Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. To find out what’s coming soon to Xbox One, read on below and click on each of the game profiles for pre-order details (dates are subject to change).
It’s that time of year where we see retailers unleash some of the hottest Nintendo Switch bundle deals of the year! We’ll be updating this page throughout all the sales for the Christmas shopping season and beyond.
We’re listing all of the best Switch deals right here and we’ll be on the lookout for the best bundles with extra games, controllers and other accessories. We’ve just added a whole new batch with updated games like Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Keep scrolling past the bundles on this page and we’ll show you prices on extra controllers and memory cards too. If you want to play online multiplayer and get other benefits like free games you’ll want to pick up a Nintendo Switch Online subscription deal too.
In the UK you can find plenty with the best Nintendo Switch games like Super Mario Odyssey, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8: Deluxe and more all with a decent discount too.
You’ll find all the best Nintendo Switch bundles from reliable retailers below. We’ve also rounded up the best prices for extra Joy-Con controllers, Pro controllers and even some cheap Nintendo Switch memory cards.
If you’re waiting for more games to arrive first, get your Ninty dose fixed with a cheap 3DS deal. We have a dedicated page of Switch deals for our Australian readerstoo.
The latest Nintendo Switch deals
Want to know where to buy a Nintendo Switch? Check out our comparison chart below for the latest Nintendo Switch prices. Below that you’ll find the best value Nintendo Switch bundles with games/accessories. Don’t forget, if you’re buying the console on its own, the RRP is $299/£279, so you don’t want to pay more than that unless you’re getting some extras.
Note: US stock can be a bit hit and miss, but if you’re struggling and don’t want to wait, there are lots of Nintendo Switch deals on eBay.
Nintendo Switch bundles (USA)
We’ve highlighted our picks of the best Nintendo Switch bundles below. Just be aware that the game bundles don’t really offer much of a discount over buying the items separately. We’ll steer you clear of console bundles that actively charge you more than the regular combined RRP (not cool, guys!). There seems to be a genuine shortage of US Switch bundles at the moment, so you might be better off picking up a console on its own for now.
Nintendo Switch bundles (UK)
The UK scene for discounted Nintendo Switch deals is quite competitive thanks to the large number of retailers trying to get your business. We usually find a strong selection of bundles every week nowadays, even in those quieter times of year not particularly known for sales. So take a look below for discounts on packages with games, hardware and accessories.
As with any new console we imagine you’re wanting to know a bit more about the console before you put any money down. So in addition to finding the best Nintendo Switch deals, we’re going to help bring in answers to the burning questions.
What are the Joy-Con controllers?
The Joy-Con controller is actually a pair of controllers that attach to the sides the the Nintendo Switch when not in use or when playing in tablet form away from the TV. When playing the Nintendo Switch on the TV, you can remove them and play with one in each hand. The left hand gets a controller with an analogue stick and d-pad, the right hand handles the one with a second analogue and the usual A, B, X and Y face buttons. Or you and a friend can use one each in multiplayer games with the d-pad doubling up as impromptu face buttons.
You get a pair with the console, but you might want to buy more to allow extra players to get involved in games like Mario Kart 8, FIFA 18 and many more. Or maybe you just fancy some different colors for your own use.
The Joy-Con Grip is an additional accessory that joins the two Joy-Con controllers together, forming something something a bit more solid for you to hold thanks to the extended handles and plastic block between the two sides. The square dimension form-factor may remind older gamers of the Dreamcast controller, while everyone else will mainly be thinking how it resembles an odd-looking dog face. Nintendo is providing one in the box with the Nintendo Switch, so you won’t have to buy one separately. This won’t charge your controller though and doesn’t have a battery pack.
Nintendo Switch Pro controller deals
Yes and it doesn’t come with the console. But you won’t actually need one to play any games, so don’t feel pressured in to buying one. The Nintendo Switch Pro controller is a more traditional-style pad and launched alongside the Nintendo Switch. Prices aren’t cheap though, starting around $69.99/£64.99. There’s currently no sign of a Nintendo Switch Premium Edition console with one included.
Do I need to buy extra controllers for multiplayer on Nintendo Switch?
