Xbox Series X25 anniversary console revealed: $899, Nov 13

Xbox turns 25, and brings back the green

Microsoft just confirmed pricing and pre-order details for the Xbox Series X25, a limited-edition, individually numbered console marking 25 years since the original Xbox. It ships in a translucent “OG Green” shell for $899.99, with a matching $79.99 wireless controller and a bundled copy of Halo: Campaign Evolved.

Why it matters for dads

For anyone who bought an original Xbox in 2001 — and if that’s you, you know exactly who Microsoft made this for — the design language does real work here. The translucent green shell, the classic logo, and a controller with the original ABXY button colors and white-and-green bumpers are a direct callback to the console that started this whole ecosystem. It’s a nostalgia play through and through, and Microsoft is charging accordingly: $100 over a standard Series X for identical silicon, softened only by a free copy of Halo: Campaign Evolved thrown in.

That last part is genuinely worth weighing. Halo: Campaign Evolved retails at $49.99 and is also included with Game Pass, so the real premium for the anniversary look is closer to $50 than $100 once you account for it — assuming you don’t already own Game Pass or the game.

If the collector’s edition doesn’t move you, nothing here changes the calculus on the standard console: it’s the same hardware, and the regular Series X remains the sensible buy for a family that just wants the games. This is a design purchase, not a performance one.

What’s next

General pre-orders open Thursday, August 27, capped at one per customer, with the console shipping November 13 and the controller a few weeks earlier on October 20. Given the limited, numbered nature of the run, don’t expect this one to linger — Microsoft has form for anniversary hardware selling out its first allocation quickly.

How much does the Xbox Series X25 anniversary console cost?

$899.99 for the 1TB console, a $100 premium over the standard Series X (now $799.99 after a recent price hike). It includes a free download of Halo: Campaign Evolved, a $49.99 value.

When can I pre-order the Xbox 25th anniversary console and controller?

Invite-only pre-orders for the console are live now for select fans; general pre-orders open Thursday, August 27 at 7am PDT / 10am EDT, one per customer. The $79.99 X25 controller releases October 20, and the full console launches November 13, 2026.

Is the Xbox Series X25 worth the $100 premium for a family?

Not on hardware alone — it is the identical Series X inside, just individually numbered and translucent green. The free copy of Halo: Campaign Evolved narrows the real gap, so it comes down to whether the nostalgia design matters to you.