Microsoft celebrates one year of Xbox One with tons of freebies

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
published

Mirosoft is looking to celebrate the Xbox One's birthday in style this year. Saturday, November 22nd will be the one-year anniversary of the console's launch and the Xbox team is giving away a ton of freebies to anyone who purchased the console between it's launch date and November 11th of this year in its 13 launch markets.

The freebies going out to everyone mentioned above are:

  • A Year One Gamer Picture
  • New Xbox One backgrounds: A special Year One background as well as an exclusive Day One background for those who unlocked the Day One achievement
  • A Year One background image for use on Twitter, your desktop, etc.
  • A free rental of "Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn" (for a limited time)
  • A free rental of "Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods" movie and a sampler pack of "Dragon Ball Z" TV episodes (for a limited time, available in the U.S. and Canada only)

And that's not all: Microsoft has some more gifts up its sleeve. Select people will be picked at random to receive something from the following (rather long) list:

  • Xbox One Limited Edition Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Bundle (U.S. only)
  • Xbox One Special Edition Sunset Overdrive Bundle (U.S. only)
  • One month membership for Xbox One-exclusive EA Access service
  • Tiger Shark cash card for Grand Theft Auto V, worth $200,000 in-game GTA Online dollars
  • Forza gift pack with Forza RallyCross hat, Lamborghini Huracán 1/24 scale replica, and Xbox One Controller (launch team edition) signed by Tanner Foust, host of Top Gear America, Global RallyCross champion and professional stunt driver (U.S. only)
  • Forza Horizon 2 Limited Edition Casio G-Shock Men's Black Multi-Function Digital Sports Watch (U.S. only)
  • Grand Theft Auto V gift pack with the Los Santos Sheriff Trucker cap, Michael, Franklin and Trevor Posters, and a Grand Theft Auto V sticker pack (U.S. only)
  • Xbox Live Gold 12-month membership digital code Killer Instinct Season 1 Combo Breaker Pack, the retail version of Killer Instinct Xbox One's first season and includes all eight season one characters: Jago, Sabrewulf, Glacius, Thunder, Sadira, Orchid, and Spinal. Also includes Fulgore DLC character.
  • Special limited edition Nissan 370Z, featuring a custom Casio livery for Forza Horizon 2
  • Air Vehicle shortcut for Battlefield 4 for immediate access to all available unlocks for helicopters and jets available in the main Battlefield 4 game
  • Arno's French Rapier for Assassin's Creed Unity to improve your combat skills
  • 75 Platinum in Warframe
  • Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare Costume Pack for Peggle 2
  • Epic Quest Table in Pinball FX2
  • Dance Central Spotlight (full game token)
  • Project Spark Premium - 15 days: Grants 2x gain of Spark XP, credits, and champion XP, as well as the ability to purchase new token-only content for earned in-game credits

Are you an Xbox One owner that qualifies for this first-year celebration? Let us know what you're most excited about in the comments below.

Source: Microsoft (opens in new tab)

