Don't buy an Xbox this Black Friday - stream Game Pass with this $75 bundle
Nov. 28, 2024My favorite Black Friday Xbox deal leaves out the “box”, and Phil Spencer says that’s okay
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Black Friday is an amazing time to buy an Xbox. That’s been the case for years now, due in part to the fact the Series S consoles are incredible value for money. This year, however, buying an Xbox is even easier. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, has taken on the approach that everything can be an Xbox these days thanks to Game Pass and its Cloud Streaming abilities.
Marketing campaigns literally saying “This is an Xbox” have been appearing everywhere recently. With that in mind, I’m recommending that any casual gamer out there looking to get back into gaming, or even play the odd title here and there check their internet speed. If it’s fast enough to Stream 4K content, there’s no need to buy an Xbox Series S - just grab this Fire TV Stick 4K bundle for$74.99 at Amazon.
Deep Pink Core Controller + Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K + 1 Month Game Pass Ultimate|$131.97$74.99 at AmazonSave $56.98- Did you know you didn’t actually need an Xbox console to play Xbox games these days? Game Pass Cloud Streaming now works on Amazon Fire TV Sticks, which means this bundle could save you $225 compared to buying a Series S. Of course, you’ll need good internet, but it’s an option if you want a smaller investment.
Buy it if:
✅ You don’t own an Xbox already✅ You want something to play games with✅ Have good internet
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You only want a controller
UK:£47.90 at Amazon
Should you buy a Fire TV Stick instead of an Xbox this Black Friday?
Is everything an Xbox? No. Is this Fire TV Stick a much cheaper way to play Xbox games? Absolutely. You’ll need to double check your WiFi strength to make sure you’ve got the speeds required to smoothly stream your games, but if you’ve got the digits and you’re a more casual player I’d absolutely recommend this bundle instead of the full console.Microsoftrecommends a minimum of 10Mbps download speed, but really suggests 20Mbps for the best experience. You can check your speed with a range of smartphone apps, but know that that’s at the lower end of average.
Game streaming has come a long way since those early days of… Stadia (RIP). With far more sophisticated server systems and faster tech powering all your entertainment, going download-free is more popular than ever. That doesn’t mean it’s for everyone, though.
You’ll get much better quality games from an actual Xbox Series X console. This is no substitute for the current generation graphics we see from the boxes themselves, and even the Series S can offer up better performance when playing games locally. Streaming is far more convenient, but you do drop a little quality. Similarly, if you actually want to own the games you play, you’ll need to pick up a console to download them onto.
However, if there are just one or two titles on Game Pass the pique your interest, or you tend to hop between games pretty quickly and don’t want to commit to a full console, this Fire TV stick bundle is absolutely worth it. You get everything you need to get set up - a controller, streaming stick, and one month of Game Pass Ultimate.
We’re also rounding up all the latestBlack Friday Xbox controller dealsand the biggestBlack Friday TV dealsfor more inspiration. Or, take a look at our full roster of thebest Black Friday deals for gamers.
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One of my earliest memories is playing SuperMario64 and wondering why the controller I held had three grips, but I only had two hands. Ever since I’ve been in love with video games and their technology. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship at Expert Reviews. Over the last decade, I’ve been managing my ownYouTube channelabout my love of games too. These days, I’m one of the resident hardware nerds at GamesRadar+, and I take the lead on our coverage of gaming PCs, VR, controllers, gaming chairs, and content creation gear. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.Location: UK Remote
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