The Forza Horizon 5 Limited Edition Xbox Controller, a Colorful Companion to a New Console

Hardware | Bought November 20, 2021 | $80 CAD from Eb Games

Forza Horizon 5 Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller
Photo credit: Xbox.com

Why I Bought It

Five days after finally getting my hands on a Series X, I was back at Eb Games for the Forza Horizon 5 Limited Edition controller. Forza’s vibrant Mexico-inspired art direction translated into one of the more eye-catching controllers Xbox has put out, and after a year of console scarcity I was in the mood to just enjoy having current-gen hardware to shop for.

Living With It

The controller feels identical to a standard Xbox Wireless Controller in the hand — no surprises there, which is exactly what you want from a limited-edition skin. The gradient paint job is genuinely one of the nicer Xbox designs I’ve seen, shifting between warm oranges and blues depending on the light. It’s purely cosmetic, but paired with the Halo Infinite console it makes for a nice contrast on the shelf.

The Good

  • Vibrant, unique gradient design unlike any standard Xbox controller
  • Same comfortable, reliable feel as the base Xbox Wireless Controller
  • Good contrast piece next to other console/controller combos on display

The Bad

  • Purely cosmetic — no functional upgrades over the standard controller
  • Limited-edition pricing premium for what’s essentially a paint job

Final Call

Rating: 4/5. A great-looking controller if the design speaks to you, but don’t expect anything beyond the base experience.

Grab One Here

The Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Limited Edition, a Launch-Day Console I Actually Got on Launch Day

Hardware | Bought November 15, 2021 | $725 CAD from Eb Games

Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Limited Edition console
Photo credit: Xbox.com

Why I Bought It

After a full year of scalpers and restock chaos, I finally managed to walk into an Eb Games on Halo Infinite’s actual launch day and walk out with the Limited Edition Series X bundle. The console’s etched design and the matching controller were reason enough on their own, but pairing it with Halo’s long-awaited campaign launch made this the easiest console purchase I’ve made in years.

Living With It

The etched blue-and-gold finish looks fantastic in person and photographs even better than the press shots suggested. Performance-wise it’s the same excellent Series X under the hood — fast load times, quiet operation, no complaints there. The real story is finally having a current-gen Xbox after a year of scalped listings, and Halo Infinite running on it made the whole wait feel worth it.

The Good

  • Striking etched Halo-themed finish that stands out from the standard console
  • Same excellent Series X performance underneath the cosmetics
  • Matching controller is a great bonus for the bundle price

The Bad

  • A steep premium over the standard Series X for what’s mostly a cosmetic bundle
  • Took over a year of trying to actually find one at retail price

Final Call

Rating: 4.5/5. Worth the wait for the design alone, and a perfect excuse to finally jump to current-gen.

Grab One Here