The original Xbox made its debut in 2001 and for the past 20 years has become one of the most popular video game consoles in the world. So far, five different lines of the Xbox console have been released. Of course, special/limited edition versions of each generation of the Xbox have come out. For the most part, the rarest Xbox consoles were gifts to employees or special prizes for various giveaways. This list features some of the rarest Xbox consoles from any generation. These Xbox consoles are incredibly difficult to find today and hardly ever come up for sale.
As of July 2021, the information on this list is accurate as possible and will be updated as needed.
- Project Scorpio Xbox One X
- Xbox One Launch Team Edition
- Xbox 360 Launch Team Edition
- Taco Bell Platinum Xbox One X
- Pure White Xbox
- Xbox Launch Team Edition
- Hello Kitty Crystal Xbox
- The Simpsons Movie Xbox 360
- Cuphead Xbox One S
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X
Release Date: November 7, 2017
Original Retail Price: $499 for bundle
Current Price: $650 – $1,094 on various resale sites
photo source: Xbox Wire
While no official figures were released, Xbox said that there was a very limited quantity of Project Scorpio Xbox One X bundles available. The console featured a custom design with the words “Project Scorpio” printed on the console and the controller. It also came with an exclusive vertical stand.
Did you know?
The Xbox One X codename was Project Scorpio because the console is powered by the Scorpio Engine.
Release Date: November 22, 2013
Original Retail Price: N/A – only given to Xbox One launch team members
Current Price: One listed on Ebay for $650
photo source: Slash Gear
Its now become a tradition for Microsoft to give limited edition consoles and controllers to its console launch teams. In 2013, with the release of the Xbox One, Microsoft once again made a special Xbox One Launch Team Edition console and matching controller. No one knows for sure how many of the special consoles were given out, but almost immediately, several were listed for sale on Ebay. At the time, some listings were asking for thousands of dollars. Currently, there is one Xbox One Launch Team Edition console listed on Ebay for $650.
The Xbox One Launch Team Edition console features a white and silver color scheme and features the words “I Made This” and “Launch Team 2013” next to the disc slot.
Did you know?
The Xbox One Launch Team Edition bundle came with the now-discontinued Kinect attachment.
Release Date: November 2005
Original Retail Price: N/A – only given to members of the Xbox 360 launch team
Current Price: N/A – none currently available for resale
photo source: Flickr via Porcaro Family
The Xbox 360 came out in November 2005 and like the release of the original Xbox, Microsoft celebrated the console’s launch with a special launch team edition. This time, however, Microsoft actually gifted the Xbox 360 Launch Team Edition console to its team members. For the most part, the console looked like a standard white Xbox 360, but it featured a green hard drive and green base The HDD plate was also engraved with the team member’s personal gamertag. The Xbox 360 Launch Team Edition console also came with a special matching white and green controller.
Did you know?
Each member of the Xbox 360 launch team was given an additional faceplate for their console that featured one-of-a-kind art and the caption “I Made This” on the USB door of the faceplate.
Release Date: October 2018
Original Retail Price: N/A – only available as prize
Current Price: $600 – $700 on various resale sites
photo source: IGN
Taco Bell has a long history of partnering with video game companies to give away special edition consoles, accessories, and games. In October 2018, Taco Bell partnered with Microsoft once again to give away limited edition Taco Bell Platinum Xbox One X console bundles. The consoles were only available as prizes through Taco Bell’s giveaways. To enter to win the Taco Bell Platinum Xbox One X, customers needed to purchase one of Taco Bell’s $5 combo boxes between October 18 to November 21. Then they could text the code on the box or enter it on the contest’s official website to see immediately if they were a winner.
According to the giveaway’s rules, there were about 5,000 Taco Bell Platinum Xbox One X consoles available. The console came with a white Elite controller, which was not special to the giveaway, as well as three free months of Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold.
Did you know?
Not only did the Taco Bell Platinum Xbox One X console have a special color scheme, it also featured a unique power on sound that was the iconic “ring” heard at the end of Taco Bell commercials.