Possibly not! Remember how the Joy-Con controller splits in two? Turn them sideways and you get two basic controllers, each with their own analogue stick and face buttons – the d-pad acts as face functions on the left controller. So far we’ve seen 2K’s NBA series, Snipper Clips and Mario Kart being used this way for local multiplayer in both docked and tablet modes. So you get multiplayer functionality straight out of the box with no additional purchase required.
However, if you want to play four-player games, then you’re going to need to invest in an extra pair of Joy-Con controllers or some Pro controllers. We’d buy the Joy-Cons as a pair (see our comparison chart above) as you’ll save a bit of cash over buying them separately. Better yet, if your friends own a Switch, ask them to bring their controllers to the party!
Super Mario Odyssey deals
This has been one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch so far and an absolute must for Mario and platforming fans. Like Zelda below though, this being a first-party Nintendo title, it’s taking forever to go down in price. It’s slowly happening though, so we’ve rounded up the cheapest Super Mario Odyssey prices for you below. If you’re not getting this game in a bundle, we’d strongly advise picking it up separately as soon as possible.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild deals
The reviews have heaped huge praise upon this eagerly awaited launch title, making it an essential purchase for any Nintendo Switch buyer. As with any new console, the prices of the big games can be more expensive than usual. We’ve shopped around for you though and have found the best prices for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch. Take a look below.
With only 32GB of internal storage, you’ll be wanting to pick up a cheap memory card or two for your new Nintendo Switch for any digital purchases or the inevitable game-fixing patches. Don’t fret though, they’re actually surprisingly cheap, with even 64GB ones coming in at under £20/$25.
What memory cards does the Nintendo Switch need? Those will be Micro SD cards also known as, depending on their size, as MicroSDHC (up to 32GB) or MicroSDXC (up to a huge 2TB soon). Nintendo will be releasing their own branded cards, but you’ll be paying more, just for a label. So for now, we’d take a look at this range of cheap MicroSDXC Nintendo Switch-friendly cards.
The racing game genre has been around almost as long as there have been video games and machines to play them on. And with very good reason. What better way to experience driving fast without the risk of a big crash or a speeding ticket?
While in the early days a blob of 8-bit pixels that vaguely resembled a Ferrari counted as realism, in the current generation we are spoiled for choice in how we get our high-speed kicks.
Hyper-realistic graphics, more detailed physics than ever and higher levels of immersion – aided by the rise of VR – are all features of the top titles right now. And for those who prefer their racing to be more arcadey and over-the-top, there’s plenty out there for you too.
It’s fair to say that we’ve come a long way since the days of Pole Position and Super Hang-On; take it from me, racing gamers have rarely had it this good.
Let’s run down the the best racing games from each platform, as well as take a look at the other high-profile contenders currently sat on the starting grid.
Best PS4 racing game: Gran Turismo Sport
This might be a surprising choice given the very valid criticism GT Sport received on launch for lacking content – initially it didn’t even have a true single-player campaign like previous Gran Turismo titles.
But the series’ trademark focus on stunning graphics and realistic-feeling handling was evident right from the get-go, and over time monthly patches have beefed up the single player with new cars, tracks and GT League championships – all for the princely sum of free.
It’s now not only a much stronger value proposition, but one of the best sim racing experiences out there – and certainly the best PS4-exclusive.
A heavy esports focus means the online modes are very well structured and run smoothly, the single-player campaign now has a decent amount of longevity, and the game nails what every Gran Turismo game has gotten right; the sheer joy of driving.
Best Xbox One racing game: Forza Horizon 4
Recently reviewed on this very site, the Forza Horizon series has always trended more towards arcade thrills than Gran Turismo – and indeed the Forza Motorsport series it spun off from.
And the fourth installment is the absolute apex of this vision of free-roaming open-world fun in fast cars. The rural British setting provides a nice variety of roads, hills, scenery and countryside to hoon around and explore in, and the game both looks and plays absolutely beautifully.
It’s a big toybox with a vast array of cars, missions and secrets to plough through, and much like games like Test Drive Unlimited and Burnout Paradise, it’s a fabulously immersive experience that constantly finds new ways to put a big smile on your face.
Best Nintendo Switch racing game: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Unfortunately the Nintendo Switch is relatively lacking for great racing games, with most being average-to-decent ports of games from other consoles or even Android systems.
