Black Friday surprise: 8BitDo just announced an Xbox keyboard and mouse that's an ode to the OG Xbox, and it's stunning

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Prepare to throw your cash at 8BitDo for this retro transparent bundle

8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition
(Image credit: 8BitDo)

What you need to know

  • 8BitDo are launching a keyboard and mouse themed around the original 2004 transparent green Xbox.
  • The keyboard will be $119.99 and the mouse $59.99.
  • Both can be preordered now for launch on 16 January, 2025.

Specialists in retro recreations of gaming gear, 8Bitdo have just dropped an announcement so good it made us pause our Black Friday deals coverage, fans of the original Xbox and its green crystal transparent design will be rushing to grab this frankly stunning keyboard and mouse that are an ode to the 2004 model.

Feast your eyes on the 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition, which is officially licensed by Xbox, for $119.99 and the 8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse for $59.99. Both items are available for preorder and ship on January 16, 2025.

8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard with RGB Backlight | $119.99 at Amazon

8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard with RGB Backlight | $119.99 at Amazon

'Designed with Xbox' and inspired by the original Xbox console, this keyboard is compatible with Windows 10/11, has RGB backlight with 8 light modes, and an integrated Xbox button to activate your Xbox Game bar.

Also available: 8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse | $59.99 at Amazon

🔥The hottest Cyber Monday deals🔥

Everything we know about the 8Bitdo Xbox range

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8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition
The 8BitDo Retro 87 mechanical keyboard will actually turn your PC into an Xbox, for realsies.(Image credit: 8BitDo )

Now, before you get too carried away, it's worth noting that the listing for this Xbox keyboard explicitly states it's not compatible with Xbox consoles. However, given Xbox's recent stance that everything is an Xbox, you could make an argument otherwise. What it does feature is an integrated Xbox home button, just like the one on your controller, which activates the Xbox Game Bar. Inspired by the transparent green edition of the original Xbox, the keyboard also boasts RGB lighting, Kailh Jellyfish X switches, a hot-swappable PCB, and arrow buttons that match the iconic OG ABXY colors. It’s truly a thing of beauty.

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8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse
The 8BitDo Retro R8 mouse has left/right-hand mode switching(Image credit: 8BitDo )

The matching 8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse is $69.99 and while it's listed on Amazon it's not currently available there for preorder like the keyboard, though we expect that to change soon. If you can’t wait, you can preorder directly through 8Bitdo.

8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse - Xbox Edition | $59.99 at Amazon

8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse - Xbox Edition | $59.99 at Amazon

Compatible with Windows 10 and above, 3 connection modes, PAW 3395 sensor, programmable buttons, suitable for left and right-handed, and comes with handy charging dock and up to 100 hours battery life.

The mouse features three connection modes: Bluetooth, 2.4G wireless, and wired USB-C, and it comes with a charging dock. According to the specs, you’ll get up to 100 hours of battery life using Bluetooth, and anywhere from 25 to 105 hours on 2.4GHz, depending on the selected polling rate. It’s equipped with Kailh Sword GM X micro switches, engineered to withstand up to 100 million clicks. Most importantly, it looks badass.

When PlayStation announced its 30th-anniversary version of the PS5 Pro console, I tweeted that Xbox needed to respond with a rendition of its OG console. While we’ll likely be waiting a while for anything that exciting, I’ll happily settle for this in the meantime.

For those who don't embrace the KB+M life and are firmly controller only, you need not miss out on your own piece of transparent goodness. The fact we don't have a standard Xbox controller in this green right now is frankly criminal of Xbox but they do have the shiny Cipher controllers in Blue and Ghost currently on sale pretty much everywhere for Black Friday.

Xbox Wireless Controller | Sky Cipher, Ghost Cipher Special EditionsWas: $64.99Now: $45 at WalmartEXTRAFIVE Launch date: Features:

Xbox Wireless Controller | Sky Cipher, Ghost Cipher Special Editions
Was: $64.99
Now: $45 at Walmart

The latest transparent designs from Xbox are already on sale! You can get the GHOST color specifically at just a pinch cheaper ($42.75) from Lenovo using code EXTRAFIVE at checkout

Launch date: 2024

Features: Wireless for Xbox (and Windows PC w/ adapter), Bluetooth, USB-C port and cable (wired use), 3.5mm audio jack.

👀See at: Walmart

✅Perfect for: Players who want that retro Y2K aesthetic.

❌Avoid if: You're looking for the absolute cheapest budget controller.

💰Price check: $49.99 at Best Buy

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is technically on Nov. 29, 2024, but this sales event seems to start a little earlier each year. Retailers increasingly get more aggressive in terms of when discounts start in order to entice consumers ahead of the main event, so you can see early Black Friday deals as soon as October. Black Friday itself can feel overwhelming and be limited by stock shortages, so it's often a great idea to take advantage of those early sales ahead of time.

When is Cyber Monday?

This year, Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 2, 2024. This continuation of the Black Friday weekend was once the online-version of the aforementioned sales event, but as more retailers go online it's not uncommon to see Black Friday and Cyber Monday blend into one another. If you miss out on sales on Black Friday, you may have another chance on Cyber Monday. Better yet, though, is staying ahead of the curve and getting your holiday shopping done weeks in advance.

💽More great Cyber Monday deals💾

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Jennifer Young
Jennifer Young

Jen is a News Writer for Windows Central, focused on all things gaming and Microsoft. Anything slaying monsters with magical weapons will get a thumbs up such as Dark Souls, Dragon Age, Diablo, and Monster Hunter. When not playing games, she'll be watching a horror or trash reality TV show, she hasn't decided which of those categories the Kardashians fit into. You can follow Jen on Twitter @Jenbox360 for more Diablo fangirling and general moaning about British weather.