Black Friday Xbox controller deals 2023: What to expect for deals season
Black Friday Xbox controller deals could be big in 2024, here's why
Black Friday Xbox controller deals are always worth getting excited about. Last year, we saw pretty much every one of our favorites go on sale for Black Friday, which is great news for any gamer who can't afford these kinds of gamepads at their normal retail prices. In 2024, the controller market is continuing down a really interesting road, so it's worth getting prepped for the deals season ahead.
There's a fair amount on the market, especially since Xbox has increased the amount of officially licensed gamepads this year. We've been keeping a close eye out for the best Xbox Series X controllers in 2023. That means we know exactly which models will be offering up the best value in this year's Black Friday Xbox controller deals, but also how much you should be paying for them. As well as that, we've been keeping an eye on cheap Xbox controllers too, so we know exactly what a good deal looks like.
Down below, we've rounded up everything you need to know about November's sales and tried to answer some frequently asked questions. Keep scrolling, and you'll find our expectations for the year ahead and a list of the best offers from 2023's Black Friday sales. Hopefully, these will give you an idea of prices to look forward to.
Black Friday Xbox controller deals: FAQ
When will Black Friday Xbox controller deals start?
Black Friday Xbox controller deals will begin on November 29 in 2024. In the past couple of years, we've noticed offers beginning earlier and earlier, so for all of that Thanksgiving week, be on the lookout for controllers going cheap.
Where will the best Black Friday Xbox controller deals be?
We will be covering the best Black Friday Xbox controller deals right here as they come in. However, of course, we know who are the likely players in this game. The below retailers will be the ones to check out for all of this year's Black Friday gaming deals.
US:
Amazon: should always be your first stop for gaming peripherals
Best Buy: always has stock, regularly has discounts
GameStop: the gaming retailer has strong stock levels of all pads
Newegg: the PC-focused store has a decent variety of Xbox gear in stock
Walmart: store collection and masses of stock - a solid option
UK:
Amazon: remains the best starting point for gaming controllers
Very: regularly has great levels of choice for gaming peripherals
Currys: the place to go for a great variety of gaming tech and gear
Argos: sometimes offers same-day delivery on items and decent prices
John Lewis: might surprise us with stock and deals on the big day
Box: growing in stature as a retailer worth visiting for any gaming tech
Ebuyer: known for PC parts, but still offers a bunch of console gaming gear
What to expect from Black Friday Xbox controller deals
But let's start from the top. The Elite Series 2 controller is always the one to look out for during sales events. Its list price is still $179.99 so anything below that is still technically a deal - We're bound to get cheaper than ever prices during Black Friday 2024 since each year since release it's been seeing offers. The question, however, is more to do with a potential successor this year. It's been a hot minute since we got a new Elite Series controller, and with rumors and leaks suggesting a console refresh in 2024 will bring us a new first-party Xbox controller with haptic feedback, maybe Uncle Phil will give us a new pro option at the same time.
The cheaper Elite Series 2 Core model saw prolonged discounts through October and November in 2023, making it a super affordable way to get hands-on with the Elite Series 2. We could see similar things in 2024, or these deals from last year might be pointing at a new product coming soon. We can certainly hope.
Then, of course, there are the budget brands, which are as cheap as anything at the best of times. The GameSir G7 SE, is excellent value, as are options from Turtle Beach, PowerA, and more. No matter if we see new colors, variants, or models from these brands this year, we're bound to see these cheap controllers go on sale for Black Friday.
Two new officially licensed third-party controllers are entering the fray going into 2024 too, which is exciting. The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra Wireless is the first officially licensed third-party controller to have wireless support, and it sports Hall Sensor sticks. The Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox is incoming too, and that's sure to steal some serious limelight based on how good the PS5 and PC version is.
We'll likely see more wireless controllers release this year since this has always been a prerequisite for Xbox controllers trying to secure licensing and now that appears to have been lifted. These two controllers could see price drops for Black Friday Xbox controller deals in 2024 as well.
Last year's best Black Friday Xbox controller deals in the US
Turtle Beach Recon Controller | $59.95 $29.95 at Best Buy
Save $30 - Best Buy's official Black Friday Xbox controller deals had the Turtle Beach Recon Controller at a record low $29.95 this week. We had only ever spotted this third-party gamepad at $39.95 in the past, and considering you got pro features like remappable buttons and extra audio controls, that was excellent value.
PowerA Advantage Controller with Lumectra | $44.99 $34.99 at Amazon
Save $10 - Admittedly, this is a tiny saving, but in fairness, it's for a controller that was still pretty new at the time and wasn't very expensive to begin with. This is the updated PowerA Enhanced controller, and it even comes with a reel of RGB lighting that you can control with the gamepad.