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

151 Comments
  • Hopefully now early adopters will stop their whine.
  • What are early adopters whining about? I'm very happy with my day one edition console, but wondering what others have been complaining about.
  • See, we early adopters/Day One owners can't say anything cause people like erzhik get too jealous and start talking crap about how we don't deserve anything. Want to piss people off? Say you deserve something since you were among the first..
  • Go back to threads about Xbox dropping in price and you will see their whine about not buying another Msft product because after a year, Microsoft decided to cut the price of the Xbox One.
  • I'm a Day One adopter, not one of the whiners.  You had to be pretty naive if you didn't think the price of the One would come down in price.  The one thing I feel we have a right to whine about is that MS lied and said you couldn't use the One without the Kinect. At least today you have the choice of buying the Kinect or not.  It hasn't been a year yet, so it has been much less then a year that MS cut the price.
  • I have day one edition, not whining. Prices go down over time, no biggie. Ever buy a TV? if you wait till prices drop, you will never buy one. Early adopters know this. Whiners prob aren't early adopters, they just want to be first to have one. Early Adopters take the risk and don't mind trying new products or services in order to try them in real-world settings in order to help improve them. Big difference between that and the iPhiles standing in lines for the next phone model, which is not early adopters. just my 2 cents.
  • The late adopters are the only ones whining because they waited so long
  • I'm whining quietly here cause I haven't bought the Xbox yet.
  • I'm a late adopter.. (Got mine last month). Am I jealous that I'm not getting the stuff day one purchasers got.. No.. Do I think people who got the one at launch deserve some free stuff... F*** YEAH I do.
  • Me too!
  • I'm an early adopter with no complaints or regrets.
  • Just cause a couple of ppl will win stuff that means all early adopters should stop? Makes no sense. They still get nothing.
  • Don't really see anything I'd be interested in, but hey, its free.
  • I'm anxious for "the possibility to watch and envy" (outsiders only)
  • Yes dragon ball z battle of gods is awesome!!!!
  • I agree
  • Agreed
  • Dragon ball!!
  • Of course all the interesting prizes are US only...
  • Yeah annoying
  • I need big discounts on accessories. Hope this happens in my country.
  • Microsoft is an American company, deal with it
  • Blow me. You completely missed what I was getting at.
  • Might be technically, in reality they have more customers outside of the US, than within it. They are more of an international company now.
  • Get your facts right. Xbox One- 4million=USA 2.8million=Rest of World
  • Microsoft is a Global Company (Based mostly in USA) And as such should have their offerings to their Markets, NOT USA Only. So stop being such a usual (We deserve it because we are American) TOOL I know there would be some Logistic issues with some items.. but Not everything that is ever issued USA ONLY.
  • But the USA is the #1 market for Xbox.  You can't compare "the World" to "the USA."  Unless the rest of the world has formed some sort of Word Government and I didn't hear about it, you have to look at each country as a separate singular country.
  • Microsoft is based in the US, regardless of how many customers they have elsewhere. When it comes to contests and giveaways there are certain tax laws that come into play. It's far easier to just deal with the laws that are in your own country than with others and yours. Sorry that it's an issue for some people, but to bitch and moan about it really just makes no sense. 
  • Who's been bitching and moaning? I was simply pointing out that any of the prizes I'd be interested in are US only... As for tax laws, I very much doubt that has anything to do with it this time around. More likely it's a logistical issue. If it were due to taxes they'd not have offered the digital prizes internationally either.
  • A prize is a prize, the body distributing it still has to report it for tax reasons. Everything else can be listed as just a software update
  • Nope.
    Anyway, Microsoft have regional offices all over the place and there would be no tax issues even if that were the case. Actually, I've found MS to be one of the better companies to do international business with compared to the other giants.
  • Like always...
  • Woot!
  • Excited about any of those except wallpapers. Unless the image is really cool, who would want that on their own home screen?
  • I have a plasma so I'm sticking with a black background no matter what.
  • Good point. Good idea.
  • Can't wait!!!
  • Us only :(
  • I was going to buy "Battle Of The Gods" but getting a free rental is nice and saves me some doe.
  • Are you perhaps a fur trader?
  • Yes, and I make a few bucks doing it :)
  • lol
  • Ugh!!! Damnit!!!!! I want one of these!
  • I got mine on ebay...does that count?
  • It should count. They don't care where you bought the console from, if a console has been registered under your user, then that's it.
  • US Only everywhere...
  • Thumbs up to Microsoft. Thumbs down to all the US only prices. Greetings from Finland.
  • How do you enter and claim prize?
  • I won an actual Pagani Huayra from Forza and Xbox!!! I'm so happy. It's being shipped right now. Overnight express!!
  • Lucky you... Congrats
  • e_e
  • Sweet!
  • I am I got a day one
  • Finally!!!!
  • Woo hoo!  This was a great move.  And, yes, I called it!
  • I wanna win an iphone and apple watch from microsoft
  • ...and PlayStation 4 too!
  • I'd rather win a PS4 as well. Everybody entered already has an X1
  • I got my Day one edition, but would love another. It would be the perfect gift for my 15 year old niece!!!
  • I've got two Xbox Ones, but could use two more.  Got one in the bedroom and the workout area, but not one in the living room or in the staffroom at work.  :)
