Michael Crider
Game consoles and their accouterments are always hot items in the Black Friday orgy of consumerism, if only because it’s one of the only times you can reliably find discounts on systems. Let’s check them out, shall we?
The nice thing about being a gamer on Black Friday is that the various manufacturers have caught on, and you can usually find the same bundles at lots of different retailers. We’ll list them out here, but the odds are pretty good that if you can find it at one retail store, you can find it at another, or something within the same range. As the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are reaching the end of their life cycle, you’re also getting some fantastic bundled games—it’s a good time to pick up a cheap system and play the best exclusives for a song.
PS4 Console Deals
The best deal around for players who are new to the PS4 is undoubtedly the PS4 Slim “Only on PlayStation” bundle, which gets you a standard PS4 for just $200 ($100 off the retail price). But wait, as the salesman says, there’s more! It also comes with The Last of Us, God of War, and Horizon: Zero Dawn, three of the system’s most acclaimed exclusives. That’s about a $400 value (and three of the best games available on PlayStation right now).
If you demand superior hardware, the PS4 Pro (which can handle 4K in at least some games) will be available for $300, a $100 discount. It doesn’t come with any games, though. If you already have a PS4, but you want to check out Sony’s take on virtual reality, the PlayStation-powered PSVR headset is available with a five-game bundle for $200, $100 off its retail price. A package that includes just two games, but two motion controllers, will be $250 (also $100 off).
Other notable discounts:
- Dual Shock 4 controllers, $40 ($25 off) [Best Buy]
- PS4 exclusives: Days Gone, Marvel’s Spider-Man, MediEvil, and MLB The Show, $20 each
- Various PlayStation Hits: $10 ($10 off)
The PlayStation digital store is running an absolutely massive selection of discounted games. The full list if on the PlayStation blog, but here are a few choice selections:
- A PLAGUE TALE: INNOCENCE – $25
- ANTHEM – $12
- ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED – $18
- ASSASSIN’S CREED ODYSSEY – $18
- BORDERLANDS 3 – $40
- CATHERINE: FULL BODY – $30
- CODE VEIN – $36
- DAYS GONE – $20
- DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ – $15
- EA SPORTS FIFA 20 – $30
- FALLOUT 4: GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION – $20
- FAR CRY 5 – $15
- FAR CRY NEW DAWN – $16
- GOD OF WAR – $10
- HITMAN – GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION – $12
- JUMP FORCE – $30
- JUST CAUSE 4: RELOADED – $14
- MADDEN NFL 20 – $36
- MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN: GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION – $20
- METRO EXODUS – $21
- MONSTER HUNTER: WORLD – $15
- MORTAL KOMBAT 11 – $30
- NBA 2K20 – $30
- NHL 20 – $30
- RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 – $30
- SEKIRO – $39
- SPYRO REIGNITED TRILOGY – $20
- SWORD ART ONLINE: FATAL BULLET – $12
- THE LAST OF US REMASTERED – $10
- THE OUTER WORLDS – $45
- THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT – $12
- TOM CLANCY’S GHOST RECON BREAKPOINT – $30
- TOM CLANCY’S THE DIVISION 2 STANDARD EDITION – $15
- UNCHARTED 4: A THIEF’S END – $10
- UNCHARTED: THE LOST LEGACY – $10
- WATCH DOGS 2 – $13
- WOLFENSTEIN: YOUNGBLOOD DELUXE BUNDLE – $20
- WWE 2K20 – $30
According to Sony’s web post, all of these prices will be common at most retailers in the US and Canada, so you won’t be wanting for choices. The game discounts may be available on digital purchases, too.
Xbox Console Deals
The standard Xbox One S is getting a nice bundle that essentially gives you the brand-new Star Wars Game, Jedi: Fallen Order, for free if you buy the $200 console. Target is the place to get this bundle, as it comes with a free $40 gift card you can spend on other stuff. If you’re not into Star Wars, there’s also a version available with NBA 2K20. If you don’t like either Star Wars or disc-based games, the all-digital Xbox One S (which doesn’t have a disc drive) can be had for just $150, $100 off. That bundle comes with Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, and some Fornite freebies.
