Microsoft is leaning on its Xbox Game Pass program in a big way, as showcased at this year’s X019 event. If you play a lot of video games and want to do it for cheap, Game Pass is a fantastic deal; it offers a huge selection of game for both Xbox One and PC for a flat subscription fee, similar to Netflix. Microsoft’s recently made the deal even better with some great deals for newcomers, and with Black Friday 2019 coming next week, we’ll probably even better deals on Game Pass, Xbox Live Gold, and Game Pass Ultimate (which combines Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold) soon.

For those unfamiliar with the Xbox One’s subscription services, you can find more details on Game Pass for Xbox One and PC, Xbox Live Gold, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at the bottom of this article. As a reminder, these subscriptions stack, so even if you’re already a member and don’t need to renew quite yet, you can save yourself some money in the long-term by buying these subscriptions while they’re cheap.

Plus, catch up on more of Black Friday 2019’s best Xbox One deals so far, including great discounts on games as well as console bundles and accessories.

Best Black Friday deals on Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold

3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for new members – $1

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: Get 3 months for $1 (new subscribers only)

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate normally costs $15 a month, which adds up to $45 over three months, but this offer gets you a full three for only $1. This is the best deal we’ve seen for new subscribers to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate so far, and it’s available right now for a limited time.

3 months of Xbox Live Gold – $15

Xbox Live Gold: 3-month membership | $15 ($25)

Starting November 28, Best Buy is selling three months of Xbox Live Gold for $15, a full $10 off its normal price of $25.

3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – $25

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: 3-month membership | $25 ($45)

Best Buy will have three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions for $25 each on November 28. If you happen to miss out on the “buy three months, get three months free” deal at Walmart, then this is the next best thing–buy two, and you’ll have a six-month subscription for $50 (only $5 more).

What is Xbox Game Pass?

Xbox Game Pass for Console

Xbox Game Pass for Console provides access to over 200 Xbox One games. New games are added to the service every month, and users get special discounts on the ones that are leaving just in case players want to keep them. In addition to all this, first-party Xbox One games always launch on Game Pass day one–this has included games like Gears 5, The Outer Worlds, and Forza Horizon 4. It costs $10 a month to join Game Pass for Xbox One.

Xbox Game Pass for PC

Xbox Game Pass for PC provides access to over 150 PC games through the Xbox app on Windows 10. Like the console version, new games are added every month, and special discounts are available in case you want to keep any games on their way out. First-party Xbox One games launch on PC the same day as console, so you gain access to them as well. You can join Game Pass for PC at $1 for the first month, after which the price goes up to $5 a month.

What is Xbox Live Gold?

Xbox Live Gold provides access to online multiplayer, exclusive discounts, and free monthly games. You can subscribe to Xbox Live Gold for $10 a month, $25 for 3 months, or $60 for a year.

What is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate packages the benefits of Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One and PC with Xbox Live Gold. You can join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $1 for your first month, after which the price goes up to $15 a month.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/black-friday-2019s-best-deals-on-xbox-game-pass-an/1100-6471291/

With Microsoft’s next console, Project Scarlett, launching next year, we’re going to see some massive discounts on Xbox One consoles across the board during Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019. Accessories are also likely to go for cheap, so if you’re looking for something to bolster your Xbox One gaming experience this year, we’ve got some great Black Friday Xbox One console and accessory deals for you.

Black Friday 2019: Xbox One deals to expect

We’re expecting both the Xbox One X and Xbox One S to be discounted, in addition to its various controllers and accessories. If there’s stock, it’ll likely be on sale. Last year, we saw deals that brought the Xbox One X down to $400–$100 off its regular price. According to early Black Friday 2019 ads, Xbox One X bundles will dip to $350 during this year’s sale. It’ll be interesting to see just how low Microsoft’s first 4K console goes, considering the next-generation Xbox console is now just a year away from release. Meanwhile, Xbox One S bundles are going for $200, and the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will be available for just $150 during Black Friday.