  • Damn. I got mine Day One, but I didn't get the Day One Edition Xbox, so I didn't get the achievement. That sucks
  • Same here, pretty annoying that you needed a day one console for the achievement. What was the difference between that and having a console on launch day?
  • It basically means you preordered it months ago
  • I'm excited for call of duty bundle
  • Cool
  • Grrrr, got mine the 14th. This would have been awesome.
  • Do we have to do anything or just wait for the gifts to arrive?
  • I have a Day One edition, after being mocked by my friends who are grabbing discounted bundles, hopefully I win something.
  • So what, you've been enjoying all that gaming glory for almost a year!!!!
  • It says the freebies are for any one who bought xbox one till Nov 11 2k14.So not only Day one edition.Discounted bundles count.
  • I'd take that sunset overdrive bundle :P
  • Give me things.
  • This is stupid I am 16 and only people aged 17 or older get it. And I bought a Day One.
  • What? I'm 14 and I got my Xbox one day one. I have over 20 games
  • Who's Mirosoft?
  • Very little of interest really.  The 12 month Gold would be nice, but the rest is either stuff I already have, stuff that I don't want or stuff that I'm not eligable to get (location). Its almost as underwhelming as the free games Sony had to give away after they screwed up and let everyones PSN account details get stolen. And the US-centricness is damn annoying.  I pre-ordered and got the day one console BEORE anyone in the US did (I'm in australia) and I still get treated like a 2nd class citizen. Thanks MS.
  • I totally agree brother, it's like Microsoft only thinks the US exist when the majority of their b business comes internationally, go figure!
  • The US is the #1 market for the Xbox. The PS4 has always gone to Europe, so it makes perfect sense why they're catering to Xbox users.
  • But, internationally is like 180 other countries.  You can't compare 180 countries against one singular country (the US).  The #1 market for Xbox (when looking at individual countries) is the US.  
  • Yeah to be fair you're right but still, they should cater to the UK, Aussie, Canada and New Zealand as they are all English speaking countries and they would represent quite a chunk of their income. And Nokia was huge in those countries so it wouldn't hurt them to look after WP in those countries as well. I know that's off topic, just thought I'd throw my 2c worth lol
  • Do you know what you're talking about. Us=4million Rest of World=2.8million. A single market beats more than one hundred countries
  • You ppl who live in the US have gotta stop taking comments personally. I'm talking about Microsoft not a country as a whole but for the record in glad I live here in Australia
  • Knowing my luck, aside from missing out on some really good stuff (US only), if I do win something it will probably end up being something I've already got.
    Ah well, still love my Xbox.
  • I'd like the 75 Platinum in Warframe since I will probably have a better chance at that than the actual Xbox bundles and games. :) It would be nice to get the Xbox One bundle as it would save me the $500 that I am going to spend tomorrow to buy a Xbox One for my brother in law.
  • Yooooo!!! I want that Forza Horizon 2 watch! Also..if I'm already qualified for the Day One extras..am I, and how do I become eligible for the others??
  • What Day One extras?
  • Pretty nice.
  • These goodies are interesting - and not only am I a Day One Edition owner, but I was in the Xbox Live beta in 2002 (my live account is over 12 years old now). I also received the Green/Gray/Orange 10 Year Xbox Live Anniversary Xbox 360 system. Let the goodies come rollin' in.
  • Lucky guy! That live 360 is sweet looking.
  • Day One.
  • Got mine last December, as a Christmas gift a few days early since my 4yo blabbed. Happy with it.
  • I was the first person inside of my best buy to get my hands on the console. Excited for the 1 year mark. :D
  • US Only??? The Fuck Is That??? What about them Xbox (Day) One Owners Overseas... No (Real) Love For Them, or...???
  • It's probably because your country has goofy rules regarding gifting, which this would fall under perhaps. I work for an international company and this type of thing is an issue.
  • Mate, this could be true, but still, there are other alternatives like e.g. giving away codes or give green lights to the Microsoft "Locations" at our places to back us up with the goodies so that we who don't live in the US can join the "party" too.
  • I would rather have discounted games. I guess I should wait until December games for gold. Hoping for plants vs zombies for Xbox one.
  • Plants vs Zombies is on EA access. My son plays that bad boy all the time.
  • Thats great! Fell like its gonna be my bday. Lol
  • Was about to ask where to find these things, just noticed the date. Facepalm.
  • This is cool, I want the battlefield unlock and sunset overdrive
  • I would love a xb1 bundle!
  • They all sound rubbish. Most of the 'decent' stuff is US only. Typical. I still invested a boat load of money into getting one on launch day. They should've given one extra game free for the games with live promotion but a decent one. Something for players to really get their teeth into.
  • Wait. If you bought an Xbox One you can win an Xbox One bundle?
  • whats the point in giving a few xbox one consoles away to people who already bought an xbox one.  Seems like they would just sell it if they won.  Why not give them a bunch of xbox live credits instead of the system they already have to own in order to qualify for the contest.
  • Set second console as auto sign in, put on my desk, gameshare all my digital purchases.
  • I'd love a second console. Me and my wife have our own 360s and she's mad im constantly hogging the Xbox one....
  • Lol...
  • I am excited about it all!
  • I'm most excited about the US only freebies I can't get because I don't live in the US! Yay! Makes me feel special for paying more than those in the US for the console Day One, and having a console for longer than any member of the public in the US thanks to timezones.
