XBOX Playback is Here: Look Back at Your XBOX Story

Xbox Playback is now available on Xbox consoles and the web, Microsoft announced via Xbox Wire on November 12, 2026. The experience is part of the company’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of Xbox and runs through December 31, 2026. Players can view their first Xbox game, total time played, most-played game, top years, longest streak, first friend, top genre, completed games, achievements, and more. Xbox Wire said Playback brings together years of Xbox history in a brand-new way and that the company hopes it evokes memories, surprises players, or reminds them of a game they have not thought about in a while.

The feature is available in 15 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and the US. Access requires at least one Xbox Gamerscore, one achievement, and one minute of qualifying gameplay linked to an Xbox profile. Console access additionally requires at least one minute of qualifying gameplay on console. Xbox cautioned that Playback is based on available account data, so some parts of a player’s history may be incomplete or take time to appear. Xbox Wire noted that Playback will roll out gradually throughout the day.

After watching their Playback, users can scan a QR code at the end of the console video or select “share” on the web to get a personalized Playback card to share with friends or post with #XBOXPlayback on social media. A Playback Archive on the web lets players explore more of their available history, including early milestones and biggest achievements.

Thurrott.com reported that Xbox did not offer a yearly recap experience last year and doubled down for the 25th anniversary. The outlet also noted that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma shared a message with the Xbox team about what to expect from Xbox over the next 25 years, saying AI is already profoundly changing how games are developed and that a single person will soon be able to wield capabilities that once required entire nations.

Insider Gaming described Xbox Playback as the replacement for the Year in Review, saying it was uncovered in late October before the official announcement via Xbox Wire.