Microsoft has announced plans to release a mini fridge inspired by its Xbox Series X console, the company announced during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase at E3 2021 The upcoming appliance takes inspiration from a series of memes shared following the reveal of Microsoft’s latest console, comparing its towering all-black silhouette with a refrigerator. The device will be available for public purchase later this year, although pricing is still unconfirmed.
The first references to an Xbox Series X fridge spawned in response to its 2019 reveal at The Game Awards, with a tweet from Windows Central Gaming among the initial edited images that rapidly spread online.
#XboxSeriesX pic.twitter.com/UGb9KSECuu— Windows Central Gaming (@WCGamingTweets) December 13, 2019
Microsoft later embraced the gag, sending out custom full-size fridges to Snoop Dogg and online personality iJustine. A later partnership followed with ZOA, the energy drink line from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, creating a limited range of Xbox mini-fridges.
Microsoft announced public availability with a dedicated trailer at the tail end of its E3 conference, including references to “Xbox Velocity Cooling Architecture,” a call back to the Xbox Velocity Architecture fundamental to the design of Xbox Series X. The company first teased plans in April, after winning a brand battle hosted by Twitter.
While the Xbox Mini Fridge won’t play any of the best Xbox games, it’ll certainly keep your drinks cool. Here’s hoping the Xbox Series S boombox will arrive in time for holiday 2022.
Update, June 18, 2021 at 9:25 p.m. CT — The Xbox Mini Fridge isn’t just coming to the US
Who would have guessed this would be our most viewed video of this past week!? The World’s Most Powerful Mini-Fridge is coming this holiday (not just US).
We already knew the awesome-looking Xbox Mini Fridge was arriving later this year, but now we know that it’s not just bound for the US (like many might’ve expected from Microsoft). While we don’t have all the details yet, including pricing or exact availability, it seems the Xbox Mini Fridge is heading to more locations around the world.