When it comes to base console customization, PlayStation 5—with its colorful, swappable shells—has had all the ‘make it your way’ fun for long enough. At least, that’s according to a very excited Microsoft.
Now you can turn your woefully plain, mini fridge-esque Xbox Series X into something a little more aesthetically palatable. But hey, if you’re into the mini fridge look, then knock yourself out. No judgement here.
That said, earlier today, Xbox Wire announced the imminent release of three brand new console wraps for its Series X hardware: A sleek and jaw-dropping Starfield variant, as well as two different camo designs (Mineral and Arctic) for all you gamer bros out there who want to, I don’t know, feel like you’re hunting deer while you peruse Game Pass? Masculinity is a moving target, for sure.
Each console wrap is being produced in an effort to offer something “that’s more affordable and more sustainable than purchasing a special edition or limited edition console,” according to Senior Design Director Monique Chatterjee. This makes a ton of sense, and maybe hints at why we haven’t seen any truly limited edition versions of the Xbox Series X thus far. It’s too wasteful and expensive to pump out bespoke hardware that only differs in terms of outer décor, I’d imagine.
On that note, I do seriously miss those special edition Taco Bell Xbox giveaways. There was just something uniquely compelling about a video game system that sounded and smelled like a Crunchy Taco Supreme.
Still, these new console wraps seems like a level up from what you might see from a company along the lines of, say, Dbrand. They’re essentially high quality physical panels that fit snugly onto the Xbox via a “hook and loop enclosure.” Additionally, there’s apparently strategic silicone placed on the inside of the individual pieces to help keep them secured in place. Chatterjee mentions in the Xbox Wire post that extra consideration has been given to keeping airflow a priority, so even when the wraps are installed, vents aren’t blocked in any way.
You can pre-order the $49.99 Starfield version right now, and that one is slated to release first on October 18, and will nicely match your Starfield controller and headset. The camo variants are also up for pre-order, though for a slightly cheaper $44.99, and those are scheduled for a November 10 launch. These also have matching gamepads available, but we all know why the camo wraps are cheaper. As they should be, folks. As they should be.
Microsoft has always knocked it out of the park when it comes to controller variants, but it’s cool to see that we’re finally getting an official way to spruce up our Series X boxes. I’m still holding out for something garishly neon ‘90s, though. In the meantime, that awesome Starfield wrap will more than suffice.
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