In among this field one clear winner stands out; the excellent Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
In itself a port of Mario Kart 8 on the previous-generation Wii U, this game doesn’t just stick a new name on an old game and knock off for lunch.
New characters, tweaked graphics enabling 1080p/60fps output while the Switch is docked, and a reworked Battle Mode all contribute to this being a massive critical and commercial success, and one of the very best installments in the long-running Mario Kart franchise.
There’s still few better games out there for breaking out among friends – and potentially ruining said friendships – than Mario Kart, and 8 Deluxe takes the series to new heights of colorful fun.
For PC-exclusive sim racing games, there’s still no real competition to iRacing’s goliath.
The monthly subscription and additional content costs means its far from the cheapest racing game on the market, but in this case you absolutely pay for what you get.
There’s excellent online play with solid matchmaking, laser-scanned real-world racetracks and the most realistic handling model possible – so much so that real race drivers use this sim to learn tracks, practice new cars and handling setups, or just to unwind between races.
The game has been supported with consistent updates and new content, and despite being ten years old this year, there’s still nothing that comes close for the most true-to-life sim racing experience in gaming.
Honorable Mentions
DiRT Rally (PC/PS4/Xbox One)
Codemasters’ popular rally racing series, stretching back to the Colin McRae Rally games on PS1 and PS2, decided to move in a more hardcore simulation direction with this spin-off title.
And from the moment it hit Steam Early Access in 2015, we knew we were in for something special. Put simply, there’s few more adrenaline-pumping experiences in all of gaming than belting a 500hp Group B rally car through the hills of Finland, flying through the air and inevitably smashing headlong into a tree.
Think of it as the Dark Souls of the racing game genre; it’s very difficult, and you probably will crash a lot, but it’s relentlessly fun nonetheless and the sense of satisfaction from negotiating a stage without hitting a tree or falling off a cliff is unparalleled. A sequel is on the way in early 2019, and to say we’re excited is a real understatement.
F1 2018 (PC/PS4/Xbox One)
Speaking of Codemasters, they have enjoyed a fruitful run with the official Formula 1 license since 2009, and their latest installment is another fantastic step forward.
Given how unbelievably fast real F1 cars are, managing to balance realistic-feeling physics with being accessible to players of all skill levels and control types is a major achievement in itself.
Alongside this comes one of the deepest career mode experiences in all of sports gaming, with car development and team relationship trees making things feel more like an RPG than a regular sports game.
The level of depth and replay-ability in this title is astounding, and absolutely makes it worth your time – and that’s without diving into the variety of classic F1 cars also available in the game. For unleashing your inner Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button or Nigel Mansell, this is the perfect game.
The first Project CARS was a very ambitious attempt to make the most realistic and deep sim racing title ever seen across all platforms, and whilst Slightly Mad Studios didn’t quite hit the mark first time out, the sequel gets very close to that grandiose vision.
A monstrous amount of cars, tracks and game mode combines with a tweaked career mode and most importantly, a refined physics engine that makes the game far easier to play on both controller and steering wheel.
A fabulous sense of speed, gorgeous lighting and day-to-night transitions and a great attention to detail with atmospheric effects make PCARS 2 possibly the most visceral sim racing experience on consoles and PC.
Assetto Corsa (PC/PS4/Xbox One)
With PCARS 2 going for head-crushing depth, Assetto Corsa offers a more streamlined and accessible alternative without sacrificing the simulation physics.
It’s a much easier experience to jump into, and while the roster of cars and circuits is much smaller than PCARS 2, there’s still a very interesting selection available – and even the most terrifying Le Mans prototypes and Grand Prix cars feel satisfying to drive right out the gate.
A more structured career mode progression and challenge curve also help add to this game’s more user-friendly appeal, and in many ways both it and PCARS 2 complement each other.
Get both if you can, but should you be newer to more simulation-based racing games, start with AC first to get you up and running. Meantime, a sequel – Assetto Corsa Competizione – just dropped on Steam Early Access, and it already looks like Kunos Simulazioni are on to take a giant step forward over the original.
