Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition Pre-Orders Open at Gamescom

Pre-orders for the Xbox Wireless Controller Special Edition X25 opened today at Gamescom 2026, with the translucent anniversary controller carrying a UK price of £74.99 and a release date of 20 October 2026. The opening of pre-orders was, according to Dealabs leaker billbil-kun, the first confirmed Xbox announcement at this year's Cologne show — and it arrives alongside leaked details of the accompanying limited edition console that suggest a bigger, pricier reveal may be imminent.

What's happening today at Gamescom

Gamescom 2026 runs from 26 to 30 August in Cologne, Germany, and Xbox confirmed it would host live broadcasts from its booth starting at 4pm CEST today, Wednesday 26 August, with further broadcasts on Thursday 27 August. Microsoft says the broadcasts will feature interviews, special guests, gameplay reveals and new trailers. The controller pre-order opening aligns precisely with that schedule — billbil-kun of Dealabs had flagged the date in advance, and it has now arrived on cue.

Xbox stated ahead of the show: "As XBOX commemorates 25 years of play, gamescom 2026 is our way to celebrate the players and communities who made those many years possible."

The controller: what you're actually buying today

The Xbox Wireless Controller Special Edition X25 — sometimes listed as the XBOX Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition — is priced at £74.99 in the UK, $79.99 in the US, €79.99 in Europe, and CA$99.99 in Canada, according to Dealabs. It is due to ship on 20 October 2026, which Microsoft says is ahead of its original promise of a November release.

Microsoft describes the design as being "in translucent OG Green, showcasing 25 years of play inside," adding that it features "the original ABXY colors, to the timeless green, every detail calls back to the beginning, including the bumpers honoring the original black and white buttons on the original 'Duke' controller." The back case and battery door are fully transparent, revealing the classic Xbox logo beneath.

The Dealabs leak was independently corroborated: leaker eXtas1s had previously indicated a 20 October launch date for the controller, and billbil-kun subsequently confirmed both the date and pricing. Dealabs has built a strong track record for hardware accuracy — multiple outlets have noted the site is "bang on the money every time."

For context, the equivalent 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller launched on 15 November 2021 at £59.99. At £74.99, the X25 controller is £15 more than its five-years-ago equivalent. As of pre-Gamescom reporting, Microsoft's official product page still listed the controller simply as "Coming Soon."

The console: leaked details, not yet confirmed

Alongside the controller news, details of the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console have also leaked via Dealabs, though Microsoft has not officially confirmed them. Billbil-kun reports the console will carry a European price of €899.99 and is due to go on sale on Friday 27 November 2026 — Black Friday. The reported package includes the 1TB console with a disc drive and a limited edition green 25th anniversary controller.

Dealabs was only able to confirm the European price. One outlet has estimated a UK equivalent of around £849, but that figure is a conversion estimate, not a Microsoft-stated UK RRP, and should be treated with caution until an official announcement is made. The console pre-order date has also not been revealed — Dealabs has only confirmed the controller's pre-order window so far.

For comparison, the standard Xbox Series X — which also includes 1TB of storage and a disc drive — currently costs €799.99 in Europe following Xbox's recent price increase, putting the limited edition reportedly €100 above it.

Background: 25 years of Xbox

The original Xbox was first released on 15 November 2001 in North America, with Australia, Europe and Japan following in 2002. The X25 range marks that console's 25th anniversary.

Microsoft first revealed the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition during the Xbox Games Showcase on 7 June 2026. The console features a translucent OG Green design inspired by the original Xbox, an illuminated green X, and 25th Anniversary branding. Everyone in the audience at the June showcase received a free Xbox Series X25 — the wider public will need to pay whatever price Microsoft formally announces.

Xbox next generation VP Jason Ronald said at the time of the June reveal: "The Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition respects our history, with the power and performance of the Xbox Series X, including 1 TB of storage, and a design that reflects where we've been and the community that's been with us along the way. From the moment you power it on, those details come to life. The iconic 'X' lights up in green, a nod to the original Xbox start up, complemented by the Xbox 25th Anniversary logo on the front and other design elements that celebrate Xbox fans and classic hardware designs."

Xbox has been explicit that the X25 offers the same internal performance as the standard Xbox Series X — the same hardware, same experience, same 1TB of storage. This is a design and heritage product, not a spec upgrade.

What remains unconfirmed

• The official UK price for the Xbox Series X25 console has not been confirmed by Microsoft.
• The official US price for the console has not been confirmed (the leaked figure is approximately $899.99).
• The console's pre-order date has not been announced.
• Whether console pre-orders will open during Gamescom this week has not been confirmed.

More is expected to emerge from Xbox's Gamescom broadcast today and tomorrow. For now, the controller pre-order at £74.99 is the one concrete action UK buyers can take — and at a 20 October release date, it lands with plenty of time before Christmas.