Buying new video games and hardware doesn't have to put a massive dent in your wallet. There are deals all the time for consoles, subscription services, and a whole lot more. PCWorld's resident bargain hunter Alaina Yee is here to help you find them all. Deals valid through September 29.
Xbox One X
The Xbox One X is Microsoft's latest console, the first to support native pos4d 4K gaming. With a faster CPU and GPU, more RAM and a bigger hard drive, the Xbox One X delivers on Microsoft's promise to bring high-end gaming to the living room. While it's not as powerful as a high-end gaming PC, it is the best console you can buy for your money and offers an excellent price-to-performance ratio.
The Xbox Series X is the fastest console you can buy, packing an eight-core 2.3GHz CPU, 12GB of GDDR5 RAM and a GPU that runs at 1172MHz for 6 teraflops of computing power. That's enough to rival mid-to-high-end gaming PC hardware that costs a lot more.
However, if you want to play games on the Xbox Series X, you'll need a compatible TV that supports HDR (high dynamic range), which is required for the most immersive and accurate display experience. In addition to supporting 4K resolution, HDR allows for more accurate color reproduction, deeper contrast and a higher brightness level.
Despite being a game console, the Xbox One X also works as an entertainment center, with the console offering Dolby Atmos and HDR 10 support for playing movies and streaming video content. The Xbox One X also includes a Blu-ray drive, which can play back HD and 4K movies and TV shows.
While the Xbox One X is a great console for gaming, it's important to consider your current setup and budget before making a purchase. If you're considering the Xbox One X, look for deals on gaming accessories and televisions that offer a good value and are compatible with the Xbox One X.
The Xbox One X is available for preorder today with a release date of November 7. While the console won't be able to support all current and future games in native 4K, there are plenty of big-budget releases on the horizon that should make it worth the upgrade. BioWare's Anthem, a Destiny-esque co-op multiplayer game, is set to run better on the Xbox One X and Microsoft has teased other 2018 releases like Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2 and Metro Exodus. On the other hand, Sony's PS5 will launch in 2020 and it's slated to have a stellar lineup of big-budget titles including God of War, Spider-Man, Detroit: Become Human and The Last of Us Part II.
Xbox Game Pass
One of Microsoft’s most successful products, Xbox Game Pass is a monthly subscription service that allows gamers to play video games on console and PC for an affordable fee. The catalog changes on a regular basis, with new games added and old ones removed, so there is always something fresh to try. It’s also possible to buy games from the service for a discount, should you want to own them permanently rather than renting them month-to-month.
Launched in June 2017 with a limited catalog, the subscription quickly grew to include not only Xbox series titles but third-party hits and even some surprise indie darlings. Now the service offers more than 100 games that are download-ready for Xbox Series X and Xbox One consoles, with some games available on day one of their release. A subscription to the service includes access to Xbox Live Gold, too, which gives players online multiplayer benefits.
Unlike streaming services like Netflix, Game Pass downloads each game locally to minimize latency and provide the same experience you would have if you bought the game itself. Because of this, you need to consider your internet connection and hard drive space before opting for a subscription. The good news is that you can usually find a deal on a three- or six-month subscription to the service, and longer term deals may be available if you are prepared to commit to a year or more upfront.
The best discounts are available on the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a premium tier that is more expensive than the standard version but adds an extra bonus. This upgrade allows existing Gold or Game Pass for Console or PC users to convert any remaining prepaid time into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at a 3:1 ratio; up to three years can be converted in this way.
If you’re not already a Game Pass subscriber, you can often pick up a three-month or six-month subscription for as low as $1, with discounts of up to 52 percent off. If you can afford to pay upfront for a year or more, it’s worth doing so as this will save you money over the long run.
Xbox Live Gold
Xbox Live Gold has been a staple of the online console gaming experience for almost all of the platform's existence, offering multiplayer perks for a monthly fee. While some may criticize the subscription as a cost-intensive necessity, its merits are clear. Xbox Live Gold upgrades the overall online experience for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S owners, allowing access to the most important and varied gaming experiences, and granting exclusive subscriber benefits.
The service primarily focuses on multiplayer gameplay, with the ability to play with anyone who has an active Xbox Live account on the same dedicated network, where game performance and speed are maximized. It also allows users to quickly find players to game with using Clubs and the Looking for Group feature. Additionally, Xbox Live Gold members can save up to 50-75% on games in the Microsoft Store when they use their membership.
While the core value of Xbox Live Gold lies in its multiplayer perks, it also offers other benefits to subscribers. The "Games with Gold" program gives users four free games each month, two for the Xbox One and two for the backward-compatible Xbox 360. These titles may not always be high-valued, but they add free games to the library that can be played for as long as the Xbox Live Gold membership is active. Microsoft also hosts "Deals with Gold," spinning out weekly Xbox-exclusive discounts that can significantly reduce the price of select Xbox One games.
Aside from the online gaming capabilities, Xbox Live Gold offers various entertainment apps and content, including Netflix and Hulu. It also grants subscribers access to Skype and other features that improve the overall console experience.
Xbox Live Gold costs $10 per month when purchased monthly, though purchasing a 12-month code up front can save money. Additionally, retailers like Best Buy and Amazon sell Xbox Live Gold subscription cards for a lower price. Additionally, Microsoft sometimes includes a free trial with new Xbox consoles and games, and it offers a variety of "Try Gold For Free" promotions in the Microsoft Store. For undecided gamers, these options provide a great way to try out Xbox Live Gold before committing to a recurring monthly payment.
PlayStation Plus
The PlayStation Plus is a subscription service that gives players a few benefits that help make gaming even more enjoyable. It offers online multiplayer support for most games and allows players to save their game data in the cloud so they can pick up where they left off on another console. It also provides a few free games each month and offers exclusive discounts at the PlayStation Store. This is a good deal for anyone who wants to get the most out of their PS4.
The PS Plus has three unique tiers, each offering different features depending on what you need. For example, the entry-level Essential tier is similar to what the service used to offer and costs $10 per month or $80 for the year. It includes online play, cloud saving and two rotating, downloadable games each month.
For more advanced gamers, there’s the PlayStation Plus Extra. This plan is slightly more expensive than the Essential tier, but it includes all of the same services as well as a larger library of games. This includes titles like God of War, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima.
Finally, there’s the Premium tier. This is the most expensive of the three tiers, but it’s also the most feature-rich. It includes all of the features of the Essential and Extra tiers as well as access to a large catalog of classic PS games that can be streamed or downloaded on PS4 and PS5.
The PS Plus is available for both Windows and Mac computers and mobile devices. To use it, you’ll need a device that supports the PlayStation streaming app and a PlayStation account with a valid payment method. You’ll also need a broadband internet connection with at least 5mbps of speed.
You can buy a PlayStation Plus membership from the PlayStation website or at many physical stores. If you’re looking to save some money, you can purchase an annual subscription from sites like CD Keys for a discount. However, be aware that these deals are very rare and you’re better off getting a monthly plan.
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