In case you had managed to forget, it’s the Xbox 25th Anniversary this year. Between the whirlwind of Phil Spencer officially stepping down last month and the unceremonious death of the “This is an Xbox” campaign under new CEO Asha Sharma, it’s certainly been easy to lose track of the celebration.
But for those of us who still have a soft spot for that chunky black box from 2001, there’s some good news. Xbox has just dropped a fresh collaboration with 73Studio, bringing a retro-inspired aesthetic to a new line of gear. There’s four items in this drop, ranging from graphic tees to a heavyweight zip hoodie, all leaning heavily into that OG Xbox DNA.
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25th Anniversary Console T-Shirt
This might be my favorite of the bunch that just dropped. It features the original 2001 Xbox console emblazoned across the back paired with that wonderfully chonky Duke controller. It’s a heavy-duty, oversized tee that comes in XS to 3XL.
73studio X Xbox
25th Anniversary 2001 Play Together T-Shirt
If you prefer a cleaner, high-contrast look, the “Play Together” tee is the one. It leans into the social revolution that Xbox Live brought to the living room. You’ll want to see this from the back too with the clean Xbox ‘patent’ style drawing.
73studio X
Xbox 25th Anniversary Welder of X T-Shirt
For those who like their gaming merch a bit more abstract and “streetwear,” the Welder of X design is a standout. It has a more industrial, edgy vibe but the writing on the back does remind me of the “you wouldn’t steal a car” anti-piracy ads. I love it.
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25th Anniversary Play More Zip Hoodie Black
Rounding out the collection is the “Play More” zip hoodie. This is the ultimate comfy gaming piece. It’s got a relaxed, dropped-shoulder fit and is built from a heavyweight fabric that’s perfect for those chilly nights.
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Halo 2 Disc Vintage T-Shirt Off Black – Xs
I also found a couple of wildcard pieces for you that aren’t part of the 25th Anniversary collection but lean into the same kind of nostalgia (and the physical disc design is cool af). If you spent your 2004/2005 Friday nights in a dimly lit room with three friends and a LAN cable, this shirt is for you.
73studio X Gears of War ’08 Gears 2 Disc Hoodie Black – Xs
Had to sneak in an Xbox 360 piece instead, this one is emblazoned with the Gears of War 2 disc graphic. It’s a heavy, oversized piece with a great dropped-shoulder fit, making it ideal for hunker-down gaming sessions during the colder months.
“Return to Xbox”
It seems to me, at least, that this 73Studio drop, and how it’s being shared by notable names at Xbox like Aaron Greenberg, is a physical manifestation of the vibe shift currently happening at Microsoft. Return to Xbox is one of Asha Sharma’s first major mission statements as the new CEO.
In our recent exclusive interview with Asha and Matt Booty, it was clear that the Everything is an Xbox era, while ambitious, had left the core community feeling fractured. By leaning back into the energy of its glory days and the focus seemingly returning to console, Xbox is signaling a retreat from the identity crisis of the last few years. I do note that the Xbox Gear Shop is still “coming soon” after an extended period offline, and I do find it odd that the new 25th Anniversary gear has been launched with a third-party site. I wonder what could be coming on the official store?
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