As for accessories, it’s likely we’ll see numerous discounts, including the first edition of the Xbox One Elite Controller. The Elite Series 2 controller just released, but since it is a premium item, don’t expect to see a heavy discount on it. Of course, we’re always ready for a Black Friday surprise, and we’ll report back if this changes.

A large number of Black Friday Xbox One discounts are expected to be revealed at Xbox’s X019 event on November 14. The Inside Xbox livestream is scheduled for 12 PM PT / 3 PM PT that day, and you’ll be able to tune in on Mixer, Twitch, or YouTube. When those deals are announced, we’ll be sure to include that info here.

In the meantime, there are plenty of pre-Black Friday deals going live early, so you might be able to grab what you want before the craziness of Black Friday actually starts. Below, we’ve collected some of the best early Black Friday deals that are already live at online retailers like Amazon and Walmart. Plus, read on for an overview of the best upcoming Xbox deals that have been confirmed by various retailers’ ads.

Pre-Black Friday Xbox One deals live now

Xbox One X deals

• Xbox One X – Gears 5 Limited edition | $400 ($500)
• Xbox One X – PUBG bundle | $395 ($500)
• Xbox One X – NBA 2K19 bundle | $419 ($500)

Xbox One S deals

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare + Legacy Trilogy + PowerA controller + choice of Xbox One S bundle | $300
• Xbox One S – The Division 2 bundle | $250 ($300)
• Xbox One S – Fortnite Special Edition + Modern Warfare | $250 ($300)

Xbox One accessory deals

• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-month membership + 3 months free | $45
• Xbox One controller – Fortnite Special Edition | $52.89 ($65)
• Xbox One controller – Gears 5 Limited Edition | $65 ($75)
• Steelseries Arctis 9X Wireless Gaming Headset | $175 ($200)
• HyperX Cloud Revolver S Gaming Headset | $116.79 ($150)

Best Black Friday 2019 Xbox One deals

Xbox One X bundle with Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Deluxe Edition and three months of Xbox Live Gold – $350

Xbox One X bundle with Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Deluxe Edition + 3 months of Xbox Live Gold | $350

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is one of the most anticipated games of the holiday season, and this Xbox One X bundle scores you its Deluxe edition as well as three months of Xbox Live Gold. Gold gets you free monthly games in addition to online multiplayer access. This deal is available starting November 28.

Xbox One X bundle with Gears 5 and a $40 Target gift card – $350

Xbox One X bundle with Gears 5 and $40 Target Gift Card | $350 ($500)

One of Target’s marquee deals is its Xbox One X, Gears 5, and $40 gift card bundle. This deal goes live on November 28, and we’ll include a link here when it’s available.

Xbox One X bundle with NBA 2K20 and $105 in Kohl’s Cash – $350

Xbox One X bundle with NBA 2K20 and $105 Kohl’s Cash | $350 ($500)

You can grab the Xbox One X with NBA 2K20, the latest entry in Visual Concept’s basketball sim series, for $350. That’s a pretty awesome deal, and you also get $105 Kohl’s Cash with your purchase.

Xbox One S bundle with two controllers and three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – $100 off

Xbox One S bundle with two controllers and 3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | $100 off

This Costco bundle is also an enticing offer, with two controllers and three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. There are more than 200 games available through Game Pass on Xbox One, and with Game Pass Ultimate, you also get Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass for PC. This deal kicks off on November 24 for Costco members.

Xbox One S bundle with Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order and $40 Target Gift Card – $200

Xbox One S bundle with Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order and $40 Target Gift Card | $200 ($300)

Target’s Xbox One S bundle is also quite enticing and may sell out quickly. It comes with the console, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, and a $40 gift card. It goes live on November 28, and we’ll include that link here when available.

Xbox One S bundle with NBA 2K20 – $200

Xbox One S bundle with NBA 2K20 | $200 ($300)

The NBA 2K20 Xbox bundle is also available for the Xbox One S, and it’ll be discounted to $200 during Black Friday.

