
Unlike most trailers for Gears of War, which were short action flicks, this one was a somber, emotional, and even scary trailer that conveyed the true horror of Gears of War’s setting.
Civilization is in ruins, and humanity is on the brink of extinction, desperately trying to fight back a monstrous force that conventional weapons can’t beat; all the while, Gary Jules’ melancholy cover of Tears for Fears’ iconic song, “Mad World,” plays in the background.
It perfectly conveys that behind the macho bravery of the hardened soldiers you play as, deep down, they’re tired, fearful, and nearly mentally broken by the heavy toll the war against the Locust has brought on them.
For the longest time since then, no trailer for a Gears of War game left quite an emotional impact on the fans until 2024, when Microsoft announced Gears of War: E-Day.
The reveal trailer was a nostalgic thrill ride for fans, showing younger versions of classic characters like Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago fighting Locust during the early stages of Emergence Day.
To compound the nostalgia further, the trailer was playing a slow, heavy-metal rendition of Gary Jules’ cover of “Mad World” in the background, as an homage to the original “Mad World” trailer that has left its mark on fans two decades later.
Even for a casual Gears of War player like me, this E-Day trailer gave me goosebumps, and if that ain’t a sign that the franchise is going to make an epic return to form, I don’t know what it is.
The return of Killer Instinct in 2013
I’m not a fighting game aficionado, but I have fond memories of playing an old game in the 1990s called Killer Instinct. It had the cartoony aesthetic and spectacle of Street Fighter, the gore and edginess of Mortal Kombat, and a roster of insanely cool superhumans, monsters, and killer robots.
I could never forget my family and friends beating each other with never-ending combos that ended with the announcer screaming “ULTRA COMBO” and doing “Humiliation” finishers that forced their opponents to dance upon defeat. Good times.
Little did my childhood self know that many years later, the Killer Instinct franchise would return in 2013 as a launch title for the Xbox One during E3 2013.
I think @Maxmillion_Dood‘s reaction perfectly encapsulated what other people and I felt when Killer Instinct was getting rebooted, cuz we believed there was no way in a million years it could’ve happened.
But oh boy, are we glad to be proven wrong because the new Killer Instinct (2013) was awesome! The combat system was so in-depth that it gave long-running franchises like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat a run for their money, and characters from the original Killer Instinct and Killer Instinct 2 were reimagined with insanely cool new looks and moves.
Plus, we would get a whole new cavalcade of original characters like Hisako the ghost and Aganos the golem, along with surprise guest characters, the Arbiter from Halo, Rash from Battletoads, and even General RAAM from Gears of War.
Not to mention, it had one of the best soundtracks in video game history. Every theme song is a jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pumping thrill ride that covers various genres from dance beats to heavy metal, and they all fit the character they’re associated with perfectly.
On top of that, Killer Instinct was not only fun to play at a casual level but was also fun to watch during esports because the mind games players played against each other using the game’s innovative combo breaker system were a joy to watch.
Will we ever see a sequel to Killer Instinct (2013) on Xbox Series X|S or whatever Project Helix turns out to be? I hope so because this franchise has proved for several years with superb content updates that it could hang with the big-time franchises and deserves a next-gen follow-up.
I know Ed Boon, one of the creators of Mortal Kombat, is certainly interested in seeing Killer Instinct make a comeback.
The birth of the Alan Wake franchise
Back in 2005, Remedy Entertainment, the creators of the cult Max Payne series, presented a new IP they were working on called Alan Wake. It was a mysterious trailer that presented the titular character being stalked by obscure figures in a suburban town filled with dark secrets.
Five years later, Alan Wake would launch as an Xbox 360 exclusive title and go on to become a cult hit for its surreal, cinematic storytelling, thrilling action sequences and gunplay, and chilling atmosphere.
![Alan Wake E3 2009 Trailer [HD] - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_c3T8V9Pc_8/maxresdefault.jpg)
The game’s success would inspire Remedy Entertainment to improve its craft in creating cinematic, third-person action games and produce well-received titles like Alan Wake’s American Nightmare, Quantum Break, Control, and, most recently, Alan Wake 2.