Release Date: February 22, 2004
Original Retail Price: Unknown
Current Price: One currently listed on Ebay for $2,800
photo source: play-asia.com
Back in 2004, a limited edition Pure White Xbox was released only in Japan. The Pure White Xbox was limited to 1,000 units and made to celebrate the console’s two-year anniversary in Japan. As its name suggests, the Pure White Xbox was all white with minor black/gray accents. The jewel featured the words “Limited Edition 2004” and the console came with a matching Pure White controller. The special Pure White Xbox could only be purchased on the Official Xbox Japan website for about a week. Over the years, Pure White Xbox consoles have come up for sale and currently there’s one for sale in a sealed box on Ebay for $2,800!
Did you know?
Customers who purchased the Pure White Xbox could have it engraved with up to twenty letters, excluding Japanese characters, despite being sold only in Japan.
Release Date: November 15, 2001
Original Retail Price: N/A – not available to the public
Current Price: N/A – none currently available for resale but have been sold in the past for a few thousand dollars
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The Xbox Launch Team Edition console is translucent green with a jewel (the little center circle on top of the console) printed with the message “Great Work!” and Bill Gates’ signature. The words “Special Edition” are also printed on the front of the console. There is no public information regarding how much the team members paid for the consoles, but they also had the option to buy six game titles marked “not for resale” at a reduced rate from the Microsoft campus store.
Did you know?
Microsoft also made a Partner Edition console that was nearly identical to the Xbox Launch Edition console. The Partner Edition was given away to company’s that had partnered with Xbox and featured the message “Thanks for Partnering with XBOX” on its jewel.
Release Date: 2005
Original Retail Price: S$99 (SGD) with the purchase of a $5000 Samsung TV
Current Price: N/A – none currently available for resale but have been sold in the past for $500 – $1000
photo source: imgur
The so-called Hello Kitty Crystal Xbox is so rare that many people thought it was an April Fool’s Day joke for many years. However, real pictures of the elusive console eventually turned up and on rare occasions, the Hello Kitty Crystal Xbox console has come up for sale on Ebay. The special Hello Kitty Crystal Xbox console was part of the Hello Kitty Collector’s Pack, which was only available from one specific retailer in Singapore. Additionally, the only way to get the Hello Kitty Collector’s Pack was to purchase a $5,000 Samsung TV then pony up another S$99 for the pack. Reportedly, only 550 Hello Kitty Collector’s Packs were produced.
Did you know?
The Hello Kitty Crystal Xbox was initially supposed to come with a matching Hello Kitty themed controller, but it was scraped and the console came with a crystal clear controller to match the console’s body.
Release Date: July 2007
Original Retail Price: N/A – only available as a prize
Current Price: N/A – none currently available for resale
photo source: WIKISIMPSONS
In July 2007, Microsoft created a special Xbox 360 console themed after The Simpsons. The bright yellow Xbox 360 console was made to celebrate the release of The Simpsons Movie and featured the movie’s logo as well as the top half of Homer Simpsons’ head. Microsoft only produced 100 units of The Simpsons Movie Xbox 360 and they were never put up for sale. The consoles were only given away as prizes for special events, contests, and drawings that led up to the premiere of The Simpsons Movie.
Did you know?
In addition to the giveaways for The Simpsons Movie Xbox 360, Microsoft also gave away a grand prize trip to the premiere of The Simpsons Movie in Los Angles. The winner of the trip also received the special edition console.
Release Date: September 2017
Original Retail Price: N/A – only available as a prize
Current Price: N/A – has not been put up for resale
photo source: Neowin
Did you know?
The Cuphead Xbox One S console that was being given away on Twitter came with an LP set of the game’s music.
Release Date: August 26, 2018
Original Retail Price: Sold for $8,300 in charity auction
Current Price: N/A – has not been put up for resale
photo source: Eurogamer
In 2018, Square Enix and Microsoft collaborated to release a truly one-of-a-kind custom Xbox One X console based on the new (at the time) game Shadow of the Tomb Raider, making it the rarest Xbox console ever. The ultra-exclusive Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X was put up for charity auction on Ebay. After numerous bids, the unique Xbox One X console was sold for $8,300. All proceeds from the sale went to the Best Friends Animal Society, a charity organization that works to end cat and dog euthanasia in shelters across the United States. The Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X console also came with a matching controller and a digital copy of the game.
Did you know?
In addition to the Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X auction, there were three other charity auctions that featured a 1TB Xbox One X console autographed by Lara Croft actress Camilla Luddington, a wireless controller, and a digital download of Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
