In case you’ve managed to forget it Xbox 25th Anniversary this year. Between the hurricane Phil Spencer has officially resigned last month and solemn The death of the “It’s an Xbox” campaign under new CEO Asha Sharma, it’s certainly been easy to lose track of the celebration.
But there’s good news for those who still have a soft spot for that big black box from 2001. Ending a new collaboration with Xbox 73Studio, it brings a retro-inspired aesthetic to the new line of hardware. This release features four items, from graphic tees to a heavyweight zip-up hoodie, all with a strong nod to that OG Xbox DNA.
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25th Anniversary Console Shirt
This might just be my favorite of the fallen bunch. It’s got an original Xbox console from 2001, and it’s paired with that cool funky Duke controller on the back. This is a heavy, oversized t-shirt available in sizes 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 just the thing. It builds on the social revolution that Xbox Live has brought into the living room. You might also want to see this from the back with the clean Xbox ‘patent’ style painting.
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Xbox 25th Anniversary Welder of X T-Shirt
For those who like their gaming products a little more abstract and “streetwear”, the design of Welder of X is worth noting. It has a more industrial, edgy vibe, but the writing on the back reminds me of those “don’t steal a car” anti-piracy ads. I love it.
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25th Anniversary Play More Zip Hoodie Black
Completing the collection is the “Play More” zip hoodie. It’s the ultimate comfort game piece. It has a comfortable, low-shoulder fit and is made from a heavyweight fabric, perfect for chilly nights.
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Halo 2 Disc Vintage T-shirt Off Black – Xs
I’ve found a couple of wildcard pieces for you that aren’t part of the 25th Anniversary collection, but draw on the same kind of nostalgia (and the physical disc design is great). If you spent Friday nights in 2004/2005 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 Black Disc Hoodie – Xs
Instead, it had to hide an Xbox 360 piece, which is decorated with Gears of War 2 disc graphics. It’s a heavy, oversized piece with dropped shoulders, making it ideal for gaming sessions in the colder months.
“Back to Xbox”
At least it seems to me that this 73Studio release, and how it’s being shared by prominent names on Xbox like Aaron Greenberg, is a physical manifestation of the shift in vibe happening at Microsoft right now. Back to Xbox is one of Asha Sharma’s first major mission statements as the new CEO.
In our latest exclusive Interview with Asha and Matt Bootyit was clear that Everything is an Xbox era, while it was ambitious, it left a divided feeling in the core community. Relying on the energy of its glory days and bringing the focus back to the console, Xbox shows it has bounced back from the identity crisis of the past few years. I note that The Xbox Gear Shop is still “coming soon” after being offline for a long time and I find it strange that the new 25th Anniversary device is launched with a third party site. I wonder what might be in the official store?
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