Xbox Reveals Original and 360 Boot-Up Options

Microsoft has revealed three new nostalgic Xbox console boot-up options for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One as part of a new update for the brand’s 25th anniversary.

Xbox has been around a long time, and those who have stuck around for the full ride have seen it through plenty of ups and downs. To mark the occasion, the company revealed all of the old-school animations that players can enjoy as soon as a new update rolls out for Series and One devices today.

These three new animations are largely untouched rips of the same boot-up videos from some of the earliest days of Microsoft’s gaming endeavors. The Original is the same sci-fi-inspired introduction that played for original Xbox consoles. The other two options are Xbox 360-themed, with one being based on the 2005 startup and the other based on the 2010 startup.

We’re bringing back the original XBOX boot-up animation for all XBOX Series X|S and XBOX One players, along with two additional XBOX 360 boot-up animations!

This update will be rolling out throughout the day and thank you for being part of 25 years of XBOX. https://t.co/V9SKMZTtPR

— XBOX (@XBOX) November 15, 2026

Xbox has been going hard on the nostalgia to help celebrate its 25th anniversary today. In addition to the three new boot-up animations, Microsoft published the Xbox 25th Anniversary Magazine, which offered a full layout for the company’s 25-year history in games and what’s coming next.

Part of the future includes plotting ahead for Project Helix, a project the company has previously described as a family of devices that could mark a new path forward for Xbox. It all arrives as Microsoft navigates a tough year for the brand, which has seen it introduce a new CEO in Asha Sharma and announce thousands of layoffs.

Xbox is pushing ahead, but as for what 2027 will bring, we’ll have to wait and see. IGN got in on the anniversary festivities with a trip down memory lane with Ryan McCaffrey. If you’ve yet to see the nostalgic Original and 360 boot-up animations on your Xbox Series X/S or One consoles, they should become available at some point later today. For more, you can check out the new sequence added earlier this year.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).