SAVE MONEY
Gaming is an expensive hobby. You have to buy tech, game copies themselves aren’t cheap, and some will require additional hardware in order to play. Thankfully, there are ways for people to enjoy video games without going completely bankrupt.
PS Plus / Xbox Live
Both PlayStation and Microsoft’s online services offer a handful of games per month included with the purchase of a membership. These games rotate out every month, but remain available to play so long as they’re downloaded on your console’s hard drive.
Buy Used
While it’s not the ideal method to support developers and creators, buying used games is a good way for the money-conscious consumer to save a few bucks off the list price. Used games can be purchased online and from physical stores.
Trade-In for Credit
Brand new triple-A games are expensive, but it’s easy to knock the price down a bit at retail stores by trading in old games for in-store credit. This helps you clean out your library, get rid of old games you’ve already played, and knocks a few bucks off the overall MSRP on that new game.
Game of the Year Editions
“Game of the Year” editions of games tend to be a great value for those looking to get the most out of their purchase. These bundles combine the core games with most of (if not all) of their DLC for a price lower than the standard retail price of $60. Granted, you’ll have to wait for it, but it’s well worth the time.
Wait for Price Drops
It’s the least fun option of the bunch, but one of the best ways to save money on games and hardware is simply to give it some time. Things – especially physical hardware and games – tend to drop in price after several months, often to a much more affordable point.
Flash / Seasonal Sales
Digital is a great way to find sales on games, since virtually every single online platform has a regular and surprise sales to tie in with holidays, seasons, and game releases. Steam has its infamous sales, PSN and Microsoft offer discounts to members and flash sales appear on marketplaces all the time.
Buy Refurbished
Buying all-new hardware gets expensive quickly, but an easy way to save a fair amount on it is to buy refurbished hardware directly from the manufacturer. Refurbished hardware has been returned and repaired by the manufacturer, and they’re often sold directly for significantly lower prices via online stores.
