What Microsoft is selling
The console uses a translucent OG Green design inspired by the original Xbox, and Microsoft says each unit is individually numbered with a unique engraving. Jason Ronald, Microsoft's VP of Next Generation, wrote the Xbox Wire announcement. It describes the design as full of details and tributes meant to celebrate the players, games and moments of Xbox's 25 years.
The Xbox Wire post says every console includes Halo: Campaign Evolved as a full-game download. Microsoft calls the game a faithful yet modernized remake of the original campaign. That is Microsoft's own description, and nobody has independently assessed it here.
Price, dates and limits
- US price: The anniversary system launches on November 13, 2026, with an MSRP of $899.99 in the US. Microsoft says pricing varies by market. One third-party tracker, Tech-Insider, lists £759.99 in the UK and €899.99 in the eurozone. I'd treat those as secondary reporting and check local Microsoft Store listings.
- Controller: The X25 Special Edition Wireless Controller was scheduled first, on 20 October, ahead of the console's 13 November launch. The Xbox Wire post says it is also sold separately in select markets, and I found no separate price.
- Order limits: Microsoft's announcement says preorders were limited to one anniversary collection per customer.
- Production run: Microsoft Store's listing says only 25,000 individually numbered consoles will be available to the public. That is a store-page claim, and I didn't find it in the Xbox Wire post.
- Stock: The Microsoft Store listing showed the console as "Out of stock" when the search result was captured. That is a snapshot, so check current availability yourself.
What it is not
The X25 is an anniversary edition of the Series X, not a new console generation. The Microsoft Store page, as relayed in my research notes, lists standard Series X specifications:
- 1TB SSD
- 8-core Zen 2 CPU
- RDNA 2 GPU
- 16GB GDDR6 memory
- 4K Blu-ray drive
The notes could not be confirmed against the live page, because that fetch failed. I found no stated performance upgrade for the X25. The differences are cosmetic and collectible: the shell, the engraving, the matching controller and the bundled game.
Compared with a standard Series X, the extra cost buys the translucent finish, the numbered unit and the game. It does not buy extra speed. Whether that is worth $899.99 depends on how much you value the collectible and the Halo remake.
Practical notes for buyers
- Account tie: According to the Store footnote in my research notes, the Halo download is delivered during console setup and attaches to the first Microsoft account that redeems it. That matters for gifting, resale or a shared household console. Decide which account sets it up before you start.
- Regions: The game is listed as available in select markets, so confirm your region.
- Rating: The Store lists Halo: Campaign Evolved as M17+.
- Controller design: Per the Store listing, the controller has ABXY buttons in the original Xbox colors, an Xbox button inspired by the original green "X", and black triggers with a white bumper. It only works with controller-compatible games.
The takeaway
The slideshow shows a commemorative object built on proven Series X hardware. If you want one, expect to hunt for stock and plan the account setup before you open the box. If you only want to play Halo or Xbox games, a standard Series X does the same job for less money.