GameSir G7 SE | $59.99 $38.99 at Newegg
Save $16 - The GameSir G7 SE has astounding features and comfort for its price tag. If you're artsy, there are even ways to paint this controller's face - you can find excellent designs online already. Regardless, you got a fully-fledged pro controller for under $50 with this deal.
PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced Controller | $44.99 $39.20 at Walmart
Save $5 - If it's a cheaper route into a controller with two back buttons and some pretty stunning aesthetics you're looking for, PowerA's gorgeous RGB option might be for you. Coming in under the price of a Core wireless controller, this gamepad deal gave you two very comfy back buttons and a very clean aesthetic.
Victrix Gambit | $99.99 $79.99 at Best Buy
Save $20 - The Victrix Gambit isn't quite as modular as its younger Pro BFG sibling for PS5, but it's probably the closest thing you'll find to an Xbox rival for the Thrustmaster E-Swap series until the new Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox lands. If you want a competitive E-sports controller and four back buttons, this was a great value option with a genuine saving in this deal.
Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controller | $129.99 $104.99 at Walmart
Save $25 - You could save a decent $25 on the Elite Series 2 Core with this Walmart discount. Considering that this controller is essentially a cheaper route into the full-fat Elite Series 2 (one of the best controllers of all time), this deal was well-worth taking advantage of.
ASUS ROG Raikiri Pro | $149.99 $109.99 at Amazon
Save $40 - At Amazon you could save $40 off this high-end controller, the ASUS ROG Raikiri Pro. This gamepad was released slowly throughout the year despite earning high praise at CES 2023 for its design. This was the lowest price we had seen it at since hitting the shelves.
Scuf Instinct Pro | $229.99 $199.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - This is still as pricey as it gets for Xbox controllers, but the Scuf Instinct Pro is one of the best officially licensed Xbox Pro controllers for unlocking that extra level of performance. Not to mention, it has some really distinct colorways.
Logitech G920 Racing wheel and pedals | $299.99 $199.99 at Amazon
Save $100 - The Logitech G920 racing wheel is one of the most popular wheels out there among racing sim enthusiasts, no matter the platform you play on. Here, you got it a whole lot cheaper, and its average price of $255 spoke to that.
Thrustmaster T248X | $399.99 $279.99 at Best Buy
Save $120 - A saving of $120 is never a bad thing for a racing wheel since they always break the bank. Outside of official Black Friday times though, that saving is a wonderful thing when you get a steering wheel that's this good. Packed with powerful force feedback and wide support in Xbox games, this is a great addition to any setup.
Last year's best Xbox controller deals in the UK
Xbox Wireless Controller | £54.99 £38.99 at Very
Save £16 - If you were looking for one controller for all of your Microsoft devices that didn't break the bank, this was the one for you. The wireless gamepad gives you up to 40 hours worth of battery life and can be connected to the Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, and mobiles/tablets via Bluetooth.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Core | £129.99 £109 at Amazon
Save £20.99 - This is undoubtedly one of the strongest Xbox Series X/S controllers on the market. What you get here is essentially an Elite Series 2 without the attachments and pro accessories. You could get those separately for under £20 during Black Friday, which meant making use of this offer got you really strong value for money compared to buying the full-fat Elite Series 2.
Xbox Elite Series 2 | £159.99 £149 at Amazon
Save £10 - If you wanted to cut out the middle man of the Elite Series 2 Core's component pack and jump straight into the full-fat Elite Series 2, it was also a little cheaper at Amazon. This is probably one of the very best controllers on the market, and possibly ever made, so to get it cheaper than its MSRP is always worth shouting about.
If you're after more accessories we're also rounding up everything from this year's Black Friday gaming headset deals, as well as Black Friday Xbox Series X TV deals as well. If you're looking to use your controller with Windows, however, it's worth taking a look at the Black Friday gaming PC deals. Need something to test those buttons? Check out everything we are seeing in this year's Black Friday video game deals.
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Ever since playing Journey at the age of 15, I’ve been desperate to cover video games for a living. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship over at Expert Reviews. Besides that, I’ve been managing my own YouTube channel and Podcast for the last 7 years. It’s been a long road, but all that experience somehow landed me a dream job covering gaming hardware. I’m a self-confessing PlayStation fanboy, but my experience covering the larger business and developer side of the whole industry has given me a strong knowledge of all platforms. When I’m not testing out every peripheral I can get my hands on, I’m probably either playing tennis or dissecting game design for an upcoming video essay. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.
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