Best Video Game Deals & Sales

Video Games: The Basics

This category doesn’t include just the deals on games themselves; the resident deal experts here at DealNews are always on the hunt for a good deal on consoles and accessories, as well.  We’ve compiled a list of advice and resources to help you dive into the world of gaming:

Consoles vs. PC Gaming

First, you have to decide just where you want to spend your gaming hours. One of the biggest debates among gamers often comes back to whether consoles or gaming computers are the superior choice.

Your answer depends on many different factors, including price, comfort, available titles, and more.  For instance, gaming PCs often will pack a better graphical punch and offer smoother game performance —  but at the cost of a heftier price tag. One also should consider whether a keyboard and mouse setup or a controller offers you a more comfortable and enjoyable experience. It’s also worth considering the types of games you’re interested in, as well as any specific franchises, since many titles are console-exclusive . If Mario Kart is your jam, then you probably shouldn’t be looking at a PlayStation or Xbox console.

Ultimately, your gaming platform choice comes down to personal taste, and what you can reasonably manage financially (no matter what passionate fans on the internet might insist). But no matter what your choice, you can often score cheap video game deals right here at DealNews.com.

Gaming Desktops vs. Laptops

How much space do you have to dedicate to gaming? If you have a permanent desk or home office set up, then a desktop might be the way to go. But if portability and/or travel is a concern, then you may lean towards a laptop . Keep in mind that desktop PCs will often come with better specs, such as more RAM, better audio, and more heavy-duty graphics cards.

Next Generation Game Consoles

The currently available major gaming consoles consist of the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Slim, and PlayStation 4 Pro; Xbox One and Xbox One S; and the Nintendo Switch.  However, the next iteration of Sony and Microsoft’s consoles have been announced with release dates set for holiday 2020.  Here’s what we know so far:

PlayStation 5

Release Date

• November 12 in US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea
• November 19 in the rest of the world

Preorders Open

• September 16 (currently already sold out most places)

Price

• $399.99 for the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
• $499.99 for the PlayStation 5 including disk drive

Specs

• CPU: 8-core AMD Ryzen Zen 2 up to 3.5GHz
• GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2 up to 2.23GHz
• RAM: 16GB GDDR6
• SSD: 825GB
• 4K UHD Blu-ray Drive
• Tempest 3D AudioTech
• HDMI 2.1 input
• Backwards Compatibility: Most PS4 and PS4 Pro titles

Xbox Series X (formerly Project Scarlett)

Release Date

• November 10 in 36 countries

Preorders Open

• September 22

Price

• $499 or $34.99/month with 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Specs

• CPU: Custom 8-core AMD Ryzen Zen 2 up to 3.8GHz
• GPU: Custom AMD Radeon RDNA 2 up to 1.825GHz
• RAM: 16GB GDDR6
• SSD: Custom 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe
• 4K UHD Blu-ray Drive
• HDMI 2.1 input
• Dolby TrueHD with Atmos
• Backwards Compatibility: Xbox One, Xbox One S, and previously backwards compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles

Xbox Series S (Digital Only)

Release Date

• November 10 in 36 countries

Preorders Open

• September 22

Price

• $299 or $24.99/month with 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Specs

• CPU: Custom 8-core AMD Ryzen Zen 2 up to 3.6GHz
• GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2 up to 1.565GHz
• RAM: 10GB GDDR6
• SSD: Custom 512GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe
• HDMI 2.1 input
• Dolby TrueHD with Atmos
• Backwards Compatibility: Xbox One, Xbox One S, and previously backwards compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles

Video Game Accessories

The gaming accessories you’ll be interested in will depend on your platform of choice. We’ve compiled tons of gaming essentials in our video game accessories category , but here’s a more general list to get you started:

• Keyboard

A good keyboard is highly recommended for PC gamers. Not only can a good keyboard save your wrists some pain, but many often come with programmable buttons that help make things like QTEs (quick time events) and voice chat easier to navigate in-game.

