Xbox 25th Anniversary Console Sells Out Instantly Despite Hefty $899 Price Tag
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
The limited Xbox Series X25 anniversary console sold out in under a minute despite an $899 price tag, immediately flooding secondary markets with scalper listings reaching nearly $3,000.
Microsoft celebrated two and a half decades of hardware history this week by launching pre-orders for the Xbox Series X25 limited edition. Priced at $899.99, the bundle includes a translucent green controller styled after the original 2001 console alongside a digital copy of Halo: Campaign Evolved. Even with a price point nearly double the launch cost of the base hardware from six years ago, the entire stock vanished from the official Microsoft Store within a single minute.
As reported by Polygon, the lightning-fast sellout immediately triggered the familiar ecosystem of automated bots and secondary market flipping. Scalpers have flooded platforms like eBay, listing the anniversary bundle anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000. Completed sales listings prove that dedicated fans are already paying up to $2,995 to secure the collector item, effectively tripling the retail price for anyone who missed the initial one-minute window.
This chaotic drop highlights a persistent frustration for modern collectors across console, PC, and digital storefronts alike. Limited hardware drops continue to serve scalpers rather than genuine community members, leaving players empty-handed despite willing to spend top dollar. Until platform holders implement more robust purchase verification systems, these milestone celebrations will remain dominated by profit-driven resellers rather than loyal players.
Tags: Xbox, Hardware, Gaming News, Industry
Original article: Polygon