Xbox Turns 25: Microsoft's OG Green Accessory Collection, Explained

Microsoft opened pre-orders on August 25, 2026 for the Designed for Xbox 25th Anniversary collection, a set of limited edition peripherals from multiple hardware partners unified by a translucent green colorway the company calls "OG Green" (The Verge).

The collection pays homage to the Halo special edition of the original Xbox console, which launched in 2001. Nearly every item in the lineup adopts the translucent OG Green finish, matching the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console that Microsoft announced in June at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 (The Verge).

The Series X25 console itself features a translucent OG Green shell inspired by the original Xbox, with 1TB of SSD storage (Xbox Wire). Microsoft paired it with the Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition in the same colorway, described at the showcase as "25 years of play" (Xbox Wire). The broader 25th anniversary collection was also confirmed in a developer blog recap of the showcase (Microsoft Developer Blog).

The accessory lineup spans input devices, audio, and mobile gaming gear. Razer contributes three products: the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K mouse, the BlackWidow V4 75% gaming keyboard, and the Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed earbuds, all in 25th anniversary translucent green. 8BitDo offers a translucent green Ultimate charging dock compatible with Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One controllers. GameSir provides the X5 Lite for Xbox, a translucent green mobile controller. PowerA's contribution is a black sling bag, the one item in the collection that breaks from the OG Green theme (The Verge).

Backbone's special edition Backbone Pro mobile controller is sold as a blind box, available in clear, translucent blue, and translucent orange variants. Buyers do not know which color they will receive at the time of purchase (The Verge).

Halo ties into the anniversary beyond the colorway. Pre-ordering any version of Halo: Campaign Evolved grants players two new armor cosmetics for Master Chief at launch, alongside two matching items (Xbox Wire). In late July, Halo Studios discussed the franchise's 25-year legacy on the official Xbox podcast and offered an exclusive first look at a special 25th Anniversary armor set (Xbox Wire).

The collection's reliance on third-party partners is worth noting. Razer, 8BitDo, GameSir, PowerA, and Backbone each bring their own existing product platforms into the anniversary program rather than Microsoft manufacturing exclusive peripherals. The unifying element is the translucent green shell and the Designed for Xbox branding, not bespoke hardware. In practical terms, this is a co-marketed aesthetic program layered onto shipping product lines.

The translucent green blind box Backbone Pro is the most unconventional entry. Blind box mechanics, common in collectible toys and increasingly in consumer electronics accessories, introduce a gamified purchase experience that sits oddly alongside a premium controller. Whether that drives engagement or simply frustrates buyers who want a specific color is an open question.

Looking at the broader arc, Microsoft is threading the 25th anniversary across three surfaces: the console itself (Series X25), first-party accessories (the X25 controller), and now a curated ecosystem of partner peripherals. The OG Green translucent shell serves as the visual throughline. The original Xbox launched in November 2001, and the Halo franchise has been associated with the platform since launch day. Anchoring the anniversary to that specific Halo-green aesthetic is a deliberate callback, and it gives the collection a coherence that a generic "anniversary edition" branding would lack.

What this enables is a fairly complete ecosystem refresh for Xbox players who want to participate in the milestone. Between the console, the first-party controller, the Razer input and audio devices, the 8BitDo dock, the GameSir mobile controller, the PowerA carrying solution, and the Backbone Pro, a player can outfit an entire setup in anniversary livery. The participation of five hardware partners broadens the price-point coverage considerably, from a charging dock to a high-end gaming keyboard. That breadth matters more than any single product.