icrosoft wants you to pay $899 for an Xbox Series X wrapped in translucent green plastic. As Stevie Bonifield at The Verge reported, preorders for this 25th anniversary special-edition console open on August 27th at 10AM ET / 7AM PT, with early access emails rolling out to dedicated fans. The machine officially launches on November 13th, arriving with a matching controller and a full-game download of Halo: Campaign Evolved. Microsoft announced during Gamescom that each console will be individually laser-etched and numbered.
Stripping away the nostalgia reveals standard hardware. Under the anniversary shell sits an ordinary Xbox Series X with 1TB of storage. You are not getting improved frame rates, faster load times, or upgraded silicon. Microsoft is essentially charging nearly double the price of standard hardware for a custom paint job, a bundled digital game, and an engraved serial number—testing how far hardware premiumization can go while console sales soften.
The True Price of Nostalgia
If you simply want the retro aesthetic, you do not need to drop nine hundred dollars on an entire gaming rig.
The controller that comes with the special-edition console is also available to pre-order separately starting today for $79, and launches October 20th.
Buying the standalone controller gives you the exact same "OG Green" colorway from the original translucent green Xbox for a fraction of the cost. For everyday gamers, paying an extra $400 premium over standard hardware delivers zero tangible gameplay upgrades.
A Niche for Collectors
The anniversary lineup is aimed strictly at memorabilia collectors and high-spending enthusiasts. Microsoft first revealed the hardware at the Xbox Games Showcase in June, where Xbox CEO Asha Sharma surprised attendees at the Xbox FanFest event by handing out free consoles to anyone with a "fan" badge. Beyond the console itself, Microsoft launched an entire collection of matching "OG Green" accessories, spanning a keyboard, mouse, earbuds, and mobile controllers.
Hardcore collectors might willingly clear out inventory, but for anyone who actually plays games rather than shelves hardware, this is an undeniable test of brand devotion over real value.