Mattel Celebrates 25 Years of Xbox with a 3,509-Piece Brick-Built Console and Game Dioramas

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original Xbox, Mattel unveils a remarkable collector’s item: a 1:1-scale, 3,509-piece model of Microsoft’s iconic gaming console from 2001. The Microsoft Xbox Building Toy Kit is a brick-built console crafted under the premium Mattel Brick Shop brand, replicating the console’s hefty design, including its legendary Duke controller and a surprisingly intricate interior.

The Intricate Design of the Replica Console

Designed with precision, the model mirrors the original hardware’s appearance. It features the familiar black rectangular shape, recessed side grilles, front controller ports, an X-shaped top panel, and the green Xbox centerpiece logo, meticulously recreated with bricks. The included Duke controller connects to the reconstructed device, boasting buildable buttons, a D-pad, and movable analog sticks, making this more than a static display piece.

This set taps into a growing trend of transforming gaming consoles into tangible building projects. Unlike typical brick sets, Mattel’s design uses bricks to emulate an entire piece of gaming history. Years ago, a LEGO concept for the Xbox Series S turned the console into a brick-art canvas. Mattel’s take, however, revamps the device itself with a nostalgic touch, creating another remarkable construction masterpiece.

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Inside the model lies the real intrigue: three removable dioramas inspired by iconic Xbox games—Halo: Combat Evolved, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and Psychonauts. Each tiny scene presents NanoWorld figures of game characters, with 12 figures scattered throughout. The dioramas are modular, allowing them to be displayed separately, offering more than just ornamental value within this crafted console.

The model features an interactive layer, with functional Duke controller buttons triggering light-and-sound sequences, including the classic Xbox startup. A secret button combination reveals an additional Easter egg lighting display, rewarding those who delve deeper into the intricacies of this intricately designed collectible.

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The selection of games invokes the essence of early Xbox days. Halo established Xbox as a gaming staple, while Morrowind and Psychonauts showcased its diverse library. Mattel’s kit is more than a replica; it’s a compact museum of Xbox’s formative years, blending hardware nostalgia with the games that defined it.

For those who remember Xbox primarily as hardware, this life-size homage is a significant keepsake. It captures the console’s proportions and aesthetic, while concealing miniature game worlds inside. This piece is targeted at builders 17 years and older, marking it as a premium collector’s item rather than a toy. Available for preorder, it retails for $324 in the US.

Source: yankodesign.com

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