Xbox One S All-Digital bundle with Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, and Fortnite content – $150

Xbox One S All-Digital Edition Bundle | $150

The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition doesn’t have a disc drive, but there are still plenty of great deals on digital games in the Microsoft Store. However, you get two great games (Minecraft and Sea of Thieves) and some bonus content for Fortnite in this bundle–2,000 V-Bucks and the Legendary Rogue Spider Knight outfit. The bundle goes for $150 starting November 28

Xbox One controllers – $39

Select Xbox One controllers | $39

Walmart plans to discount a selection of its in-stock Xbox One controllers on November 27. The available controllers vary by store, but they’ll go for $39 each.

Logitech G920 Driving Force Racing Wheel for Xbox One and PC – $207

Logitech G920 Driving Force Racing Wheel (Xbox One/PC) | $200 ($400)

Racing wheels aren’t for everybody, but for big racing game fans–especially more simulation-focused ones–will love this racing wheel. It’s compatible with both Xbox One and PC, so you can enjoy both platform’s libraries of racers. The best part is this deal is available right now.

Xbox One game drive – Up to $20 off

Xbox One game drives | up to $20 off

Starting on November 28, you’ll be able to grab an Xbox-branded external hard drive at a discount from Microsoft. They come in 1 TB and 3 TB options, which normally sell for $65 and $110, respectively.

Turtle Beach Xbox One headsets – Up to $125 off

Turtle Beach headsets | Up to $125 off

The Microsoft Store will discount several Turtle Beach headsets by up to $125 starting November 28.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-black-friday-2019-deals-consoles-and-acce/1100-6471153/

There are plenty of questions surrounding Half-Life: Alyx. Where in the Half-Life universe does it take place? What platforms will it be on? While answers to such questions continue to pop up, we’ve learned another detail about Valve’s latest Half-Life entry: it’s “about the same length as Half-Life 2.”

Robin Walker, one of Alyx’s programmers, sat down with IGN to talk about the new game. In the interview, Walker revealed an approximation of Alyx’s length. “It’s a full-scale campaign,” Walker said. “Repeated playtest results indicate it’s about the same length as Half-Life 2.”

But just how long is that? According to HowLongToBeat, Half-Life 2 takes 13 hours to finish the main campaign. You can add another six and a half hours if you’re a completionist. For comparison, the original Half-Life takes 12 hours to complete, or 15 hours if you want to experience everything the game has.

The Game Awards show host Geoff Keighley said that he has “seen [Alyx] in multiple stages of development” and his playthrough took him “over 15 hours” to go through the “full-blown Half-Life experience.”

Half-Life: Alyx was revealed earlier today with a gameplay announcement trailer, which can be viewed above. Though a release date has yet to be confirmed, the SteamVR-compatible title has a sweet little discount as part of a pre-purchase promotion. In the interim, we’ve compiled a list of everything we know about the game.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-long-is-half-life-alyx/1100-6471635/

Hot off some strong first-party releases and a new hardware iteration, Black Friday 2019 looks to be another major sales time for the Nintendo Switch. The portable/console hybrid has seen some pretty great games this year, including Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Astral Chain, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and Pokemon Sword and Shield, and the new Switch Lite has re-ignited sales of the console (tempting even current owners to pick up a second one). Whether you’re looking for a deal on a Switch console or just hunting around for some Switch accessory deals, we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded out the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals right here, with more info to come as stores announce all of their deals for the season.

Let’s break the disappointing news right out of the gate. Judging by the Black Friday ads we’ve seen so far, the Nintendo Switch won’t be getting a nice discount or even a particularly amazing bundle this holiday season. Instead, Nintendo has provided retailers with the same Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch bundle from last Black Friday. And yes, it still includes the launch model Switch, not the updated Switch with better battery life that hit stores a few months back. While the Switch Lite is prominently featured in ads, so far it’s just that: an ad for the $200 handheld-only Switch, with no discount to speak of.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be great deals on Switch accessories, though. In fact, we’ve already seen countless accessories featured in the various Black Friday ads that Best Buy, Target, and Walmart have dropped, you can expect even more accessory deals as retailers like Amazon and GameStop release their Black Friday ads.

