/ Nostalgia comes with a surprisingly steep price.
Mike Alvarez Joined TheTweaks as an emerging tech , startup and launches journalist. He comes up with those things or products which are not there yet and are hardly possible to come close to. He covers the latest technology, startups and new product launches and releases. He worked 4 years in a startup company in Austin and later he joined TheTweaks and he is proving himself here with his commendable writing performance. He is also the publisher of a small consumer robotics newsletter.
What started out as a sweet gesture is turning out to be one expensive love letter from Microsoft. In what is perhaps the most leaked bit of information this week, we now know more about the Xbox Series X25 – the translucent, retro-themed console made to commemorate 25 years of the Xbox franchise. And the number of years is what has people talking about the cost of this console.
According to a recent report by French site Dealabs, in collaboration with leaker billbil-kun’s internal research, the Xbox Series X25 is rumored to cost $899.99 in the US and €899.99 in Europe. It bears mentioning that that is not a typographical error, and the cost is exactly the same as the freshly price-hiked PS5 Pro, making it one of the most expensive mainstream consoles to go on sale at retail stores.(Dealabs)
As context, it’s worth noting that the standard 1 TB Xbox Series X is currently being sold at $799.99 after Microsoft’s August price adjustment. Therefore, the Xbox Series X25 will command a direct $100 premium over the console which is essentially the same as it is.
The most interesting thing about the Xbox Series X25 is that it is said to have no performance upgrade whatsoever. It is going to have the same hardware specifications as the standard Series X – a 1 TB SSD, built-in optical disc drive, and the same processor. The only difference between it and the standard Series X is the design of the case – a translucent ‘OG Green’ case, which will feature visible internals and glowing green power button – all in tribute to the original Xbox that was released way back in 2001.
Obviously, there will be people willing to pay extra for this console because it appeals to their nostalgia. However, there are others who are finding it difficult to justify a $100 premium over the console that is pretty much the same as it is. To make matters worse, Sony managed to sell its PS5 30th Anniversary Digital Edition at merely $50 premium above the standard version.
The Xbox Series X25 will cost double that, and it is not even the 2TB version. Therefore, people are having some issues with this pricing strategy.
Speaking of price, it’s also worth discussing the rumored release date of the Xbox Series X25. According to Dealabs, it will be released on November 27, 2026 – coincidentally landing on Black Friday. Obviously, it is not a coincidence. Microsoft plans on taking advantage of this time period, where people will probably feel the pressure to buy this special edition console for Christmas and New Year.
It is also worth noting that the Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition is set to come out in October, one month ahead of the release date of the console itself. Its rumored cost is around $79.99.
Now, this leak comes at a weird time for Microsoft. As we reported in the previous article on the platform’s struggles this year, the Xbox brand is currently facing lots of internal turbulence, with layoffs throughout its gaming division despite spending on other priorities. If you’ve been following the platform’s troubles, then you’d understand why the price of the $900 nostalgia console feels wrong to people.
Leaking the information about paying an extra hundred dollars for a design-only update, at the same time when trust in the brand is getting battered, is quite a risky move. It will work if people are willing to buy the Xbox Series X25 because they think of it as a collector’s item worth having. Otherwise, they will feel like Microsoft is exploiting their brand loyalty in a rough patch for itself.
Once again, we need to point out that none of this information has been confirmed yet. Dealabs is known for its successful Xbox hardware leaks, however, Microsoft has yet to confirm pricing, release date, and even the specs. However, all of this can change quickly. As we’ve mentioned in the previous article, the company will have a livestream during Gamescom on August 26 and 27. Many are expecting them to confirm or deny the leaks.
Until then, keep the $899.99 figure in mind, but take it with a grain of salt.
We’ve seen this kind of thing happen before – take a tried-and-tested console and dress it up in a nostalgic design, then charge premium for the design. There is nothing wrong with the idea of the Xbox Series X25. The OG Green theme is an excellent choice, considering that it taps into nostalgia of the very first Xbox players. However, the price of $899.99 is asking people to pay PS5 Pro money for Series X performance, and there won’t be many takers of that deal.
Our opinion: if you’re an Xbox fan who has been around since 2001, then this will be a nostalgic purchase that you make with your heart, not your head. Otherwise, we recommend waiting until Black Friday for better deals on the standard Series X. We will update this piece once Microsoft officially announces everything at Gamescom.
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