Microsoft's New Xbox Anniversary Console Costs $900 — Here's What You Get
Microsoft opened preorders for its Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection on August 26, 2026, priced at $899.99 USD. General preorders open August 27 at 10AM ET (7AM PT) The Verge. The bundle ships November 13, 2026, with pricing varying by market Xbox Wire.
The collection, called the Xbox Series X25, features a see-through green version of the Xbox Series X console with 1TB of storage (about 1,000 gigabytes, enough for dozens of games). The console's top-mounted green 'X' emblem lights up, echoing the green accents the Xbox brand has used since the original console launched in 2001. Both the console and the included wireless controller are stamped with an Xbox 25 logo Engadget. Each console is individually numbered with a unique engraving Engadget.
The Series X25 also includes a digital download of Halo: Campaign Evolved Engadget. The see-through green color, called 'OG Green', is a deliberate callback to limited-edition translucent green Xbox hardware from 2001 and 2004 Engadget. The 2001 translucent green units were given to original Xbox design team members and featured Bill Gates' signature Engadget. The original Xbox console and controller themselves were black with small green accents Engadget.
The first preorders on August 26 were limited to a group of 'most dedicated fans' who received email invitations directly from Xbox. General preorders open the following day Engadget.
The anniversary collection goes beyond the console bundle. A standalone matching wireless controller is available for $80 Engadget. Microsoft also announced a 'Designed for Xbox 25th Anniversary' accessory line, available for preorder since August 25, which includes partner hardware like the Razer Basilisk V3 Xbox Wire. Separately, the Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller is available for preorder at $89.99 Xbox Wire. The 25th anniversary programming also includes community-created designs, curated Game Pass collections, and a FanFest Tour Xbox Wire.
A standard Xbox Series X in the same storage configuration currently sells for $800 and does not include a bundled game or the translucent green color Engadget.
The broader context here is that Microsoft is charging a $100 premium over the standard console price for visual changes, a digital game, and serial numbering. Special edition consoles have long served as a way for hardware makers to protect profit margins late in a console generation's lifecycle, making money from existing designs and parts without needing to develop new technology. The translucent shell and light-up emblem use the same internal architecture as the standard Series X; the $100 difference covers a cosmetic redesign and software licensing.
In my view, the staggered preorder approach, starting with email invitations to 'most dedicated fans' before opening general sales, works as a demand gauge. By limiting early access, Microsoft can measure supply constraints and scalper pressure ahead of the November ship date. Including a Halo digital download reinforces that franchise's central role in the Xbox platform's identity. Over the long run, differentiating hardware through design and nostalgia remains a useful way to keep players engaged between major console upgrades, even as digital downloads and cloud streaming make the physical console less essential. What this launch ultimately enables is a sustained brand presence through the holiday shopping season, using Xbox's history to keep the platform visible.
