Xbox boss Asha Sharma has just redefined fan appreciation by announcing free consoles for the entire bunch of fans who attended Xbox FanFest LA on June 7—and it’s not just any console we’re talking about.
The 2026 Xbox Games Showcase didn’t disappoint, with Microsoft finally announcing the return of exclusives, revealing a series of new and returning titles, and promising a brighter future for the console brand. But Sharma, being one of gaming’s coolest CEOs, wasn’t done impressing the fandom yet.
As part of Xbox’s 25th anniversary celebration, the brand unveiled a special-edition Series X console featuring a “Translucent OG Green” design inspired by the original Xbox. A new controller modeled after the iconic “Duke” controller was also revealed. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Sharma took the celebration up a notch by promising free giveaways of the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console to everyone who had a fan tag on their badge at the Showcase.
Apparently, almost everyone at the Showcase had the required tag, meaning Xbox will be sending out hundreds of these consoles once they hit the market. And for those who weren’t lucky enough (we feel you), the console and controller will be available for purchase separately or as a bundle starting in November. The collection will be offered in select markets only.
Needless to say, Sharma’s generosity drew a huge reaction from the crowd at the Showcase—and from fans online as well. And this is just one of the many moves she has made since her promotion that has helped restore fans’ faith in the future of console gaming, especially when it comes to Xbox.
The console itself is beautiful to look at and left fans of the franchise starry-eyed when it was first revealed. The aesthetic is heavily inspired by the original Xbox model, which launched in 2001. I personally love the translucent body that lets you catch a glimpse of the internal hardware responsible for the magic. Almost every aspect of the design is meant to remind users of where Xbox started and how far it has come since its inception—from the iconic “X” logo that lights up green, just as it did on the original console, to the 25th-anniversary logo proudly displayed on the front. We don’t know the exact specs yet (except for the confirmed 1TB of storage), but it doesn’t take much to guess that it will mirror the standard Series X in terms of hardware and performance.
The Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition controller won’t be given out for free, and that’s justified considering how it became an immediate hit upon reveal. It comes with the same translucent design as the console, but also features colorful ABXY buttons inspired by the original Xbox controller and bumper accents inspired by the iconic Duke controller. The back shell and battery cover are completely transparent, so you can behold the classic Xbox logo underneath.
Microsoft hasn’t revealed the exact release date (just the November release window) or pricing for the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition collection yet. Unless you have won it for free, it definitely won’t be a cheap thing to own: considering the limited-edition tag and the exclusive design, the console can be expected to be priced at around $750, and the controller at $100. Phew!
Now is probably the best time to point out that Microsoft is also working on the highly anticipated next-gen Xbox Project Helix, which may be a few years away but could sound like a better investment to anyone who isn’t very nostalgic or design-savvy.
- 4K Capability
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Yes
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Microsoft