Xbox's 25th anniversary translucent green accessory collection is up for preorder

Microsoft has opened pre-orders for the Designed for Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection, a lineup of third-party accessories celebrating the original 2001 console launch. The broader anniversary initiative was teased during the Xbox Games Showcase in June, but today brings the official reveal of the partner hardware ecosystem. I am a sucker for anything with translucent colored plastic, and this wave of peripherals leans heavily into that early 2000s aesthetic.

The original Xbox arrived in North America on November 15, 2001. It competed directly against the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube, standing out with a built-in hard drive, broadband Ethernet for Xbox Live, and a massive controller. It also popularized translucent green plastic for its special editions. Microsoft is reviving those design cues across PC, mobile, and console gaming accessories as the 25th anniversary approaches this fall.

Razer goes green

Razer is offering three pieces of hardware in the classic translucent green finish. The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is a wireless ergonomic mouse with a 35K optical sensor, a four-way scroll wheel, and up to 140 hours of battery life. The BlackWidow V4 75% is a compact, hot-swappable mechanical keyboard that includes a dedicated Xbox Game Bar key for quick access to system menus.

Rounding out the PC and mobile audio side is the Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed earbuds. All three Razer items are up for pre-order on Razer.com.

Razer was founded in 2005 and quickly became a dominant force in PC gaming peripherals. They have a long history of partnering with console manufacturers for officially licensed gear, making their inclusion in this anniversary lineup a predictable but welcome move. The BlackWidow keyboard line has been around for years, but the 75 percent layout is a newer addition catering to players who want a smaller footprint without losing the function row.

Docks and blind boxes

Other accessory makers are taking different approaches to the anniversary theme. 8BitDo is contributing the Ultimate Charging Dock for Xbox Controllers to the collection. It is a translucent green charging dock, not a retro gamepad or controller.

8BitDo established itself in 2013 by crafting premium retro gamepads for platforms like the Nintendo Switch and PC. Over the last few years, they expanded into official licensing partnerships with Microsoft. Their translucent green Ultimate Charging Dock provides a resting place for standard Xbox Series X and S controllers while matching the retro aesthetic of the Razer peripherals.

Backbone is handling the mobile controller side, but they are skipping the green aesthetic entirely. The Backbone Pro Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition is not translucent green; it comes in three heritage colorways (Iconic Blue, Bold Orange, and Crystal Clear) sold in a blind box format, meaning buyers will not know which color they receive until they open the package.

Accessory makers PowerA and GameSir are also involved in the collection, providing items like handheld sling bags and additional mobile controllers. Bringing these early 2000s design cues to modern PC and cloud gaming accessories fits how Microsoft handles the Xbox ecosystem today, treating it as a platform that extends far beyond a single box under the television.