Gaming Consoles and Accessories: Black Friday Edition

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year in the United States. It falls on the day after Thanksgiving and typically marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. With discounts of up to 70% off, retailers offer some of their best deals of the year on this day to kickstart the holiday shopping period. One product category that always sees massive price cuts and promotions on Black Friday is gaming consoles and accessories. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the best deals to expect on gaming hardware, software and peripherals during the upcoming Black Friday shopping weekend.

Gaming Console Deals

Major console manufacturers like PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo routinely discount their current and previous generation gaming systems on Black Friday. This year should be no different, with some great bundles and doorbuster deals available.

PlayStation and Xbox
Expect both Sony's PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S to have limited stock available at retail price. Where the biggest deals will be is on last gen systems like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One X/S. Bundles including the console along with extras like extra controllers, games and subscriptions are common. Don't be surprised to see deals like a PS4 or Xbox One bundled with 2 controllers and 2 games for under $250. Retailers may also have doorbuster specials with deeper discounts for extremely limited quantities.

Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch continues to be one of the best selling consoles, so it will definitely have strong Black Friday representation. Look for bundle deals including the console along with popular first party games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros Ultimate or Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Refurbished original Switch models may dip below the $200 price point as well. The Switch OLED model launched in 2021 can also be found with good bundle savings.

Accessories for All Consoles
Black Friday will see big savings on all types of console accessories from controllers to headsets. Popular accessories to watch out for include:

Controller Deals
Whether you need an extra DualShock or Xbox controller for local multiplayer, or to replace a worn out old one, controllers will be plentiful and cheap. Look for individual controllers around $30-40 range from major retailers. Bundle deals include multiple controllers for under $100 are also common.

Game Deals
While new releases usually stay full price, older games see big discounts. Popular titles from last year or previous years could be had for under $20. Again, bundles including 2-3 games are a smart way to stock up on titles. Retailers may also offer console/game bundle combos for amazing value during limited doorbuster windows.

Headset Deals
Gaming headsets make for great gifts and are always discounted heavily. Expect to find wired and wireless options from trusted brands like LucidSound, SteelSeries and Astro starting as low as $30.

External Hard Drive Deals
With game file sizes constantly increasing, extra storage is mission critical. Look for discounts on portable SSDs and HDDs up to 5TB capacity from WD_Black, Seagate and Samsung. Prices well under $100 for high capacity drives aren't uncommon.

VR Headset Deals
While PlayStation VR and Oculus/Windows Mixed Reality headsets don't see as steep cuts as other items, bundles including multiple VR games could offer $50-100 in savings still worth considering.

Gaming Accessories Under $50
If your budget is tighter, don't fret. There will be no shortage of stock on basics like additional controllers, headset adapters, charging docks and remote controls starting at rock bottom prices under $20-30. Check retailer ad scans for doorbuster offerings in this price bracket.

Preparing for the Best Deals

With so many great promotions across various storefronts both online and local, here are some tips for maximizing savings:

Plan your shopping list in advance based on expected deals from leaks/ads
Check for online preorder bonus gift cards or credits before the big day
Sign up for retailer loyalty programs for early access to deals
Printable Black Friday coupons may offer extra 5-10% off eligible items
Download retailer apps for mobile payment and curbside pickup options
Check in-store and online inventory ahead of time to avoid stock issues
Be flexible - great doorbusters only last 30 mins to 2 hours max
Stack offers like gift cards, coupons, Rakuten cashback for maximum ROI
Take advantage of extended return windows for after-holiday returns
Relax and enjoy the deals - it's the best time to refresh gaming gear!
Winners and Losers from Past Black Fridays

A look back at previous Black Friday weekends gives clues to which consoles, games and accessories tend to be the biggest steals:

Nintendo Switch - The hybrid system sees 20-30% off MSRP regularly in bundles including games worth $60-80 on average.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate - Yearly or 6 month subscriptions get chopped by over 50% to under $30-40 respectively for maximum value.

PlayStation Plus - On par with Xbox Live Gold discounts down to sub-$30 yearly rates.

AAA Game Hits - Blockbuster titles from 1-2 years ago are discounted over 70% to bargain ranges under $15-20.

VR Headsets - While modest cuts of $50-100 off, good values are had on systems in the $199-249 bracket.

Controllers - Additional or replacement gamepads drop to all-time lows between $25-40 consistently across brands.

External Hard Drives - Capacities up to 4TB go on sale at discount highs under the $80 dollar mark from $120+ MSRPs.

Headsets - Wired headsets are almost giveaways at $20 or less, while big Bluetooth models fall to $50 range minimum.

Internet-Only Consoles - Xbox One S Digital or PS4 Digital models reach $150 or less doorbuster pricing.

On the other side, items which routinely sell out fast and see minimal markdowns include:

Current Gen Consoles - PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X stock very low with rare discounts, if any.

VR Bundles - Complete Virtual Reality starter bundles hover $50-75 off at best before disappearing.

New Release Games - Just came out titles within past month rarely dip under MSRP whatsoever.

Digital Cards/Codes - PSN/Xbox currency and game download codes rarely more than 10% off.

Hardcore Peripherals - Things like racing wheels and flight sticks keep tighter price curves.

collectibles/limited items - Statues, collector's editions stay close to MSRP on clearance.

In Summary

With its amazing deals on tried-and-true bestsellers as well as competitive doorbuster pricing, Black Friday weekend stands out as the ideal time to refresh aging gear or outfit the gaming space on a budget. Careful deal research coupled with flexibility and fast checkout can unearth tremendous bargains across all major consoles and the hottest accessories. No matter the budget or wishes list, keeping an eye out around Thanksgiving is sure to uncover the most winning gaming deals of the year.

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