The Game Pass Ultimate Upgrade converts whatever remaining time you have left on your Gold subscription and Game Pass subscription for a total of up to 36 months of Microsoft Game Pass Ultimate for just a buck. Buy Now at Microsoft Store
- Offer is only available for new Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
- Full details are listed here.
- The best way to take advantage is to get 3 years of Xbox Live Gold codes ($180 value) and purchase the $1 upgrade for a savings of at least $359 off list price.
- Game Pass Ultimate includes Game Pass for Xbox and PC, plus Xbox Live Gold.
- Download a library of over 100 games, including recent additions like Gears Tactics, Red Dead Redemption 2, Streets of Rage 4, and multiple Yakuza games.
Though this is at list price, it is not available for preorder anywhere else at the moment. Buy Now at Amazon
- This item will be released on November 24
- 1 or 2 players
- full size joysticks and buttons
- volume knob
- 17" Screen
- lighted Marquee
- stereo speakers
- USB port
- Model: 1171M01
Choose from games for Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Some notable titles include Madden NFL 20, MLB The Show 20, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Paper Mario: The Origami King. Shop Now at GameFly
- Select titles get free shipping (they are marked in the product image), otherwise shipping starts at $2.98.
You can now request an early access invitation for Luna, Amazon's new cloud-based gaming service. Invites are being sent on a rolling basis. Once you receive one, a $5.99 monthly fee will give you access to a library of games to stream, unlike Google's Stadia, where they're individually purchased. Buy Now at Amazon
- Available for PC, Mac, Fire TV, and web apps for iPhone and iPad.
Catch up on the games you may have missed with this sale. Titles include Crysis Remastered, Control Ultimate Edition, Red Dead Redemption II, and more. Shop Now at Epic Games Store
- Some games may be for mature audiences only.
Save on mice, game controllers, headphones, and more. Shop Now at Amazon
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:
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: September 18, 2020
Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Release date: October 29, 2020
Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Release Date: November 6, 2020
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
Platforms: Google Stadia, PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Platforms: Google Stadia, PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Release Date: November 10, 2020
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
Platforms: PS5
Release Date: November 12, 2020
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Platforms: PS5
Release Date: November 12, 2020
Platforms: PS5
Release Date: November 12, 2020
Platforms: Google Stadia, PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Release Date: November 19, 2020
Video Games Blog Articles
Why It’s Important to Avoid Buying Game Keys from Sketchy Resellers
Game Developers Were Caught Inflating Prices for Steam’s Summer Sale
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
The Independent Game Developers Association
The Association for UK Interactive Interactive Entertainment
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.
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.
- On average, 63% of gamers play co-op with other people, getting in some quality social time.
- 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?
Digital game downloads often come with midnight releases, the ability to pre-load titles before they release, and the added benefit of not being able to break or get lost. Digital games can, at times, make transferring saves between consoles a hassle. But with the increasing popularity of cloud saves, this is becoming less of a problem. Physical game copies come with case art for collectors, and they sometimes include pre-order bonuses. It’s worth checking into on a case-by-case basis.
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.