Xbox is turning 25, and Microsoft is marking it with a translucent green console. The Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition was announced at the Xbox Games Showcase in June, opened for pre-orders in late August, and launches in the US on November 13. It costs $899.99.
That’s a lot for a console, so the real question is what you get over a regular Series X. The short answer: the same hardware, plus a game, a controller and a collectible design, for $100 more. Whether that’s worth it depends on whether you wanted those extras anyway. None of us has an X25, so this is based on Microsoft’s official details and outlet coverage from The Verge, IGN and Engadget.
The basics
- Price: $899.99 in the US, per Xbox Wire and the US Microsoft Store. Microsoft says pricing varies by market.
- Launch date: November 13, 2026, in the US, per Xbox Wire.
- Pre-orders: Opened August 26 for invited fans and August 27 for everyone at 7 a.m. PT, according to Xbox Wire.
- Limits: One per customer, “while supplies last,” Microsoft says. Microsoft’s US store showed it out of stock as of October 17.
What’s in the box
According to Xbox Wire and Xbox’s Series X page, the X25 collection includes:
- The X25 Limited Edition console, 1TB, in translucent “OG Green”
- The X25 Special Edition controller
- A full-game download of Halo: Campaign Evolved
Microsoft says each console is individually numbered with a unique engraving. The Verge describes it as “laser-etched and numbered,” and Engadget covers the numbering too. Microsoft also says the “X” on the front lights up green at power-on, and there’s an Xbox 25th Anniversary logo on the front. IGN notes the translucent green is inspired by the original Xbox.
Same hardware as a regular Series X
This is the key point. Under the green shell, the X25 is a standard Series X. The Verge puts it plainly: “Under the special-edition shell, it’s an Xbox Series X with 1TB of storage.”
Microsoft’s specs for both list:
- 8-core Zen 2 CPU
- 12 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
- 16GB of GDDR6 memory
- 1TB SSD
- 4K UHD Blu-ray drive
- Up to 120fps
So there’s no performance difference. Games will look and run the same on either one.
The price math
Here’s how the X25 compares with Microsoft’s current US prices:
| Console | Price | Extras |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition (1TB, disc) | $899.99 | Halo: Campaign Evolved, X25 controller, numbered green design |
| Xbox Series X 1TB (Carbon Black, disc) | $799.99 | None |
| Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition (White) | $749.99 | None (no disc drive) |
The $799.99 Series X price is confirmed on the Microsoft Store, and IGN and Engadget cite the same figure. The $749.99 Digital Edition price is from Microsoft’s store listing.
So the X25 costs $100 more than a regular disc Series X. IGN frames it as a console that “costs an extra $100 and includes one of Xbox’s biggest games of the year.”
We haven’t put a dollar value on the bundled Halo game, so we won’t claim the extras “pay for” the difference. If you were going to buy Halo: Campaign Evolved and a second controller anyway, though, the $100 gap gets a lot smaller.
What outlets think
Engadget’s view is that “this sounds like a lot of money, and it is,” while also pointing out that a regular Series X is $800 without a game or the green colorway. Engadget also mentions the “ongoing RAM crisis” in its pricing context.
IGN is more positive: “If you’re in the market for a brand new Xbox, this isn’t a bad deal.”
Just want the look? Buy the controller
The X25 Special Edition controller is also sold on its own, launching October 20. IGN lists it at $79.99. If what you really want is the retro-inspired design, and you already have a Series X, that’s a much cheaper way to get it. For a smaller, cheaper pad, see our Xbox Nano Controller guide.
The case for and against
For the X25:
- It’s only $100 more than a regular disc Series X, and it adds Halo: Campaign Evolved and the special controller.
- It’s collectible: individually numbered, a limited run, and one per customer.
- The design leans into nostalgia, with translucent green, a light-up X and controller details inspired by the original “Duke” pad, per Microsoft.
Against it:
- Performance and specs are identical to the $799.99 Series X. You’re paying for the look and the extras.
- $900 is a lot for a console line that launched in 2020, a point Engadget makes too.
- If you don’t want Halo or the controller, the extra $100 only buys cosmetics.
- Stock is limited, and Microsoft’s US store showed it out of stock on October 17.
Who should buy it
Buy the X25 if you were already planning to buy a Series X, you want Halo: Campaign Evolved, and you like the idea of owning a numbered anniversary console. That’s the buyer IGN and Engadget describe as getting reasonable value.
Buy a regular Series X if you just want the hardware. You’ll get the same performance for $100 less. And if you don’t need a disc drive, Microsoft lists the Digital Edition at $749.99.
Skip both if you already own a Series X. Nothing changes in performance. If you want the look, the $79.99 controller (per IGN) is the cheaper route.
Planning your holiday gaming? GTA 6 arrives on November 19, less than a week after the X25. Our GTA 6 PS5 vs Xbox guide covers which console makes sense for it.
Our take
The X25 is a fair deal only if you were going to buy a Series X anyway and you want what comes with it. For $100 more than the regular disc model, you get Halo: Campaign Evolved, the special controller and a numbered collector’s design, with identical performance. If you just want an Xbox, the $799.99 Series X does exactly the same job. If you already own one, the standalone controller is the cheaper way to join the anniversary.
FAQ
How much is the Xbox Series X25, and when does it come out? $899.99 in the US, launching November 13, 2026.
Is the X25 more powerful than a regular Series X? No. Microsoft lists the same specs, and The Verge describes it as a Series X with 1TB of storage under a special-edition shell.
What comes with the X25? The 1TB X25 console, the X25 Special Edition controller and a full-game download of Halo: Campaign Evolved, per Microsoft.
Can I buy the X25 controller separately? Yes. It launches October 20, and IGN lists it at $79.99.
Sources
- Xbox Wire: Xbox 25th anniversary console and controller at Xbox Games Showcase (June 7, 2026)
- Xbox Wire: Pre-orders begin for the Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection (August 26, 2026)
- Xbox: Xbox Series X
- Microsoft Store: Xbox Series X consoles
- Microsoft Store: Xbox Series X
- Microsoft Store Australia: Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition specs
- Xbox: Xbox 25th Anniversary controller
- The Verge: Microsoft’s Xbox 25th anniversary console price
- IGN: Xbox’s 25th anniversary limited edition console price and release date
- Engadget: Pre-orders for the Xbox anniversary collection are open