We’re officially into the final sales season of the year everyone which means we’re finally seeing some serious Xbox One X price reductions. Finally! Deal-hungry gamers looking for the most powerful console ever made have have been keen to pick up Xbox One X bundles since release but there’s been a high cost to pay. Until now, prices have been quite high at most stores if you weren’t sure where to look. That’s where we come in as our dedicated team of Deal Hunters cut through the chaff to bring you only the very best Xbox One X deals every day, and we’ve got some excellent ones for you today.
In this article you’ll find a comparison chart with the lowest prices on where to buy the 4K HDR Xbox One X console from a wide range of the best retailers. After the comparison chart we’ve put together a collection of the latest bundles in the States and UK. These Xbox One X bundles will save you money over buying the items separately. There’s not always a massive choice (especially in the US), but we’re all set to pounce on any new Xbox One X deals when they come online, so feel free to bookmark us if nothing takes your fancy today.
US Xbox One X bundles are really stepping things up now after a quiet few months. there’s never been a better time to buy actually as you’re getting genuine discounts and free content for the first time in ages.
What is the Xbox One X price?
You might want to sit down for this one. The Xbox One X costs $499 in the US. UK gamers can expect to get their currency converters in a twist again, as you’re paying £449 instead of the direct conversion of around £390. Naturally, these prices don’t include any games, unless a retailer is feeling generous.
Why should I buy an Xbox One X?
Just to be clear, this is not what you’d call a ‘next-gen’ console. Instead it’s a powerful upgrade over the current Xbox One lineup. To simplify things, it’s akin to Sony’s PS4 Pro. Both consoles are aimed at gamers with a 4K HDR TV who want the best graphical performance possible on their favored console. There will be modest performance boosts on non-4K TVs too, but you’re kind of missing the point without a 4K HDR TV.
As things stand the Xbox One X will play all Xbox One games and we’re not expecting to see any games released exclusively for the Xbox One X (or so we’ve been told), so there’s certainly no reason to throw away your Xbox One S yet.
The Xbox One X is the most powerful console ever made though, even outshining some of the specs of the PS4 Pro. But given the huge asking price, you’d hope as much. The Xbox One X is making bold claims about true native 4K gaming though with its upcoming titles and if you have a 4K TV with High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, the Xbox One X is ready to seriously impress with the likes of Forza Motorsport 7, Metro: Exodus and Anthem set to be true jaw-droppers in the graphics department.
Where can I buy an Xbox One X?
Most of the usual big name retailers are stocking the Xbox One X. Prices this close to launch are all very similar for now, but as we move forwards, we’ll start to see stores chipping away at the price to try to get an edge over the competition.
Keep an eye on the highlighted Xbox One X bundles above and our comparison chart, which we’ll keep up to date on the latest prices for the Xbox One X on its own. So feel free to bookmark us and check in again soon to see if we’ve found the deal that’s right for you. Fingers crossed the bundles get better soon, especially in the US where we’re not seeing massive software discounts so far.
What is the Xbox One X release date?
It’s here now! The Xbox One X came out on November 7 2017. That was a worldwide release date too.
Will there be Xbox One X deals are Christmas?
Unlike the first Xbox One X’s first Christmas, we do expect there to be some deals this year. The 4K console was seemingly too new to discount last year, but Microsoft will be keen to catch up the the PS4 Pro this year and we’re hoping for some decent discounts in what has been a slow year for deals in all honesty. In all likelihood, the PS4 Pro prices and bundles are still going to be much cheaper.
What if I don’t care about 4K or want to save money?
The standard Xbox One S is a fantastic games console and you’ll easily be able to get one with a few games for around $250/£250 or less. There are cheap deals all year round on our Xbox One deals and PS4 prices, deals and bundles pages.
Only kidding. I want 4K HDR in my face right now.
4K TVs with HDR are nowhere near as expensive as you’d think. The prices have come down much faster than the original HD TVs, so you can get a decent model for a low price. Hell we’ve seen some nice ones for less than the price of the Xbox One X itself (what a ridiculous world we live in). For the best of the best, take a look at our best TV article. We’ve also rounded up the best cheap 4K TV deals too in the UK, and also a collection of US TV deals.
How big is the hard drive in the Xbox One X?
For now, the only option available is the 1TB option, that’s 1000GB of storage. There are no official plans for larger versions, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see these come along in 2018.
With some 4K-friendly update patches to games coming in at over 100GB, we certainly wouldn’t hold out for a cheaper 500GB Xbox One X, as it’d be a bit pointless to be honest.
