Microsoft announced a limited-edition translucent green Xbox Series X console and matching controller to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Xbox brand [1].
This release marks a strategic return to the brand's visual roots. By evoking the aesthetic of the first-generation hardware, Microsoft targets both nostalgic longtime users and collectors who value the history of gaming hardware.
The announcement took place during the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2024 [2]. The hardware is designed as a tribute to the original Xbox, featuring a translucent green shell that allows a glimpse into the machine's interior. Microsoft said the new limited edition Xbox Series X console variant is inspired by the original Xbox [1].
The anniversary celebration extends to the peripherals. The console will launch alongside a translucent "OG Green" Xbox Series X/S controller [3]. This controller includes design elements that call back to the original "Duke" gamepad, which served as the primary input device for Microsoft's first console [3].
These special edition products are slated to launch in November 2024 [2]. The rollout will include a worldwide retail launch following the initial reveal at the virtual showcase [1].
Xbox is celebrating 25 years with a translucent green special edition Series X console [4]. This milestone highlights the brand's evolution from a challenger in the early 2000s to a central pillar of the modern gaming ecosystem. The use of the translucent green color specifically references the early 2000s trend of clear electronics, a style that became synonymous with the original Xbox's identity [1].
“Microsoft announced a limited-edition translucent green Xbox Series X console and matching controller”
This move reflects a broader industry trend of 'retro-branding,' where hardware manufacturers leverage nostalgia to drive sales of current-generation products. By tying the Series X to the original 2001 launch, Microsoft reinforces brand loyalty and positions the Xbox Series X not just as a piece of technology, but as a legacy product with a quarter-century of history.
