XBOX's 25th anniversary controller brings back OG Green
The X25 Special Edition pairs a translucent green shell with original ABXY colors and a nod to the Duke, ahead of its October 20 launch.
XBOX is bringing a familiar shade of green back to the controller shelf. The XBOX Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition, created for the brand’s 25th anniversary, is scheduled to launch separately on October 20, 2026. Preorders opened in select markets in August, giving players a way to join the anniversary celebration without buying the accompanying console collection. XBOX Wire’s preorder announcement confirms the release date.
A small history lesson in your hands
The translucent OG Green finish is the first thing you notice, but the smaller details give the X25 its character. The ABXY buttons return to the original controller’s colors, while the bumpers reference the black and white buttons on the original Duke. These are deliberate callbacks described in the official reveal.
The green XBOX button carries that theme through the center of the controller. Around the back, the transparent case and battery door reveal the classic XBOX logo. Microsoft’s product page highlights the see-through battery door as a first for the controller line.
It is a design that rewards a second look: the anniversary mark makes the occasion clear, while the button colors and transparent shell do the quieter work of connecting it to the early days of XBOX.
Release date and price
| Product information | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | XBOX Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition |
| Finish | Translucent OG Green |
| Standalone release | October 20, 2026 |
| U.S. price | US$79.99 |
| Preorders | Opened in August in select markets |
In the United States, the standalone controller is priced at US$79.99 on the Microsoft Store.
The standalone controller arrives ahead of the November 13 launch of the XBOX 25th anniversary console collection. That collection includes the XBOX Series X25 Limited Edition, the controller, and Halo: Campaign Evolved. Those bundle details belong to the console collection; the controller has its own separate release. See the official collection announcement.
Image credit: Microsoft / XBOX, via XBOX Wire.