We think gamers are going to fill up the 1TB Xbox One pretty soon. Thankfully the Xbox One X is compatible with external hard drives using USB 3.0. So if you need some extra storage, check out our list of the best external hard drives.
Bioware has announced that the initial alpha test for Anthem will take place the weekend after next – and you can sign up to try and get yourself a spot right now – plus we’ve got our first look at the PC system requirements.
If you’re keen to test the game – a sci-fi online co-op shooter, which is something very different for Bioware – then you can sign up here via the EA Community Playtesting Hub (you’ll need an EA account).
Before you get too excited about jumping into your mech suit and flying around killing the various nasty-looking aliens that plague the world of Anthem, bear in mind that this first alpha test is going to be rough around the edges, and “mainly a tech test” as Mark Darrah, the executive producer of the game, clarified.
Also, there aren’t a huge amount of tester slots available, so your odds of inclusion are probably on the thin side.
First-come, first-served
According to Darrah, testers will seemingly be picked on a ‘first-come first-served’ basis, although he admitted he wasn’t fully sure on that score. So if you want to get in on the ground floor with testing on December 8, it’s probably best to move now.
Meanwhile, as Wccftech spotted, the signup process reveals the PC system requirements, although these may simply be early goalposts and might not represent the final spec needed for the game. Darrah has previously said that the team will be busy optimizing right up until the shipping date.
At any rate, the requirements currently stand at a minimum of an Intel Core i5 3570 or AMD FX-6350 processor, with at least 8GB of system RAM, and on the video card front, you’ll need to be running an Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (4GB) or an AMD Radeon R9 390 (8GB) or better.
You will also need at least 60GB of free drive space, and you’ll have to be running a 64-bit version of Windows 10.
Anthem is due out on February 22, 2019, on the PC, PS4 and Xbox One, with a pre-launch demo set to be available earlier in the month for those who pre-order the game (and Origin or EA Access members).
Koei Tecmo has been one of the biggest supporters of the Switch and it doesn’t appear as if it will be slowing down production on the hybrid platform any time soon. Following the announcement Dead or Alive Xtreme 3: Scarlet would surface on Nintendo’s latest system early next year, the Japanese company is now reportedly teasing a new game announcement for Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC via a new website, with the following line:
The platform puzzle game Teslagrad has already been released a few times digitally on Nintendo systems and now it will finally receive the physical treatment on the Switch.
Following its arrival in December last year, the art director on the Rain Games’ eShop release asked fans on Twitter which box art they would prefer for Teslagrad’s physical release. Take a look at both of them in the tweet below:
In a recent Kickstarter update, it has been revealed WayForward will be assisting with the development of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. After a series of delays, Producer Koji ‘Iga’ Igarashi said the experienced team would help him realise his “vision” for the game, and would hopefully be able to make it even better.
“In consideration of their past achievements, WayForward will be helping the development team realize my vision for this game. Maybe I am even more excited than everyone else – with their help Bloodstained will become an even better game.”
Only days after a number of analysts said Nintendo would fail to reach its target to ship 38 million units by March 2019, a new report is now suggesting the Switch will outsell the PlayStation 4 next year.
According to the latest projections from Strategy Analytics’ Connected Home Devices service, the Switch is expected to shift 17.3 million units worldwide in 2019. In contrast, Sony’s combined PS4 and PS4 Pro sales are predicted to reach a total of 17.1 million. Microsoft’s Xbox One and Xbox One X systems will remain in third place, shifting 10 million units.
The American automotive company Tesla, Inc (formerly Tesla Motors) is all about making electric cars more viable and affordable. Elon Musk, the co-founder, CEO and tech entrepreneur behind it – who is also responsible for the SpaceX program – is known for thinking outside the box.
According to IGN, Musk reportedly tried to get Nintendo to collaborate with Tesla and release an in-car version of Mario Kart. This was discovered during a brief Twitter exchange when Musk was questioned about making particular video games playable within the Tesla automotive line while the cars recharge. When a user asked about the Mario Kart series, Musk said the manufacturer had approached Nintendo, but the Japanese company wouldn’t license it to them. Apparently, though, Musk is open to the idea of Valve’s digital Steam service eventually becoming an option.
