Candy Crush Saga is marking 25 years of XBOX by launching a four-week Game On Season, which introduces themes and characters from eight iconic gaming franchises into the mobile title.
The event, which began November 12, 2026, runs through December 6.
Players can collect pins featuring characters and moments from Halo, Fallout, Sea of Thieves, Forza, DOOM, Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot, and Spyro. Designs include Master Chief’s helmet, DOOM’s Cacodemon and Crash Bandicoot’s Dr. Neo Cortex.
In addition to these, the event features Candy Crush characters wearing costumes inspired by the franchises. According to Corrine Robinson, Sr. Halo Franchise Manager, the collaboration paired recognizable armor with the personalities of the characters, resulting in designs like Tiffi in pink Mjolnir armor and Dachs in Grunt armor.
The collaboration involved close coordination between King and the various studio teams. Daniel Lee, Associate Art Director at Bethesda Game Studios, stated, “Working with King brought together two very different worlds,” noting the unique experience of pairing Fallout music with the game’s soundtrack.
Beyond the visuals, six themes from the XBOX franchises have been “Candyfied” and woven into the gameplay. These arrangements, which feature an orchestra, the Bulgarian Voices Berlin choir, and an accordion, were created by composer Federico Truzzi in collaboration with King Head of Audio Dominique Devoucoux and Audio Lead Sebastian Aav.
These creators discussed their vision for the project in a behind-the-scenes video. The tracks will also be available on streaming platforms and participating studio channels.
Rare’s Head of Brand and Licensing, Adam Park, described the reimagined music as a chance to give fan-favorite tracks a new sound, while also providing characters like Banjo, Kazooie, and Pendragon an introduction to a new audience. Corrine Robinson added that the team worked to rework Halo music in a playful style while ensuring it remained recognizable.
The season includes an arcade-themed Leagues event where players compete to climb the standings. In addition to in-game rewards, VIP players in the US can enter a contest at candycrush.com for a chance to win one of 1,000 limited-edition physical pin packs.
Candy Crush Saga is free to download on iOS and Android. The game allows players to progress through more than 20,000 levels. The Game On Season concludes on December 6, 2026.