25 Years of Xbox Bundle: Eligible Windows 11 PCs, 25 Games and Claim Deadline

What the offer is​

The bundle is a promotion for people who buy a PC. It isn't a giveaway for existing Xbox fans. Microsoft's terms describe a limited-time offer that adds 25 PC games to your Microsoft account when you buy and activate a qualifying new Windows PC in the US. PureXbox grumbled that the games go to hardware buyers instead of long-time players. Microsoft's blog frames it as a holiday incentive to upgrade.

The key dates, from Microsoft's terms:

• Purchase window: November 2, 2026 (12:00 AM UTC) through December 31, 2026 (11:59 PM UTC), or until supplies of eligible PCs run out.
• Bundle appears in the Store: no later than November 30, 2026.
• Claim deadline: February 12, 2027 (11:59 PM UTC).

Some outlets reported "December 2, 2027" as the claim date, and one said the claim deadline was November 30, 2026. Neither matches Microsoft's own terms. November 30 is when the offer must show up in the Store. February 12, 2027 is the last day to claim.

Who qualifies​

Eligibility depends on the specific PC and on where you bought it.

• You must be 13 or older and in the US.
• The PC must be new. Microsoft says "new" means newly purchased in the window, not the latest model.
• Eligible devices are select Windows Home PCs and handhelds from participating Microsoft and OEM lines. The one Windows Pro exception is a qualifying NVIDIA RTX Spark device. Other Windows Pro PCs don't qualify.
• Refurbished, open-box, returned and demonstration units are excluded.
• Purchases from unauthorized resellers, online marketplaces, liquidators and auction sites are excluded.
• Commercial and enterprise purchases are excluded. That matters for IT buyers, who shouldn't assume a fleet order will earn the games.
• The offer is limited to one claim per Microsoft account, however many PCs that account buys.

The 25 games​

Microsoft's FAQ lists the bundle as follows. This matches the list Windows Report published.

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
• Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
• Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
• Minecraft Dungeons
• Gears of War: Reloaded
• Call of Duty: WWII
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Fallout 76
• DOOM
• DOOM II
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition
• Age of Mythology: Retold
• Quake
• Quake II
• Wolfenstein: The New Order
• The Outer Worlds
• Rise of Nations: Extended Edition
• As Dusk Falls
• Battletoads
• Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
• Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection
• Fuzion Frenzy
• Gears Tactics
• Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
• BLiNX: The Time Sweeper

The counting discrepancy​

Microsoft's own pages don't agree on the exact 25.

• The legal terms table on the same page lists "DOOM + DOOM II" as a single entry. That frees a slot for Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, which the FAQ list leaves out.
• The Xbox Store bundle page also shows Age of Empires III. It shows Halo: The Master Chief Collection as the game, with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary as an add-on within it. It shows an Elder Scrolls Online upgrade as an add-on too.
• The Store prices the bundle at $569.99+. That fits the "$500+" value claim.
• The terms table calls the Pillars title "Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire - Ultimate Edition (PC)".

I can't tell from the sources which presentation is final. The terms say you get licenses for all 25 promotional games once you claim. Before you buy a PC mainly for one title, check your Library after claiming. Don't rely on any third-party list, including this one.

Xbox Play Anywhere titles​

Microsoft says some titles also support Xbox Play Anywhere. That lets you play on compatible Windows PCs and Xbox consoles with the same Microsoft account. The terms list:

• Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
• Gears of War: Reloaded
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• DOOM and DOOM II
• Age of Mythology: Retold
• Quake and Quake II
• As Dusk Falls
• Battletoads
• Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection
• Fuzion Frenzy
• Gears Tactics
• Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
• BLiNX: The Time Sweeper

Microsoft's page formats Age of Mythology and Retold as two separate lines, which looks like a typo. Read it as one game, Age of Mythology: Retold. The other bundle titles aren't on the Play Anywhere list. Microsoft warns that some games can't be played on Xbox consoles.

How to claim​

• Buy and activate an eligible PC with the Microsoft account you want to own the games.
• Open the Microsoft Store app from the taskbar.
• Go to Library.
• Select Included with device.
• Find 25 Years of XBOX Bundle.
• Confirm you're signed in with the right account, then select Claim.

Microsoft says the games then appear in your Microsoft Store and Xbox app libraries.

Handhelds: If your handheld boots into Xbox mode, exit to the Windows desktop first. Microsoft says this is usually done from the device or Xbox full-screen menu with "Exit to desktop". Exact steps vary by device. Reddit users reported seeing the bundle on a ROG Xbox Ally X20 before launch, according to PureXbox.

If you don't see it: Check again later. Microsoft says the offer will be added to eligible devices by November 30.

Fine print​

• One account, no splitting. The games must be claimed as a bundle. They stay with that account and can't be split, sold or transferred.
• Activation account matters. You must claim with the same Microsoft account you used to activate the PC.
• Game Pass is not required. You don't need a subscription to play claimed games. Some online and multiplayer features may have separate requirements.
• Not every PC can run everything. If a game doesn't suit your device, it stays in your library. You can download it on another compatible PC with the same account. Check each game's Store page for system requirements.
• Age ratings apply. Microsoft recommends claiming with an account for a user 18 or older. Age-restricted games stay tied to the account but are only playable once the account meets the age requirement. Fifteen of the 25 entries in the terms table are rated MATURE 17+.
• Returns can cost you the games. Microsoft says it may cancel unclaimed games, or remove or recover the value of claimed games, if you return the PC, get a refund or file a chargeback.
• Downloads are big. These are digital licenses with no discs. Downloads and updates need broadband and significant storage.
• Microsoft can change the offer. The terms allow it to substitute a title of equal or greater value if one becomes unavailable before you claim.

Is it a good deal?​

The value claim is real on paper. Store prices for individual games run from $9.99 up to $59.99+, which adds up quickly. The catch is the hardware. You only get the games if you were already buying an eligible new PC from a participating US retailer. For a casual buyer it's a nice bonus. Skip it if you'd have to compromise on specs, price or the right edition of Windows to get it. Windows Pro business laptops are largely excluded, and so are commercial purchases.

Before you buy, confirm the exact model is on the participating list. Confirm the seller is authorized, and note your return window. Activate with the Microsoft account you plan to keep, then claim as soon as the bundle appears. Don't wait until February 12.

Correction (November 3, 2026): An earlier version of this article said seventeen of the games in the terms table are rated MATURE 17+. Microsoft's terms table actually lists fifteen entries rated MATURE 17+.