Xbox is commemorating its 25th anniversary with a special edition Series X console featuring a translucent green design.

      Microsoft has officially commenced celebrations for Xbox’s 25th anniversary with a nostalgic new limited-edition console that honors the original Xbox era. Revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase, the Xbox Series X25 merges modern technology with the iconic translucent green design that characterized Microsoft’s inaugural gaming console in 2001.

      This special edition console is timed to launch before Xbox’s official 25th anniversary in November and is clearly aimed at longtime fans who grew up during the original Xbox era. Officially named the Xbox Series X25, it features a translucent green exterior inspired by the classic debug-style aesthetics associated with the first Xbox hardware.

      Additionally, Microsoft has incorporated several nostalgic elements into the design. The Xbox power logo glows green, and the front of the console showcases a distinct 25th anniversary emblem. Despite these visual updates, the hardware specifications remain unchanged from the standard Xbox Series X, maintaining the same 1TB storage capacity and overall performance.

      Microsoft is heavily leaning into Xbox nostalgia.

      The anniversary edition underscores the significance of nostalgia in the gaming industry. Console manufacturers increasingly depend on retro-themed hardware, limited-edition designs, and legacy branding to reconnect with longtime fans who grew up alongside classic gaming platforms.

      For Xbox specifically, the translucent green design holds considerable emotional significance. The original Xbox debuted in 2001 with a distinctive industrial design that set Microsoft apart from Sony and Nintendo during that period. The green color palette quickly became one of the brand's hallmark visual identities.

      The new console also mirrors the rising trend of translucent gaming hardware. In recent years, companies like 8BitDo have successfully brought back retro transparent designs through Xbox-themed keyboards, mice, controllers, and accessories inspired by the original console generation.

      In conjunction with the console, Microsoft introduced the Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition. This controller features the same translucent green shell, paired with colored ABXY buttons and bumpers reminiscent of the original “Duke” controller that was included with the first Xbox.

      For devoted Xbox fans, the controller may evoke just as much nostalgia as the console itself. The Duke controller is recognized as one of the most iconic – and notably oversized – controllers in gaming history.

      The anniversary launch demonstrates that Xbox continues to value its hardware identity.

      This limited-edition release comes at a crucial time for Xbox. Microsoft has been working over the past few years to extend beyond traditional console gaming through Game Pass, cloud streaming, PC integration, and AI-enhanced gaming initiatives. Some industry analysts have questioned whether Xbox hardware would remain a central part of Microsoft’s long-term strategy.

      Nonetheless, the anniversary launch reinforces that Microsoft perceives emotional value in dedicated gaming hardware and the Xbox brand identity. Even as the company moves towards subscription services and cloud gaming, nostalgic console releases continue to excite both collectors and long-time players.

      Microsoft has announced that the Xbox Series X25 Console and Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition will be released together in select markets starting in November. The controller will also be available separately for fans who wish to have the retro design without needing to buy a new console.

      Details regarding pricing and pre-orders have not yet been shared, but due to the limited-edition nature of the hardware, high demand from collectors is anticipated once sales commence later this year.