  • Then move to the U.S. for a few small bonus items and stop bitching. Japan for years has gotten exclusive or timed video game content. This isn't some new thing that Microsoft came up with. You're really feeling entitled to something because you chose to buy an X1 at the price and time you did? You got an X1 that's what you're entitled to.
  • Yay supporting those early adopters good on ya Microsoft
  • The fine print shows Oct 1 as purchase date: The achievements celebration email will be sent to Xbox One customers who purchased prior to October 1, 2014, in our 13 launch markets who opted in to receive Xbox Marketing emails prior to Nov 11, 2014, are 17 years or older and have 10+ hours of usage on Xbox One
  • Not true. Go back and reread. That's only for the email showing what you've accomplished in year one. Everyone who bought a One from 11/22/13-11/11/14 gets the freebies.
  • Idk if I am, I pre-ordered the assassins creed unity bundle (with kinect) and played on it with Internet on release (November 11) in hoping I get the reward lol, I don't really deserve it.
  • Nice!
  • YES!! However, I want a gift, like for real. And not some in game bonus/unlock, free car in Forza stuff. Given that us Day One buyers shelled out $500+ (and I'm not complaining, I would have spent that much even if someone had a time machine telling me it would be $349.99 in the future) a gift, even a coupon is appropriate. Considering the price drop and included games that are available now. I deserve something (not really, but I can rant.. Lol). The cool bonus/achievements are cool though. Still, I really want something EXTRA special, like that Call of Duty Bundle. Or they can send me a $100 off a Xbox One bundle coupon or a free game of my choice. Its time to truly up the ante for us Day One'ers.
  • The only things I'm interested in are the ones that are worth something. At least the bundles I could sell or give as a gift and the 12 month of gold would save me money.  All the other paraphanelia promotional material are for games I don't have, except for AC, which I intend to buy.  The Halo and Dragonball free movie rentals, who cares. Make it a free rental of any movie that would be a nice gesture. Thanks MS for the gesture. I'll still enjoy my One with or without a freebie.
  • I want all lol
  • XB1 is only getting better and better. Thanks to those who supported the system early so that it could be improved over time.
  • Know what great thing all Day one Xbox one owners get to look forward to ?? Your 1 year warranty is officially over !! my luck mine will fail on the 23rd :(
  • Lol... I have a sinking feeling my hdmi port will give out soon.... knowing my luck it will be Saturday.
  • Xbox Live free for one year is cool with me... 
  • Microsoft at the starting of article spelt wrong ,typo*
  • w00t!
  • "Special limited edition Nissan 370Z, featuring a custom Casio livery..." OMG, OMG, OMG! "...for Forza Horizon 2" Oh.
  • Haha
  • This was my reaction.. "HOT DOG A CAR! ^_^" "oh" Posted via Windows Phone Central App
  • Knowing my luck I won't win any of the random gifts :P. Wish the interesting prizes were not US only though...
  • Yea, same here..and in the US...never win anything..
  • This is a nice gesture.
  • Wish they will do the same when its 1 year completed in India.
  • The forza gift pack sounds cool. Day 1 content is nice as well.
  • I won't be benefiting from this...but if I was, I'd want my Forza prize autographed by a Top Gear host from the UK, not the stateside wannabees...
  • LOL
    Forza gift pack with Forza RallyCross hat, Lamborghini Huracán 1/24 scale replica
    I stopped reading after "Huracán" at first...I thought they were giving away real Lamborghinis...
  • how do you find these? "A special Year One background as well as an exclusive Day One background for those who unlocked the Day One achievement"
  • U.S only huh? Why don't you guys sell your products in U.S only? What the heck Microsoft!!?? :(
  • I'm very happy with my day 19 console. But it would be nice to win any one of this prize packs.
  • Spent so much money with all off Microsoft's product and don't even gat a chance because of US only!
    Yeah I'm that guy!
  • This seems really good! Fingers crossed I get something good!!
  • i qualify i wonder what ill get
  • Not bad but usa only.....
  • Umm nothing to see here, move along. I appreciate the acknowledgement of being a day oneer but these are lame. If your going to do this show some value. How about a free movie or game? And I'm not talking a Halo movie already on Netflix. Or a free year of office 365. That's a popular give away lately and works into their current promotions. The point is of your going to call out a group for acknowledgement make it count.
  • Yes please !
  • I bought mine the day it came out, am I eligible?? I haven't got any emails or anything, I would settle for the backgrounds, do you have to register your Xbox online or something? When do you get emails?? Microsoft isn't being very specific about this "celebration".
  • I'm really tired to see the phrase "only US". Ok I get the home first, but please, US it's not the only who give money to them....
  • I just got an email about my year one stats, top 25% in hours played. Top 5% in gamer points and achievements. No wonder I feel like I got nothing done this year
  • Got a message on xbl about 20 mins. ago it says "Thanks for being an Xbox One early adopter. To celebrate Year One, we’re giving you LIMBO when it's released. Stay tuned, your free code will arrive here."
  • Well I'm a day one adopter. I just receive my gift from Microsoft and it sucked. I received a shark card for GTA IV, but I don't even play that stupid game.
  • Shark card up for grabs first come first serve
  • I'm glad too see all the great games that are coming out an all the work has been done in a years time all the upgrades just curious what eles can you add too this Xbox 1
  • What rubbish, my son gets a message from Microsoft saying he will get Limbo when it is release and he hasn't got an Xbox One. I have a Xbox One and I get an add on for Peggy 2 and I don't even have the game.