Candy Crush Saga now has a free Xbox anniversary season on iOS and Android, built around collectible pins from eight Xbox game franchises and six reworked game themes. King announced the Game On! Season on Xbox Wire on November 12, 2026, as part of the XBOX 25 celebrations.

The season runs through December 6, 2026. Players earn pins as they move through levels, and a few pins are also being offered as physical prizes to eligible VIP players in the US.

What is in the Candy Crush Saga Game On! Season?

  • Franchises: Halo, Fallout, Sea of Thieves, Forza, DOOM, Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot and Spyro
  • Main feature: an XBOX 25 pin collection earned through level progress
  • Extra event: an arcade-themed Leagues event where players climb the standings
  • Music: six themes reworked in a Candy Crush style and used during play
  • Runs: through December 6, 2026
  • Platforms: iOS and Android

According to King, the pins carry characters and moments from all eight franchises. Examples include Master Chief’s helmet, DOOM’s Cacodemon and Crash Bandicoot’s Dr. Neo Cortex, shown alongside Candy Crush characters dressed up in costume. King says the teams behind those worlds worked with it on the designs.

What do the Halo and Fallout pins look like?

Corrine Robinson, Sr. Halo Franchise Manager, said the approach was to start from the Candy Crush characters and add recognizable Halo elements. Two examples she gave are Tiffi in pink Mjolnir armor with her signature bow, and Dachs in Grunt armor.

For Fallout, Vault Boy appears, Dachs wears Dogmeat’s armor and Bubblegum Troll gets a Vault Suit. Daniel Lee, Associate Art Director at Bethesda Game Studios, said Fallout already has plenty of sweet treats, naming Sugar Bombs and Fancy Lad Snack Cakes.

Which Xbox themes are in the music?

Six themes come from Halo, Fallout, Sea of Thieves, Forza, DOOM and Banjo-Kazooie. King says the recordings bring together an orchestra, the Bulgarian Voices Berlin choir and an accordion, with arrangements by composer Federico Truzzi.

King’s Head of Audio Dominique Devoucoux and Audio Lead Sebastian Aav explain the thinking in a behind-the-scenes video. The six tracks will also be available on streaming platforms and participating studio channels, so they can be heard outside the game. Adam Park, Head of Brand and Licensing at Rare, said the collaboration brings Rare’s characters and music to a new audience.

Prices

Candy Crush Saga is free to download on iOS and Android, according to King. The sources list no price for the Game On! Season or its pins, and they do not describe any purchase needed to take part.

The physical pin packs are a separate prize. VIP players in the US can enter a contest at candycrush.com for a chance to win one of 1,000 limited-edition packs.

Separately, CGMagazine reported that a McDonald’s UK and Ireland promotion for the Xbox anniversary lists a Candy Crush Saga Booster Bundle among its rewards. That promotion is not part of this season, and the report gave no dates for it.

Who it suits

Xbox fans: The season is a light way to see Halo, Fallout, Sea of Thieves, Forza, DOOM, Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot and Spyro turned into collectible art, with no console needed.

Current Candy Crush Saga players: Pins come from normal level progress, so regular players collect them as they go, and the arcade-themed Leagues event adds a competitive side for anyone who likes climbing standings.

Music listeners: The six reworked themes will be on streaming platforms and participating studio channels, so the soundtrack stands on its own for people who never open the game.

Collectors in the US: VIP players can enter the candycrush.com contest for one of the 1,000 limited-edition physical pin packs. Readers elsewhere should note that the source names only US VIP players for that contest.

What is still unknown?

The sources do not say how VIP status is decided, when the contest closes, how winners are picked or whether pins can be earned after December 6, 2026. They also do not name the streaming services or give a date for the music release. Check the Xbox Wire post and candycrush.com for updates before the season ends.