Xbox is celebrating 25 years, and Microsoft has decided that the best way to commemorate a quarter-century of console gaming is to bring back one of the original Xbox’s most recognizable visual traits. The Xbox X25 Special Edition Controller is dressed in translucent OG Green, giving longtime Xbox fans a very direct reminder of where the platform started.
The controller was announced alongside the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition as part of Microsoft’s 25th anniversary celebration. Rather than simply putting a giant “25” on an existing controller and calling it a day, Xbox has filled the X25 with design callbacks to the 2001 original.
The translucent shell is the obvious attraction. The top and rear cases allow users to see the technology inside, while the transparent battery door provides another look at the controller’s internals. The classic Xbox logo is also visible through the back, recreating some of the charm of the original translucent hardware that made early-2000s electronics feel considerably more futuristic than they actually were.
The details continue with the original Xbox’s colored ABXY buttons, a green Xbox button inspired by the illuminated X logo from the original console, and legacy bumpers designed to echo the black and white buttons found on the original “Duke” controller.
Underneath the nostalgia, this is still the modern Xbox Wireless Controller, meaning the X25 works with Xbox consoles, Windows PC, iOS, and Android. That makes it considerably more practical than digging an original Duke controller out of a closet and discovering that 25 years have not been especially kind to its thumbsticks.
The controller is expected to release on October 20th, with rumors that presales will begin on August 26th. Official pricing is still unannounced, but rumors also suggest it will retail at $79.99. The controller will also be included with the upcoming Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition, which features the same translucent OG Green aesthetic and 1TB of SSD storage.
For longtime Xbox players, the X25 Special Edition Controller is arguably more interesting than another futuristic special edition. It acknowledges that the original Xbox’s oversized controller, strange translucent accessories, and unmistakable green branding have become part of gaming history
