Phoenix 24
Nostalgia may become Xbox’s most expensive feature.
REDMOND, WASHINGTON
A new leak suggests Microsoft’s Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition could cost $899.99 in the United States and €899.99 in Europe, positioning the commemorative console among the most expensive mainstream gaming systems. The reported price has not been officially confirmed by Microsoft and should therefore be treated as provisional. If accurate, the console would reportedly arrive on November 27, coinciding with Black Friday and following the Xbox brand’s 25th anniversary. The timing would give Microsoft a prominent holiday launch aimed primarily at collectors and longtime fans.
Despite its name, the Xbox Series X25 is not expected to represent a new console generation or deliver a major performance upgrade. Microsoft has presented it as a limited-edition version of the existing Xbox Series X, equipped with 1TB of internal SSD storage. Its principal distinction is a translucent green exterior inspired by the original Xbox, which debuted in the United States in November 2001. Anniversary branding, illuminated details and visible internal components complete a design built around nostalgia rather than additional computing power.
The package is also expected to include the Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition. Its translucent green casing recalls the visual identity of Microsoft’s first console, while the colored ABXY buttons and other details reference the original controller commonly known as the Duke. Reports indicate that the controller may also be sold separately for $79.99, with a possible October release preceding the console. Microsoft has confirmed the existence of the anniversary hardware, but the leaked prices and commercial schedule still require formal confirmation.
At the rumored price, the Xbox Series X25 would cost around $100 more than the standard 1TB Xbox Series X with a disc drive. It would also enter the same price range as Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro in several markets, although the anniversary Xbox appears focused on exclusivity and design rather than stronger technical specifications. That comparison could make the product difficult to justify for players interested primarily in performance, especially late in the current console cycle. For collectors, however, the transparent shell, limited availability and connection to Xbox history may provide the value Microsoft is seeking to monetize. The leak therefore illustrates a broader industry shift in which console manufacturers increasingly sell identity, scarcity and brand heritage alongside the hardware itself.
Nostalgia gains value when technology becomes collectible. / La nostalgia gana valor cuando la tecnología se vuelve coleccionable.