• Mouse

Speaking of saving your wrists, a good mouse can be just as essential. Wired or wireless may be somewhat of a personal preference, but it can also mean the difference in a perfect shot or a slight miss, thanks to glide quality, sensor type, DPI, and tracking speed. You may also want to look for a mouse that also has programmable buttons and customizable software, if you want to get very specific about your shortcuts.

• Headphones

A good pair of headphones is crucial, whether you’re playing on PC or console (most controllers have a headphone jack, if you’re worried about playing at a distance from your machine). Not only do most games come with a killer soundtrack, but headphones can make or break stealth-based gameplay. Plus, if you’re interested in co-op gameplay with friends or family members, a good pair of headphones with a built-in microphone are a must have for voice chat.

• Console Membership

Usually purchased on a monthly or yearly basis, membership cards often net players free and discounted games, plus online gameplay benefits. These can be a great way to pad your game library out, test new game demos, and bag even more cloud storage space, just to name a few perks.

Upcoming Game Releases We’re Excited About

Crysis Remastered

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Release Date: September 18, 2020

Watch Dogs Legion

Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

Release date: October 29, 2020

Dirt 5

Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

Release Date: November 6, 2020

Tetris Effect: Connected

Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X (Timed exclusive)

Release Date: November 10, 2020

Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series S/X

Release Date: November 10, 2020 for Xbox Series S/X; November 12, 2020 for PS5

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Platforms: Google Stadia, PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

Release Date: November 10, 2020

Destiny 2: Beyond Light

Platforms: Google Stadia, PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

Release Date: November 10, 2020

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

Release Date: November 10, 2020 for Xbox Series S/X; November 13, 2020 for PC, Xbox One, and PS4

Demon’s Souls

Platforms: PS5

Release Date: November 12, 2020

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Platforms: PS5

Release Date: November 12, 2020

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Platforms: PS5

Release Date: November 12, 2020

Cyberpunk 2077

Platforms: Google Stadia, PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

Release Date: November 19, 2020

Video Games Blog Articles

What is Google Stadia?

Affordable Gaming Laptops

When is the Steam Sale?

Why It’s Important to Avoid Buying Game Keys from Sketchy Resellers

Game Developers Were Caught Inflating Prices for Steam’s Summer Sale

AAA Video Games Can Drop From $60 to $30 in Just 1 Month

Trade and Professional Organizations

While professional gaming is indeed a thing, there are also a myriad of organizations out there for the professionals who develop, test, and rate games before they reach the general public.  Here are some links to a few groups that may be of interest to you:

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences

The Entertainment Software Association

The Entertainment Software Rating Board

Pan European Game Information

The Independent Game Developers Association

The Association for UK Interactive Interactive Entertainment

The International Game Developers Association

Popular Video Game Stores

Searching for video game deals now? Here are some links to our favorite game store pages. Check back often to see which stores are running gaming sales on consoles, games, and accessories.

Steam

Origin

Walmart

Microsoft Store

Nintendo eShop

GameStop

Green Man Gaming

GOG

Amazon

Industry Statistics

We all know gaming is a growing industry, but just how big is it?  We were curious as well, so we dug around a bit to see what we could learn:

• As of 2019, 54% of U.S. computer and video gamers identified as male, while 46% identified as female.
• While around 40% of video game players fell in the 18 to 35 year age range in 2019, a combined 39% spanned the 36 to 49 and 50 years or older brackets, showing that gaming is a hobby for anyone.
• The video games market is expected to surpass a net worth of over $ 90 billion in 2020 , up from $78.6 billion in 2017.
• Smartphone games have surged in popularity recently, with 60% to 70% of players saying they play app games commonly .

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy a digital or physical game copy?

Brittany has been working at DealNews since 2013; she started out on the coupons team, and now navigates the waters of deal writing. As a member of the Content team, she spends most of her time sussing out whether stores are actually offering a good sale, as well as being a stickler for all things grammar and formatting.  She spends most of her free time at home entertaining her small shih tzu puppy, testing new recipes, and traveling other worlds via video games and novels.