Revealed in June, the upcoming Xbox Series X25 celebrates the 25th anniversary of the original Xbox released back in 2001. It’s a limited edition design that shares the iconic ‘translucent OG green’ color scheme found in some versions of the OG console. The X25 was announced during the Xbox Games Showcase and is set for a November release window – no specific date just yet.

Either way, we’ve put together everything we know about the console so far, including our release date predictions, pricing rumors, and any pre-order news circulating on the web. As for the specifications, you can expect practically the same components as the standard Xbox Series X console, but there are actually some important differences to talk about.

Xbox Series X25 release date window & prediction

All we know for sure, courtesy of Xbox’s official reveal, is that the Xbox Series X25 will be released in November. As for an exact release date, one thing we can reference is the release date of the original Xbox, which was November 15 in the United States. This year, that date lands on a Sunday, so we’d expect to see the X25 arrive shortly after that date, on a weekday.

Thursday and Tuesday are common days for console launches, and it’s worth noting that the regular version of the Xbox Series X launched on November 10, 2020, a Tuesday (same again this year), though we’d be surprised to see Xbox launch the X25 before the official 25th anniversary date. As such, we’re tentatively placing our bets on November 17 or 19, 2026.

Xbox Series X25 specs & design

The change in design is an obvious one, and probably the biggest appeal of the limited edition model. Xbox explicitly says the X25 offers “the power and performance of the Xbox Series X” – so we can expect the specs to remain the same. We also know it ships with 1TB of storage, which presumably means no 2TB variant will be available.

Assuming the specs are largely the same, we can look to the hardware fitted inside the regular Series X for reference. These are for the disc drive version, which the X25 will also feature.

However, according to YouTuber and console technician known as Modifikator, the X25 model will indeed differ from the launch version. The transparent design has the side effect of allowing people to peek inside and try to figure out if anything is different. According to him, Microsoft has “quietly overhauled the internals” to fit a more efficient 6nm APU, down from 7nm.

The smaller 6nm should allow the Series X25 to run cooler and more efficiently compared to the launch version of the Series X model. Modifikator also says it will be fitted with a lighter heatsink (down from 905g to 816g). Overall, the X25 should run with lower temperatures and a “noticeably quieter” fan when under load.

The limited edition controller is based on the bog-standard wireless Xbox controller, rather than the more premium Series 2 model. As you’d expect, the design mimics the original – but without the physical bulkiness of the OG Duke gamepad.

From the original ABXY colors, to the timeless green, every detail calls back to the beginning, including the bumpers honoring the original black and white buttons on the original “Duke” controller. The back case and battery door are fully transparent, revealing the classic XBOX logo.

Source: Xbox

Xbox Series X25 price estimate

Pricing remains up in the air for now, though Xbox says it will have more to share regarding the price “soon”. Current predictions place the price tag at $749.99, but this may be threatened by the tech industry’s ongoing memory and storage shortages. For reference, the standard disk drive 1TB Series X is currently priced at $649.99 – way up from the $499 launch.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma recently talked about the fact that storage prices have doubled since she took over the company in February, adding, “Memory costs have followed a broadly similar trajectory”. Considering this, it makes sense why Xbox has opted for 1TB storage rather than the 2TB that the Galaxy Black model shipped with in 2024 (before shortages kicked off).

As for the limited edition controller, $89.99 is the expectation, which falls in line with other limited edition models such as the recently released Forza Horizon 6 controller.

When can you pre-order the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console?

We’re still waiting for Xbox to reveal when pre-orders begin. Just like the pricing, the pre-order availability will be revealed soon. Xbox says “select retailers” will be carrying both the console and its matching controller. While you wait for that to happen, you may register your interest on the official Xbox store, which is essentially just an email reminder for when pre-orders go live.

The console and controller will be available together in select markets as a limited edition collection in November, with the XBOX Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition also available separately. We’ll have more to share on pricing and preorder availability at select retailers soon.

Source: Xbox

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.