The more premium Xbox One X, capable playing of 4K games and Blu-ray movies, is going to be available for $350, again with Jedi: Fallen Order. That’s a $150 rebate on this particular bundle.
Other notable discounts:
- Xbox One controllers for $40 ($20 off)
- Gears 5: $30
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4: $30
- WWE 2K20: $30
- NBA 2K20: $30
- NHL 20: $30
- FIFA 20: $30
- Borderlands 3: $40
- Ghost Recon Breakpoint: $30
- Control: $30
Nintendo Switch Deals
The Switch is still red hot, and it’s got both a revised version and the new Switch Lite going, so its discounts are less dramatic. Even so, you can get a Mario Kart 8 digital copy for free if you buy the full version: that’s $50-60 anywhere else. If you’re hunting for deals on cartridge deals, cruise Walmart for new copies (where they’re often $10 cheaper than anywhere else) and Gamespot for discounts on used titles.
Other notable discounts:
- Zelda: Breath of the Wild: $30
- Splatoon 2: $30
- Mario Tennis Aces: $30
- PowerA Wireless Gamecube controller: $33
PC Games and Other Deals
PC players tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to actual hardware, but there are tons of digital sales on the games themselves. The Epic store already has discounts live, and Steam and GOG should have notable sales going up later this week.
Epic Games Store (full list here)
- Borderlands 3 – $40 ($20 off)
- The Outer Worlds – $45 ($15 off)
- The Division 2 – $15 ($45 off)
- Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey – $20 ($20 off)
- Metro Exodus – $20 ($20 off)
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – $27 ($33 off)
- Ghost Recon Wildlands – $30 ($20 off)
- Ghost Recon Breakpoint – $30 ($30 off)
- Rainbow Six Siege – $8 ($12 off)
- Trails Rising – $10 ($15 off)
- Watch Dogs 2 – $18 ($42 off)
- For Honor – $8 ($32 off)
- Close to the Sun – $18 ($12 off)
- Roller Coaster Tycoon Adventures – $15 ($15 off)
- Darksiders 3 – $21 (39 off)
- Ruiner – $10 ($10 off)
- Celeste – $10 ($10 off)
- Slime Rancher – $8 ($12 off)
- Torchlight – $5 ($10 off)
- Rebel Galaxy – $3 ($17 off)
- Overcooked – $5 ($12 off)
- The Witness – $10 ($30 off)
Steam Autumn Sale selections
The Steam Controller is just $5 while supplies last.
- Ark: survival Evolved – $18
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – $27
- Civilization VI – $15
- Code Vein – $42
- Devil May Cry 5 – $20
- Dishonored 2 – $10
- DOOM – $6
- Elite Dangerous Deluxe Edition – $15
- Fallout 4 GOTY – $18
- Far Cry New Dawn – $16
- Frostpunk – $14
- Gears 5 – $30
- Grand Theft Auto V – $15
- Middle Earth: Shadow of War Definitive Edition – $15
- NBA 2K20 – $30
- No Man’s Sky – $30
- Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition – $5
- Rage 2 – $20
- Resident Evil 2 – $20
- Rocket League – $10
- Sekiro – $39
- SoulCalibur 6 – $17
- The Surge 2 – $30
- Total War: Warhammer II – $21
- The Witcher 3 GOTY – $15
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood – $20
If you’d rather play something designed before the turn of the century, most retailers are also offering $30 off of the Sega Genesis Mini, which will be $49 on Black Friday.
We’ll be updating this page with more deals as Black Friday approaches, and more retailers publish their specific deals leading up to the big day. Be sure to check it out periodically if you’re planning a shopping spree after Thanksgiving.
