The 25th anniversary of the original Xbox is coming up in 2026, and fans are excited about it. During their June Xbox Games Showcase, the company announced plans to celebrate the quarter-century anniversary of the brand, but didn't elaborate on what exactly that would entail. While many have speculated that a number of new entries to some of the biggest Xbox franchises will be making an appearance sometime that year, Xbox fans are hoping to see a big splash for the console that started it all for them. Whether that means seeing a new Halo game or a remake of something classic is anyone's guess. But that doesn't have to be the only way that Xbox could acknowledge a milestone anniversary for the Xbox brand.

There have been a number of classic Xbox games that have yet to be remastered or re-released on modern consoles. Many of them are accessible through backward compatibility on Xbox Series X and Series S, but they aren't true remasters of them. With so many other series having collections and remasters hit digital storefronts lately, now might be a great time to see some of the classic games that made the original Xbox a massive hit. With the timing of the 25th anniversary on the horizon, things could fit more perfectly. Here are some Xbox games that should get remastered for the upcoming Xbox 25th anniversary.

4 Jade Empire

A fantastic martial arts RPG

Before the team at BioWare was known for the Mass Effect series, they were making great role-playing games for the original Xbox. Following the success of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, BioWare developed a game with the theme of Chinese mythology at the center, called Jade Empire. This was an action role-playing game that took some of the RPG elements from Knights of the Old Republic and applied them to a new setting with a new combat system. It was published for the Xbox by Microsoft Game Studios in 2005 and became a hit with RPG fans.

Many aspects of Jade Empire were drawn from Chinese folklore and mythological stories, which helped build a world that players could explore. The combat was fast and involved more action than BioWare's previous games. Compared to their work on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire was a lot more accessible to players. It received a lot of critical praise and went on to be ported to several platforms, including PC and mobile, over the years. A special edition of Jade Empire was released for PC in 2007, which included additional content and tweaks not previously available. Since its original release, Jade Empire has been exclusive to Xbox home consoles, so it would be great to see it get a proper modern remaster with visual enhancements and more.

3 Splinter Cell

A true stealth icon

When it comes to stealth in video games, one of two names is always brought up. One of those names is Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell from Ubisoft. Unlike other stealth games of the era, Splinter Cell made a big splash on the original Xbox with its focus on stealth through light and darkness. By taking advantage of the surrounding lighting within an environment, players can execute missions and take down enemies. The most famous aspect of the series are the night vision goggles worn by series protagonist Sam Fisher. The sound of the goggles booting up has become iconic in most gaming circles, and is a defining trait of the series. Although the game was eventually ported to other platforms, many still remember playing Splinter Cell on the original Xbox for a time, while PlayStation 2 owners had the Metal Gear Solid series.

Ubisoft has already announced in 2021 that a remake of Splinter Cell is being developed by Ubisoft Toronto, but details about it have been scarce, and no date was given for when we might see it. However, the original game has yet to receive a remastering of any kind, despite being ported to multiple platforms following the original release. The original Xbox version had some downloadable content post-release that was exclusive for a time, before being added to the PC release of Splinter Cell later on. As one of the big games that pushed the stealth genre on the Xbox back in the day, Splinter Cell is a series that should be part of the 25th anniversary of the console. It would feel like something was missing without it being around.

2 Dead or Alive 3

A fierce fighter's paradise

The Xbox is no stranger to fighting games. Many classic and popular titles found their way onto the original Xbox console, even though they may have been available on other platforms as well. But one fighting game at the launch of the console that got a lot of attention from everyone was Dead or Alive 3. It's the third mainline entry in the Dead or Alive series, which was developed by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo in North America; however, Microsoft Game Studios published the game in Europe. Unlike other 3D fighting games of the time, Dead or Alive 3 places a strong emphasis on counterattacks and fast-paced aggression, with environmental effects also incorporated into the mix. However, what garnered the most attention was the game's visual presentation, which featured stunning character models and intricate stages.

Although the plot of the series advances with this entry, a lot of attention was put into the competitive nature of multiplayer. Upon release, Dead or Alive 3 was a commercial success and was featured in many events for competitive fighting games, including the Xbox Championship Tournaments. To many, Dead or Alive 3 is one of the major titles that helped shape the Xbox console and brand in the early 2000s. As one of the launch titles for the original Xbox, Dead or Alive 3 is integral to the legacy of the brand and definitely something that should be revisited during its 25th anniversary. A remastering of this with rollback netcode and polished visuals would make a lot of fighting game players very happy.

1 Project Gotham Racing

One of the first Xbox racers

Another game that was a launch title for the Xbox was Project Gotham Racing in 2001. This was exclusive to the original Xbox and focused on arcade-style racing. The game is also a spiritual successor to Metropolis Street Racer on the Sega Dreamcast, but only retains the Kudos System from that game. The title change originated from the development team, as Sega had previously owned the Metropolis Street Racer name. Project Gotham Racing rewards players for the way they race, giving "kudos" or points for style and flair on top of winning races. There are four real-world cities and more than 204 circuits featured in the game, along with official licenses for exotic car brands like Porsche and Ferrari.

Project Gotham Racing went on to be critically successful and sold over 1 million units in 2002. Since then, the original development team, Bizarre Creations, was acquired by Activision in 2011, which led to the final Project Gotham Racing title being released around then. Activision would later go on to be purchased by Microsoft in 2024. Despite so many hands changing over the years, it's possible now to see Project Gotham Racing get a remaster on current Xbox consoles. As a major title for the original Xbox console's launch, many Xbox fans would enjoy seeing a return of Project Gotham Racing in some fashion to celebrate the anniversary.

Celebrating the Xbox brand

It's been a long time since the launch of the original Xbox. Time flies by fast when you're having fun over a 25-year period. A lot has changed for Xbox as a brand, but the core essence of what made it so appealing to gamers in the early 2000s still remains. People continue to enjoy amazing games and new entries from their favorite franchises that helped make playing games on the Xbox so much fun. With the 25th anniversary drawing near, it would be great to see Xbox bring back many of the classics that helped make Xbox a household name in a big way.