There’s nothing better than relaxing at home after Thanksgiving to game… unless of course you’re relaxing at home and avoiding the Black Friday crush by hitting up the sales online. A new game console means hundreds of hours of entertainment with the best games. And a console bought during Black Friday means hundreds of dollars of savings.
This year the biggest names in console gaming, namely Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox, have deals that include their consoles as well as bundled games, all for big savings.
Last updated on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 8:00 p.m. PT with Walmart deals and details on deals that are out of stock.
We’ve collected some of the best deals we’ve seen so far below. Bear in mind:
- The deals below are current as of Wednesday, Nov. 21.
- CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page.
- We link to the current listing at the retailer’s website where one is available, but some of these deals are going fast. We’ll keep updating as things change.
Best PlayStation 4 deals
PlayStation 4 Pro with Red Dead Redemption 2 bundle: $400 (save $60)
Target
Update: As of Wednesday Nov. 21 at 8:00 p.m. PT, this one is low on stock. We’ll keep an eye on things and update here if it goes out of stock.
The entry-level PS4 is great, but if you want 4K gaming, you’ll want the step-up PS4 Pro model. That isn’t really discounted below its standard $400 price, but you can find it bundled with Red Dead Redemption 2 — one of the best games ever — at no extra charge. That’s effectively a $60 discount, and months of amazing (adult) gameplay. (We have to note, though, that the Xbox One X version of the game does look better.)
This bundle is available everywhere, but like the Slim PS4 bundle above, it’s already getting difficult to find.
Sony PlayStation VR bundle with Creed and Superhot: $250 (save $100)
Sarah Tew/CNET
If you already own a PS4, this kit takes it to the next level with two great VR games — Creed: Rise to Glory and Superhot VR — as well as the two Move controllers for just $30 more than you’d normally pay for the base VR system alone.
This bundle is widely available now at numerous retailers, including Walmart.
Save $100 on all PlayStation VR bundles, starting at $200
Sarah Tew/CNET
If you don’t care about those games, or the Move controllers, you can look for a variety of bundles at major retailers starting at $50 less. Titles include Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Firewall, and Creed: Rise to Glory, and retailers include Walmart (below) as well as Best Buy and GameStop.
PlayStation Plus 12-month subscription: $40
If you’re going to be getting these bundles and games, you’ll likely want to play multiplayer to take advantage of Sony’s monthly selection of free games. This year’s Black Friday discounts knock $20 off the usual $60 12-month PlayStation Plus subscription.
PS4 1TB with Spider-Man Bundle: $200 (save $100)
Aloysius Low/CNET
The PlayStation 4 Slim is a great all-round console, Spider-Man is one of the best big-budget games released this year, and you can save $100 with this deal.
Update: As of 8:00 p.m. PT on Wed. Nov. 21 this deal is out of stock at Walmart, Gamestop, Target and Best Buy. You may have luck trying in-store at those retailers, but this one was selling out early. We’ll update here if anything changes.
Best Xbox One deals
Microsoft Xbox One S 1TB with Minecraft bundle, $200 (save $100)
Sarah Tew/CNET
If Xbox is more your speed, this deal can save you a bundle. It’s currently available pretty much everywhere and unlike the PlayStation bundles, doesn’t seem to be selling out. Go figure.
Xbox One X 1TB for $400 (save $100)
Josh Miller/CNET
If you want the more powerful Xbox One X 1TB by itself, you can get it for $100 off from numerous retailers now.
Xbox One X 1TB Gold Rush Special Edition Battlefield V Bundle for $430 (save over $70)
Best Buy
Want to kickstart your Xbox One X gaming experience? With this deal, you’ll get an extra controller and Battlefield V.
Expect to see similar versions of this deal at Amazon and elsewhere. For instance, Walmart has the Xbox One X bundled with several game options for $429, including one with PUBG, Fallout 76 or NBA 2K19.
Nintendo Switch Super Mario Kart Deluxe bundle
Play on your big-screen TV or on the go with the Nintendo Switch and with Super Mario Kart Deluxe as part of the package, you can hit the racetracks immediately.
And since you’re going to want more games than what comes with that new console bundle, check out our guides to the best games currently available on the PS4, Xbox One and Switch.
Watch this: Best deals to score big on Black Friday
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Best Black Friday 2018 deals: The best discounts we’ve found so far.