Best Black Friday Nintendo Switch console deals

Nintendo Switch with free digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and screen protector | $300

This Switch bundle was offered in 2018, and on the surface, it’s a pretty good deal. You get the Switch and an awesome game that regularly goes for around $50 these days. However, please note this isn’t the updated Switch with better battery life; it’s the launch model. If you love Mario Kart and aren’t concerned about the longer battery life, this is a solid offer; otherwise, you may be better off just buying the newer model for the same price and waiting for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to go on sale. We’re highlighting Best Buy’s bundle here because the retailer is throwing in a screen protector, but expect this bundle to be available at most major retailers as it’s an official Nintendo offer. Perhaps one smart retailer will throw in more than just a screen protector.

Nintendo Switch (new model) with carrying case and charging dock with $90 Kohl’s Cash | $320 ($345)

If you’re not eager to grab Nintendo’s official bundle, we know Kohl’s will have its own bundle that does, in fact, feature the updated Switch with better battery life. For $320, you’ll get the Switch, a carrying case ($20 value), and the popular PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock ($25 value). The real draw here is that you’ll get $90 Kohl’s Cash to spend in the weeks following Black Friday.

Best Black Friday Nintendo Switch accessory deals

Nintendo Switch Joy-Con (L/R) Neon Red/Blue or Gray | $53.60 ($80)

An extra pair of Joy-Con controllers normally sets you back $80, and even though you get “two” controllers, that’s still pricey. Thankfully, Switch Joy-Cons will be on sale for $53.60 at Amazon, besting Best Buy and Target’s $60 price during Black Friday. It seems you’ll be able to choose between neon red/blue or gray.

PowerA wired controllers | $15 ($25)

Like Joy-Cons, Switch Pro controllers are expensive, but there are some reasonable third-party options like PowerA’s lineup of wired controllers. Using the same layout as the Pro controller but with a slightly smaller form factor, PowerA’s wired controllers are pretty darn good and come in three awesome designs: Zelda, Mario, and a Pikachu-yellow Pokemon theme. All three will be discounted to $15 during Best Buy’s Black Friday sale.

PowerA Enhanced Wireless Nintendo Switch controllers | $29 ($45)

These PowerA Enhanced wireless Nintendo Switch controllers are good alternatives to Nintendo’s official Pro Controller. They don’t support features like HD Rumble or NFC Amiibo scanning, but they do have two buttons on the back that can be mapped to a face button. This lets you keep your thumbs on the sticks while you’re in the middle of the action.

Poke Ball Plus | $20 ($50)

While the Poke Ball Plus initially launched as an alternative controller for Pokemon: Let’s Go, it will also be compatible with Pokemon Sword and Shield, allowing you to “hold” one of your Pokemon and take it with you on the go (presumably to rack up experience points or earn extra items). However, it won’t function as a controller for Pokemon Sword and Shield the same way it did for Pokemon: Let’s Go. The Poke Ball Plus also comes with Mew, a mythical Pokemon that can be transferred into Pokemon: Let’s Go. The accessory is normally $50, but most major retailers will have it for $20 during Black Friday.

Nintendo Switch Elite Edition Starter Kit | $15 ($25)

If you’re buying a Nintendo Switch this holiday season, you should be in the market for a case, too. This starter kit comes with a carrying case, USB-C cable, silicone Joy-Con covers, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. It’ll be discounted to $15 at Best Buy.

Insignia Power Pack for Switch/Switch Lite | $12.50 ($25)

For those who like traveling with their Switch (and who doesn’t?), a car charger is a great accessory to have. This Insignia pack comes with a car charger, a USB-C cable, and an extra AC adapter. Having a second AC adapter is handy, as you won’t have to unplug your AC adapter from your dock every time you want to take your Switch on a trip.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-black-friday-2019-deals-discounts-/1100-6471187/