The Summer of Gaming has officially begun, and with the Xbox Games Showcase coming up very soon on June 9, there are a couple of great deals to check out right now as well. At the moment, you can score select Xbox controllers at a $10 discount at various retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target and, of course, at the Microsoft Store. Not to mention, there are quite a few discounted games that are worth picking up. Scroll down to get started digging into these excellent deals.
TL;DR – Our Favorite Xbox Deals
Navigate to:
- Xbox Controller Deals
- Xbox Video Game Deals
- Xbox Expansion Card Deals
- Xbox Console Bundle Deals
- Xbox Gaming Headset Deals
Select Xbox Controllers Are $10 Off Right Now
Looking to pick up an Xbox controller or add some new ones to your gaming setup? Now’s an excellent time to do so as you can score quite a few for $10 off at select retailers right now. You can see some of our favorite discounts listed here, along with links to the full deal pages at their respective stores.
Best Xbox Game Deals
This time in early June is an excellent time to pick up video games, as there are a variety of Summer sales that coincide with Summer of Gaming going on for both digital and physical titles. At the moment, you can score some incredible deals on a wide variety of physical games, including 50% off Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. More importantly, with Gears 6 rumored to be making an appearance at Xbox’s Showcase on Sunday, you can get a whopping 61% off Gears 5 right now at Best Buy!
More Xbox Video Game Deals:
Xbox Series X Will Drop to $380 on June 9 at Target
Another deal that’s worth keeping an eye on during this time of Summer deals is this one on the Xbox Series X at Target. The deal is set to go live on June 9 (and ends on June 15), dropping the price of the console to $399.99, but you can get it for even lower at $380 with a Target Circle Card. This is Target’s rewards program and offers deals for members on a variety of items. You can sign up and learn more about it here.
Best Xbox Expansion Card SSD Deals
Amazon is offering the officially licensed Seagate 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series consoles with a nice little discount. Right now it’s $149.99, a minor price drop from its original $160 MSRP. This is one of the best SSDs for the Xbox, which isn’t surprising since your options are pretty limited. There’s also the 2TB version for $249.99 and the 8TB Seagate Starfield Special Edition Game Drive for $189.90.
More Xbox Expandable Storage Deals
50% Off the Xbox Series S Toaster & Xbox Series X Mini Fridge
It looks like a fridge, and it kinda is a fridge (mini), and it’s also down to $39.94 at Walmart. Plus, c’mon, who doesn’t want the Xbox Series S toaster for their kitchen as well? Not only is it a fun addition to have in your home, but this is a discount you definitely don’t want to miss out on, either! It’s currently marked down over 50% at Walmart to just $42, which is an excellent deal. What better time to pick it up?
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Best Deals
The Diablo IV Xbox Series X bundle is still holding on at Walmart, down $90.00 from its MSRP of $559.99 to $469.99. This has stood the test of time since last Black Friday as one of our favorite console bundles, and is well worth investing in before it’s all gone for good.
Get 10% Off the Official Xbox Wireless Headset & More Headset Deals
Does your family complain when you stay up playing loud shooters late into the night? They’ll stop complaining if you pick up an Xbox headset that lets no one but you hear the delightful explosions you cause on the screen. Right now, you can get 10% off the Official Xbox Wireless Headset and you can also save 20% on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset at Amazon. To see even more gaming headsets on sale, visit our roundup of the best gaming headset deals.
More Xbox Headset Deals:
Score 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (New Members Only)
Walmart is now offering two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for free for any current or new Walmart+ members. If you’re not currently a member of Walmart+, the retailer offers a 30-day free trial (which will make you eligible for the Game Pass offer), alongside plans for $12.95 paid monthly, or $98 paid annually.
For those interested in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offer, it is worth qualifying that this code will only apply to those who currently don’t have an active Game Pass Ultimate membership, and Walmart stresses that this is for new members only. If you’re on Game Pass Core, it should be fine to apply to your account. Otherwise, if you’re a current Game Pass Ultimate member, the code won’t be applicable. If you do qualify, it’s a pretty simple process if you’re looking to bag the two-month free trial, here’s how:
Steps:
- Visit the Walmart+ Offer Page and select ‘Get Offer’ next to the 2 free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate listing
- On the ‘Offer Page’ you will see a unique promo code, copy this code and keep a record of it
- Hit the ‘Redeem Offer’ button on the page to go to the Xbox Site
- Sign in to Your Account
- Your promo code will autofill — if it does not then paste/type
- Redeem your offer and receive your 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- Disable auto-renewal afterward to avoid being charged at the end of the trial — this can be located in ‘Services & Subscriptions’ in your Microsoft account. You should also do this for Walmart+ if you used a free trial to access the Game Pass offer
What is Xbox’s Recent Controversy?
The recent discomfored surrounding Xbox can be isolated to a recent round of brutal layoffs. Microsoft is closing a number of Bethesda studios, including Redfall maker Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within developer Tango Gameworks, and more in devastating cuts at Bethesda. Alpha Dog Games, maker of mobile game Mighty Doom, will also close. Roundhouse Studios will be absorbed by The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios. Microsoft, currently valued at over $3 trillion, did not say how many staff will lose their jobs, but significant layoffs are inevitable.
Microsoft’s announcement of the cuts at Bethesda come over three months after the company announced plans to cut 1,900 staff from its video game workforce, and amid a boom time for Bethesda’s Fallout series following the breakout hit Prime Video TV show.
Is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Coming to Xbox Game Pass?
Yes, it is expected that Call of Duty Black Ops 6 will launch onto Xbox Game Pass the same day of its release later this year. According to a new report by The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft will soon announce its intention to release this year’s mainline Call of Duty game straight into Game Pass. WSJ reports that Microsoft will announce the plans during its Xbox showcase event in June.
“Microsoft plans a major shakeup of its video game sales strategy by releasing the coming installment of Call of Duty to its subscription service instead of the longtime, lucrative approach of only selling it a la carte,” WSJ reported. Microsoft declined to comment when contacted by the publication.
The Verge reports Microsoft is considering raising the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate again, and that Activision is currently targeting a late October 2024 release for this year’s Call of Duty, which is expected to be called Black Ops 6 after teasers discovered in Warzone were acknowledged by developer Treyarch. Microsoft is also rumored to be ready to release the Call of Duty back catalog of video games into Game Pass ahead of Black Ops 6’s release.
When Should I Buy an Xbox?
In general, it is advisable to keep an eye out for sales and restocks throughout the year, as availability has improved since the initial launch of the console. Unlike the Nintendo Switch, there is no specific recommendation to wait for a sale regardless of the time of year. Instead, it’s a good idea to monitor various retailers and online platforms for restock announcements and promotional offers.
However, certain events like Black Friday or other holiday seasons may bring about unique bundles, discounts, or promotional deals specifically for the Xbox Series X. These bundles may include additional games, accessories, or exclusive limited editions. While quantities for such promotions might be limited, they can provide an opportunity to get more value for your purchase. See our guide to Xbox Series X prices for more info.
Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S?
Choosing between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S ultimately depends on your gaming preferences, budget, and specific requirements. Let’s compare the two consoles to help you make an informed decision:
1. Performance: The Xbox Series X is the more powerful option, offering native 4K gaming, higher graphical fidelity, and faster loading times. It has more advanced hardware, including a larger storage capacity. On the other hand, the Xbox Series S targets a lower price point and offers a less powerful performance, targeting 1440p resolution gaming and upscaling to 4K.
2. Price: The Xbox Series S is more affordable compared to the Xbox Series X. If budget is a significant factor for you, the Xbox Series S provides a cost-effective option while still delivering a next-generation gaming experience. For example, the Series S can play Starfield at 1440p 30fps (vs 4K 30fps on Series X).
3. Storage: The Xbox Series X comes with a larger internal storage capacity, allowing you to store more games directly on the console. The Xbox Series S, however, has a smaller storage capacity, which means you may need to manage your game library more actively or rely on external storage solutions.
4. Disc Drive: The Xbox Series X includes a disc drive, enabling you to play physical game discs and enjoy a wider range of media options, including Blu-ray and DVD playback. The Xbox Series S, in contrast, is a digital-only console, meaning you can only play games downloaded from the digital store.
5. Graphics and Performance: While both consoles support ray tracing, the Xbox Series X provides a more immersive and visually impressive experience due to its superior hardware capabilities. If you prioritize cutting-edge graphics and want the best performance available, the Xbox Series X is the preferable choice.
Consider your gaming preferences, budget, and whether you prioritize top-of-the-line performance or cost-effectiveness. If you have a 4K TV, want the most powerful console, and are willing to invest more, the Xbox Series X is the recommended option. If you have a lower budget, a 1080p or 1440p TV, and don’t mind sacrificing some performance, the Xbox Series S offers excellent value for money.
With how expensive gaming is getting in 2024, we’re trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We’ve got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as Switch and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand new offers. If you’re trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.