Xbox just turned 25, and Microsoft wants you to celebrate with your wallet. The company opened pre-orders for the Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection this week. It includes a translucent green console, a matching controller, and a pile of accessories from outside brands. Here’s everything confirmed so far, including prices, release dates, and what you actually get in the box.
What’s In The Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection
The collection centers on two main products: the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console and the Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition.
Both borrow the “OG Green” translucent look from the original 2001 Xbox. The console keeps the same power and performance as a standard Xbox Series X, including 1 TB of storage. It just looks different, and it costs a lot more.
Every Series X25 console comes individually numbered with its own engraving. The X also lights up green on startup, as a nod to the original Xbox boot sequence.
[INSERT SCREENSHOT: Xbox Series X25 console startup or unboxing, if you get hands-on access]
Xbox Series X25 Price and Release Date
The Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection starts shipping November 13. It carries an MSRP of $899.99.
That’s steep. A regular Xbox Series X launched at $500 back in November 2020, and $899.99 actually matches Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro, a console that has more storage but no disc drive.
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So you’re paying almost double the original console price for a cosmetic redesign and a numbered plate. Whether that’s worth it depends on how much you care about owning a piece of Xbox history versus just wanting a fast console.
Pre-orders are limited to one collection per customer, so scalpers won’t be able to clean out the stock as easily as they did with past console launches.
The Free Game That Comes With It
Here’s the sweetener. Every Series X25 console includes a full download of Halo: Campaign Evolved, a modernized remake of the original Halo campaign.
For longtime fans, that’s a nice touch. The original Xbox launched in November 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved as its flagship game, so pairing a remake with the anniversary console closes the loop nicely.
Xbox X25 Controller: Price and Launch Date
If the console price is out of your budget, the controller alone is a much easier ask.
The Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition launches October 20, and it costs $79.99, or roughly £74.99 / €79.99 outside the US.
It has textured triggers and bumpers, ABXY buttons in the original controller’s colors, and a translucent back case and battery door. It’s basically the same shape and function as a standard Xbox controller, just dressed in throwback colors.
If you just want the aesthetic without spending $900, this is the way to go.
Third-Party Accessories Are Part Of The Celebration Too
Microsoft isn’t making everything itself this time. A separate lineup called the Designed for Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection brings in outside hardware brands, all wrapped in the same translucent green theme.
Razer contributed the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K mouse and the BlackWidow V4 75% keyboard, both done up in the anniversary colorway. Backbone made a mobile controller sold in a blind-box format with three heritage colors: Iconic Blue, Bold Orange, and Crystal Clear, so you won’t know which one you’re getting until you open it.
8BitDo also joined in with a translucent green charging dock that works with both Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One controllers.
[INSERT SCREENSHOT: side-by-side comparison of the Razer, Backbone, and 8BitDo anniversary gear, if available]
Other Ways Xbox Is Marking 25 Years
The hardware isn’t the only anniversary push. Xbox is also giving players a free 25th Anniversary profile badge just for signing in, available through the end of 2026.
Microsoft is also rolling out curated Game Pass collections built around classic franchises from each Xbox generation, including titles like Fable Anniversary, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Fallout 4, and Psychonauts 2. There’s also a FanFest Tour with its own schedule and sweepstakes.
The actual anniversary date lands on November 15, two days after the hardware collection starts shipping.
Should You Buy It?
If you’re a collector or a diehard Xbox fan who’s been around since 2001, the $899.99 console with the free Halo remake and a numbered plate is a genuine piece of gaming memorabilia. It’s not really about specs, it’s about nostalgia.
For everyone else, the $79.99 controller is the smarter buy. You get the same translucent green look, and you can pair it with almost any current Xbox setup.
Either way, stock is expected to move fast given the limited numbers and one-per-customer cap. If you want in, don’t wait to pre-order.
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