While the birth of the Alan Wake franchise is not regarded as history-changing as far as Xbox moments go, it’s quite personal to us at Windows, as many of my colleagues are huge fans of Remedy’s works.
Our Executive Editor and longtime Max Payne 2 fan, Jez Corden, gave the Xbox One-exclusive Quantum Break a 4.5/5 Review Score, stating that “Disregard the fact Quantum Break is one of the most visually enthralling games I’ve ever played, forget its supremely satisfying and strategic take on third-person shooting; Quantum Break’s story and its delivery are jewels that enrich the entire medium.”
Meanwhile, our former staff writer, Samuel Tolbert, gave Alan Wake 2 a near-perfect 4.5/5 review while proclaiming, “Alan Wake 2 isn’t quite perfect, but the raw story presented here is instantly compelling. Saga Anderson and Alan Wake take this messy journey through grisly turns and twists, revealing an ocean of darkness with no end. Improved survival-horror gameplay and brain-teasing puzzles round out an experience showcased in gorgeous detail.”
With Control: Resonant on the horizon, Remedy Entertainment isn’t going away anytime soon, and we look forward to seeing what mind-bending, thought-provoking, action-packed stories it will tell next on Xbox consoles and beyond.
Hellblade 2 trailer
One Xbox game reveal that stuck out to me with my colleague Jez Corden was the reveal of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the sequel to the cult cinematic third-person adventure game, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
It was a dark, surreal trailer showing the main character Senua chanting in a sinister tongue while images of horrific dismembered hands, skulls, druids, and otherworldly creatures howling in pain played in the background.
Advertisements for Hellblade 2 after that initial reveal would get crazier and darker trailers, along with a special live performance at 2023’s Game Awards by the folk band Heilung, who collaborated with Ninja Theory to make Hellblade 2’s soundtrack.
The game would eventually launch in 2024 to generally mixed reviews, most of which were fairly positive. One of our former Staff Writers, Zachary Boddy, gave Hellblade 2 a 4.5 Review score, citing that “A game like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II can only be the result of years of passion and talent, captivating you with its unbelievable visuals, impeccable audio design, and powerful, thought-provoking narrative.”
Just goes to show how a well-made, provocative trailer can entice players to a game, even several years after it first launched online.
Keanu Reeves’ “breathtaking” reveal for Cyberpunk 2077
During Xbox’s E3 Press conference in 2019, famous Hollywood star Keanu Reeves made a surprise appearance to show off a trailer for Cyberpunk 2077, where he would be playing as one of the game’s central characters, Johnny Silverhand.
This was a classic moment not just because of the awesome, action-packed cinematic trailer that played, but also due to Keanu Reeves making a playful, unscripted response to a fan screaming, “You’re breathtaking!” by replying, “You’re breathtaking! You’re all breathtaking!”, getting the fans hyped up for the presentation even more.
I know our own Jez Corden certainly found the moment ‘breathtaking’ because he was there in the audience as it happened, and he hasn’t stopped gushing about it since.
This moment went so viral that CD Projekt Red included an homage to it through an achievement in Cyberpunk 2077 called “Breathtaking”, which can be unlocked by collecting all of Johnny Silverhand’s personal items in-game.
Sadly, this moment would be forgotten and mired by fans due to Cyberpunk 2077’s disastrous, bug-ridden launch in 2020 on consoles (despite our Jez Corden giving its PC port a perfect score at launch).
CD Projekt Red could’ve just cut its losses and moved on to the next project, but it never gave up on Cyberpunk 2077. Through years of updates, a cool anime spin-off called Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and an incredible DLC expansion that we gave a 4.5 Star review to, CD Projekt Red was able to fix Cyberpunk 2077 and win back fans’ trust.
As a result, Cyberpunk 2077’s “Breathtaking” moment with Keanu Reeves is now looked back on more fondly again, and rightfully so. It was a funny and epic moment that showed you don’t have to be super serious when announcing new games, and going off script and playing with the audience can sometimes entice them to buy what you’re selling even more.
🗨️Over to you
What Xbox game or console reveal do you consider memorable, and if so, which ones are your favorites?
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