Microsoft will give you 25 free Xbox games if you buy a Windows 11 PC right now — how to claim

TL;DR: Buy an eligible new Windows 11 Home PC or gaming handheld by Dec. 31, and Microsoft will give you 25 digital Xbox games (a $500+ value) for free. Claim them in the Microsoft Store app by Feb. 12, 2027. Microsoft is celebrating a massive milestone by giving away a ready-made PC gaming library to anyone picking up hardware this holiday season. To mark Xbox's quarter-century mark, Microsoft named this promo the "25 Years of Xbox Bundle" and loaded it with 25 titles spanning classic franchise roots, Bethesda RPGs, and modern multiplayer staples.Buying and activating an eligible new Windows 11 PC or handheld in the U.S. lets you claim the entire bundle for free. Sold in the Microsoft Store, these games retail for $569.99 combined. These are permanent digital ownership licenses that stick to your personal account — no Xbox Game Pass subscription is required to keep or play them, and 16 of the games feature Xbox Play Anywhere support, so you can also run them on your console.The fine printThe single biggest catch in Microsoft's terms comes down to your operating system: the bundle is strictly limited to consumer machines running Windows 11 Home and qualifying gaming handhelds. Standard Windows 11 Pro PCs are barred from the promotion, with the only allowed Pro exception being qualifying NVIDIA RTX Spark devices. So, if you buy an office laptop or business workstation loaded with standard Windows Pro, you walk away empty-handed. The best tech deal this week The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is free right now with T-Mobile You also have to purchase and activate your PC from an authorized U.S. retailer between Nov. 2 and Dec. 31. Devices must be brand new from the factory; refurbished units, open-box specials, display models, and marketplace reseller purchases do not qualify.Once your new PC is up and running, the offer will appear in your Microsoft Store library no later than Nov. 30, and you must officially claim it by Feb. 12. The bundle is limited to one claim per Microsoft account; licenses cannot be transferred or split among friends, and it is advised to redeem an account set to 18 or older so Windows family filters do not lock you out of M-rated games like Skyrim or Fallout.Hardware requirements also swing wildly across the list. While retro classics like Quake and Fuzion Frenzy will run on practically anything, heavier titles like Fallout 76 require dedicated graphics power. If your handheld or laptop cannot run a specific game smoothly right now, don't worry; the license remains permanently tied to your account so you can install it on a more powerful rig down the line. Mashable Deals By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. How to claim your gamesOnce you boot up your new machine and sign in with your primary Microsoft account, claiming the bundle takes just a couple of minutes:Open the Microsoft Store app pinned to your taskbar. Click the Library icon on the bottom-left sidebar.Select the Included with device tab.Locate the 25 Years of Xbox Bundle.Verify that you are logged in to the right account, then hit Claim. All 25 games will immediately drop into your Microsoft Store and Xbox app libraries, ready to install.Every game in the 25 Years of Xbox bundleThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special EditionHalo: Combat Evolved AnniversaryAge of Empires II: Definitive EditionMinecraft DungeonsGears of War: ReloadedCall of Duty: WWIIThe Elder Scrolls OnlineFallout 76DOOMDOOM IIThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year EditionAge of Mythology: RetoldQuakeQuake IIWolfenstein: The New OrderThe Outer WorldsRise of Nations: Extended EditionAs Dusk FallsBattletoadsPillars of Eternity II: DeadfireZoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal CollectionFuzion FrenzyGears TacticsCrimson Skies: High Road to RevengeBLINX: The Time SweeperGo grab your Windows 11 PC before the year wraps up, and you won’t have to spend another dime on games for years.