What the gift is
The livery is a paint scheme for an existing car. It is not a new vehicle, event or map. Playground describes the design as meant to recall Xbox's origins, evoking the textures and materials of the original Xbox console. Xbox Wire's anniversary recap makes the same point. It says the design calls back to the original Xbox's colors and materials.
The car is the one on the box. The studio chose Forza Horizon 6's cover car, the 2025 GR GT, to wear the livery. Xbox's own social post describes the offer as a free livery for the 2025 GR GT. That post also shows an image of a car in neon green anniversary colors.
Neither official source says the livery changes how the car performs. Treat it as a cosmetic.
How to redeem it
Playground's instructions are short and match what Xbox says about the Gifts tab:
- Pause the game.
- Go to the My Horizon tab.
- Select Message Center.
- Open the Gifts tab, where the XBOX 25th Anniversary Livery should be listed.
- Press "A" to redeem it.
Those are the studio's own steps. Neither official source describes a code, an outside website or a purchase. Both only point to the in-game Gifts tab.
Who gets it, and for how long
- Platforms: The livery will become available to all players on Xbox Series X|S and PC, where the game is out now. The PS5 version arrives January 26, 2027, with early access from January 21 for Premium Edition owners, so PS5 players cannot claim it until then.
- Timing: The studio uses future-facing wording ("will become available"). Some coverage says the item is already in the Gifts tab, but the official post doesn't say exactly when it reaches each player or platform. If it isn't there yet, that may simply be rollout timing, though the official sources don't say so.
- Deadline: The livery will remain redeemable "for some time", and the studio says anyone buying the game for the holidays can still download it. No end date is given. It is not described as permanent, and it is not described as about to expire.
A naming wrinkle
Pure Xbox reported on the game's City Life update, which it said was released a day before its article appeared. It said everyone would soon get a free 2025 GR GT Prototype livery through the Message Center, celebrating Halo alongside Xbox's 25th anniversary. That wording says "Prototype" and ties the livery to Halo, while the November 12 announcement says "2025 GR GT" and Xbox's 25th anniversary.
These may be the same gift described loosely, or they may be separate items. The sources don't settle it. I'm not treating them as the same item. If you see more than one anniversary entry in the Gifts tab, take the entry that matches the official name, "XBOX 25th Anniversary Livery".
Where it fits in Xbox's anniversary rollout
The livery is one of several in-game gifts in Xbox Wire's recap, which also lists items for other games:
- A Halo: Campaign Evolved armor style.
- A Gears of War: E-Day weapon skin set.
- A Minecraft character item.
- Commemorative liveries for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
- A Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 blueprint for digital pre-orders on Xbox Series X|S.
The claiming rules differ by game. For example, the Minecraft item has a claim window and must be redeemed by December 10, 2026. None of those rules apply to the Forza livery.
If you can't find it
The official post doesn't offer troubleshooting. Retrace the path above, and check that you're in the game's Message Center rather than a console or Steam notification area. Check back later in case the gift hasn't reached your platform yet. Don't rely on unofficial claims about extra requirements, such as owning the car first. The official sources don't describe any such prerequisite.
Bottom line
This is a free, official, cosmetic gift for all Forza Horizon 6 players. It has a clear claiming path, but no stated deadline beyond "some time". The sensible approach is to claim it soon.
Correction (November 13, 2026): An earlier version of this article said Forza Horizon 6 is on PS5. The PS5 version launches January 26, 2027 (early access January 21 for Premium Edition owners); the game is currently out only on Xbox Series X|S and PC.