Xbox just made its $900 anniversary console more tempting for Halo fans – Automated Home

Microsoft has found a clever way to make its $900 Xbox anniversary console harder for Halo fans to ignore. The premium machine now includes a full game that directly connects it to Xbox history.

The Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition costs $899.99 and ships on November 13, 2026. Every console includes a digital copy of Halo: Campaign Evolved, Microsoft’s modern remake of the game that helped define the original Xbox.

That bundle does not make the anniversary console faster. Instead, Microsoft is using nostalgia, collectible hardware, and a major Halo release to make the extra cost easier to justify.

The anniversary Xbox now has Halo

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition is part of the company’s wider 25th Anniversary Collection. Preorders opened August 27 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time through Xbox and select retailers.

The console costs $899.99 in the United States, compared with $799 for the standard Xbox Series X. That makes the anniversary model roughly $100 more expensive before considering the included game.

Inside the box are the 1TB console, a matching Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition, and a digital download code. The Halo code provides the full game rather than a limited trial.

Why the free game matters

Halo: Campaign Evolved is not simply an old game with sharper textures. Halo Studios rebuilt the original campaign in Unreal Engine 5, creating updated environments, characters, cinematics, and lighting.

The remake launched July 28, 2026, across Xbox Series X|S, PC through Steam, and PlayStation 5. It also became the first mainline Halo campaign released on PlayStation.

That makes the bundle more meaningful for collectors. Instead of receiving a small anniversary bonus, buyers get a current-generation Halo game closely connected to the franchise’s original Xbox heritage.

What makes Campaign Evolved different?

The remake keeps the foundation of the 2001 campaign while adding modern systems. Players can use sprint and aim-down-sights controls, while sprint can be disabled for a more traditional experience.

Four-player online cooperative play supports crossplay across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5. Console players can also use two-player split-screen, preserving the original campaign’s two-player local cooperative format.

Halo Studios also added three new prequel missions featuring Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson, along with new weapons, vehicles, enemies, and Skulls.

The Series X25 is mostly cosmetic

Underneath the anniversary styling, the Series X25 retains the power and performance of the standard Xbox Series X. It has a 1TB custom NVMe SSD and a 12-teraflop custom RDNA 2 GPU.

It also uses the same Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 graphics architecture, with True 4K gaming, support for up to 120 FPS, and Quick Resume. The major difference is the translucent OG Green design, anniversary branding and individually numbered console.

Little-known fact: The $899.99 X25 costs $100 more than the $799.99 standard Xbox Series X in the United States.

The controller adds another collectible

Microsoft also includes a matching Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition. Its translucent green design follows the console’s retro-inspired appearance and gives the package a more cohesive collector identity.

The controller can also be purchased separately for $79.99. That makes the console bundle more appealing to collectors who want matching hardware without having to buy accessories separately.

For regular Xbox owners, however, the controller does not provide additional gaming performance. Its appeal comes from appearance, anniversary details, and its connection to the broader collection.

Is the $900 price actually worth it?

The answer depends heavily on what a buyer values. Someone seeking maximum performance gets no meaningful hardware improvement over the $799.99 standard Xbox Series X.

The included Halo remake changes that calculation somewhat. Campaign Evolved costs $49.99 as a standard edition and is also available through Xbox Game Pass. Valuing the game at full price leaves about $50 of the $100 console premium attributable to the anniversary hardware and included game value.

For a Halo collector, the translucent shell and individually numbered hardware could make that premium reasonable.

The nostalgia is doing heavy lifting

The OG Green finish is designed to evoke the original Xbox and its translucent green Halo Special Edition hardware. Microsoft says the X25’s design draws inspiration from the original Xbox and the OG Green aesthetic associated with the brand.

That connection becomes stronger because Halo was a launch title for Microsoft’s first Xbox. Bundling Campaign Evolved links the anniversary hardware to both the console and the franchise that helped define its early identity.

Little-known fact: The original translucent-green Xbox that inspired this design first launched on November 15, 2001, almost exactly 25 years before this release.

Halo fans get a stronger reason

The anniversary console would have been easier to dismiss if it only changed the color and added anniversary branding. The included game gives the hardware a more substantial connection to Microsoft’s history.

Campaign Evolved launched July 28, 2026, and was available through Game Pass from day one. Including the game keeps Halo closely tied to the XBOX 25th Anniversary Collection.

The result is a package aimed at buyers who value both technology and collecting. Standard Xbox owners get the same core performance, while Halo fans receive the game alongside the limited-edition hardware.

What should buyers consider most?

Anyone buying primarily for performance should choose the standard Series X or another current Xbox model. The Series X25 does not improve frame rates, storage capacity or processing power.

Buyers should instead ask whether the translucent design, individual numbering and included Halo game justify the premium. Game Pass subscribers should also consider whether they already have access to Campaign Evolved.

For collectors, the calculation is different. Limited hardware tied to a major franchise can hold more personal value than its specifications suggest, especially during an anniversary celebration.

A smarter bundle than a faster Xbox

Microsoft is not making the Series X25 more powerful. It is making the premium feel more understandable by pairing distinctive hardware with one of Xbox’s most important games.

That approach works because Campaign Evolved is substantial enough to matter. It is a ground-up remake with modern graphics, expanded cooperative play and additional campaign content.

The $899.99 price remains high, particularly when the standard console costs $799. Yet Halo fans now have a clearer reason to consider the anniversary machine beyond its translucent green exterior.

The holiday collector’s choice arrives

Preorders began August 27, and shipments start November 13. That gives collectors a clear window to decide whether the anniversary design deserves a place in their entertainment setup.

The strongest argument is not performance, because the internals remain unchanged. The stronger case is the combination of collectible hardware and a full modern Halo campaign.

For anyone who grew up with the original Xbox, the package draws a direct line from 2001 to 2026. Microsoft is betting that connection can make a $900 console feel special.

TL;DR

• Microsoft includes a full $49.99 copy of Halo: Campaign Evolved with the $899.99 Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console.
• The anniversary Xbox retains the standard Series X performance, so the premium primarily covers the limited-edition hardware and included game.
• Halo: Campaign Evolved is a ground-up remake with Unreal Engine 5 technology, modern controls, up to four-player online co-op and three new missions.
• The translucent OG Green design draws inspiration from the original Xbox, while the individually numbered console connects the hardware to the brand’s 25th anniversary.

This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

If you liked this, you might also like: