Black Friday gaming deals will return on November 29 2024, but until then we're getting you prepped with everything you need to know ahead of this year's sale. With new generation consoles entering their second phase and RTX 40-Series PC components spending another year on the shelves, things are already looking good for this year's offers. Plus, with last year's Black Friday deals bringing us fantastic console bundles and even better discounts on games and accessories we've got plenty to look forward to in 2024.
We've been tracking Black Friday gaming deals for years now, and we watch for PS5 deals, Xbox Series X deals and Nintendo Switch deals all year round. That means we've picked up a thing or two about the year's biggest sale season, and we're sharing all our top tips and tricks right here.
This year will look a little different, though. The PS5 Slim will have spent a whole year on the shelves and we could very well have another Nintendo Switch console to contend with as well. Time will tell just what we'll be looking at when November does roll around, but for now this is everything you can expect from Black Friday gaming deals 2024.
Black Friday gaming deals - what to expect
While video game deals themselves get plenty of airtime, accessories receive the lion's share. Headsets, hard drives, and more are typically cut by huge amounts during the sale, and that makes it the best time to grab any peripherals you've had your eye on.
The best offers often feature subscription services like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass, though. These always seem to get money off toward the end of November (as was the case again in 2023), and it's a great opportunity to renew your membership - or start a new one - ahead of the new year.
We've listed a few specifics based on platform below.
PS5
2023 was an excellent year for PS5 deals in general. Not only is stock no longer an issue, but we saw the very first price cuts ever on the full console over the summer and two day one bundles on the new PS5 Slim over Black Friday. Straight discounts didn't hit during Black Friday itself, but the summer had previously enjoyed prices of $449 / £399. Unfortunately, these discounts were likely in preparation for the arrival of the Slim model, so we're unsure as to whether they'll hit the PS5 Slim by Fall 2024. We are expecting similar bundles with newer games, though.
If you have any gaps in your game library from the past year or so, Black Friday PS5 deals offer you a chance to catch up. Everything from hot new releases to old favorites are discounted throughout the event, but it's well worth keeping a close eye on games released in the first half of the year for the biggest savings. Last year Hogwarts Legacy, Dead Island, Final Fantasy XVI, and Resident Evil 4 Remake all saw record low prices for the first time during Black Friday gaming deals. Of course, the usual classics are generally discounted during this time as well.
Of course, if you're library's all stocked up there are plenty of PS5 accessories to refresh your setup. The DualSense controller is likely to be a front runner this year, after enjoying record low prices of $49 / £39.99 in 2023. We're expecting costs to settle back to this position come November as well. However, if you're after something a little out of the box we'd also recommend keeping a close eye on the Victrix Pro BFG. Our favorite PS5 controller of the lot, it's already cheaper than the DualSense Edge and could be primed for its first major discounts this Black Friday. We haven't seen that $179.99 / £179.99 MSRP drop since this pro gamepad released in October 2022, but with a year on the shelves this could the time to score a saving.
Xbox
We also saw the Xbox Series X take its own price cuts over the course of 2023 with $50 / £50 off the console. That means we're expecting prices to hit $449 / £429 over the course of Black Friday 2024, but the Series S is poised to drop even more from that final price.
If you're already set for a console, though, Game Pass is going to be your next port of call. Years ago we celebrated far higher discounts on the $44.99 / £32.99 three month subscription but recent times (and a boost in popularity) has meant savings like these are harder to come by. Last year we tapped out at $39.99 in the US, with the UK seeing no change in that final price. In fact, these days the best way to save on an Xbox Game Pass deal over Black Friday is by checking out the best Xbox Series X accessories.
We often see some of the best Xbox controllers and the best Xbox Series X headsets discounted while also offering three months of Game Pass for free. We'd recommend keeping a close eye on both the Xbox Elite Series 2 (usually $179.99) and the newer Xbox Elite Series 2 Core (usually $129.99 / £114.99)
The former has dropped its price pretty much every year, but still doesn't stray too far from the $140 price point. With the Core coming close to that position at MSRP we wouldn't expect too much off in this year's Black Friday gaming deals, though should the Core controller drop to its previous record low $99.99 / £99.99 that story could be a little different.
Nintendo
This could be a big one. Of course, the Nintendo Switch 2 is very much still a rumor at this point, but signs are pointing to a 2024 release and that could have some serious ramifications for Black Friday gaming deals. If the new console hits close to the annual sales event we could see even better bundles and discounts on the previous generation. However, if the Switch 2 is already firmly on the shelves by the time Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals roll around the story could be very different. We're not expecting major bundles or savings on the new device in its first year, so focus will shift to accessories and games.
PC
It's all about hardware for PC gamers. Keyboards, mice, headsets, and mics from across the spectrum get massive reductions of up to 60% or more, while prebuilt rigs also drop a few hundred dollars on the regular. In much the same way, laptops are worthy contenders for a saving. These machines receive some of the most noteworthy discounts of Black Friday, and those reductions are available everywhere from Amazon to Newegg. Considering the high price of the top gaming laptops to start with, Black Friday is the perfect opportunity to buy them as a result.
Black Friday gaming deals - FAQ
When will Black Friday gaming deals start?
The sales event of the year traditionally takes place toward the end of November - to be precise, the final Friday of the month. That means you can expect 2023's Black Friday gaming deals to occur on November 24.
However, they won't be limited to that one day. Black Friday kicks off much earlier than you might expect, and it continues into the following week as well (at which point the savings morph into Cyber Monday gaming deals). That means you should start keeping an eye out from mid-November - while the best discounts are reserved for Black Friday itself, lots of good ones will make an appearance before then.
Where will the best Black Friday gaming deals be?
Almost everyone tries to get in on Black Friday each year, so you can be sure that any retailer you visit will have price cuts of some description. Still, some are better than others. In our experience, these are the stores to prioritize:
USA
- Amazon: Usually the best for gaming discounts overall
- Dell: Offers a surprising variety of laptop discounts
- Best Buy: Offers surprisingly good PC peripheral deals
- Walmart: Good for general console game discounts
- Microsoft: Great for cheap Xbox games and accessories
- CDKeys: Heavy discounts on PC games
- Newegg: Excellent for PC components
- Gamestop: Regularly offers console bundles and merch discounts
UK
- Amazon: Traditionally the most reliable for variety and price-cuts
- Dell: Good for variety and powerful gaming laptop builds
- Currys: Great for Switch console bundles and general game deals
- Very: Regular discounts on games, consoles, and accessories
- Argos: Low prices often with same day delivery
- The Game Collection: Frequently has some of the best game prices
- CDKeys: Some of the best prices going on PC games
- Game: Big savings on merch and pre-owned games
Should you wait for Black Friday gaming deals?
Yes, you should definitely hold fire on any purchases until Black Friday gaming deals kick off at the end of November. Like all tech, games get significant price cuts throughout the event and many items hit all-time lows. That includes everything from the latest PS5 titles to Xbox consoles, so there's little benefit to jumping the gun here.
However, on the flip-side of that, you'll need to be quick when the sales roll around. They can sell out quickly, and many form blink-and-you'll-miss-it 'Lightning Deals' on Amazon. In other words, stay alert throughout the week of Black Friday - getting the best reductions will depend on it.
Last year's best Black Friday gaming deals
Last year's best Black Friday gaming deals in the UK
Gaming sales are some of the best on offer during Black Friday, and they aren't limited to one platform; we can look forward to Black Friday PS5 deals, Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals, and Black Friday Xbox Series X deals over the course of November. Unsurprisingly, this tech-heavy event will also be one to watch if you're hunting down Black Friday gaming PC deals or Black Friday gaming laptop deals. Those devices usually get the most scene-stealing discounts.