This holiday season is the perfect time to take a deep dive into gaming. The season to be merry is also the season for gaming, and Microsoft's Xbox One is still a great gaming console to sink your teeth into. Whether it's you, dear reader, or someone dear to you you're shopping for this holiday season, we have you covered. Here's Clutchpoints' 2020 Holiday Gift Guide for Xbox One.
WHY THE XBOX ONE?
Although the 2020 holiday season welcomed the next-generation with the release of Microsoft's Series X/S, the console the preceded it is still a perfectly fine console to play with during the holidays. If you missed out on the last generation of console gaming, getting into it now is cheaper than ever. As the new generation drops, the previous-generation consoles are dropping in price. Think of it this way – you're getting the best versions of the previous generation's consoles for the lowest price. You can't get a better deal than that.
Meanwhile, major supply issues still make it hard for many of us to get our hands on the Series X/S. Instead of humoring scalpers and purchasing an overpriced Series X/S, just get the previous generation console if you don't have one yet. Microsoft's powerful machine is home to thousands of games that can give you millions of hours' worth of gameplay.
GETTING THE RIGHT CONSOLE FOR YOU: XBOX ONE VS. XBOX ONE S VS. XBOX ONE X
There are three versions of the Xbox One to choose from. The main Xbox One console is discontinued, but you can still get it from resellers on eBay for about $160. It's the system you'll need to have the base Xbox One experience to play the console's first-party titles. However, we recommend you get the more recent versions of the Xbox One, either the Xbox One S or the Xbox One X.
The Xbox One S is an upgraded version with a sleeker body. It's 40% smaller than the original version, fitting more snuggly in your living room. It's capable of playing in HDR and you can watch 4K videos with it, but not native 4K gaming. Getting an Xbox One S on Amazon nowadays will cost you around $429.
Meanwhile, the strongest machine of the previous generation is the Xbox One X, which boasts native 4K gaming and an improved CPU that loads 60% faster compared to its earlier versions. Getting an Xbox One X will give you the best gaming had to offer in the previous generation, and it's still a relevant gaming console for a couple more years. Get your Xbox One X on Amazon for $475.
Whichever Xbox One you choose, rest assured that you'll be able to play any game you want for Xbox One. The three versions may have different technical specifications, but they all share the same gaming library. Speaking of game libraries…
PURCHASE AN XBOX GAME PASS
To get the most out of your holiday gaming experience, we highly recommend getting an Xbox Game Pass subscription. It's an investment that gives you a lot of value. For only $9.99 a month, you'll gain access to hundreds of games in the Game Pass Library, including Microsoft exclusives as well as a rotating selection of third-party titles. Any game that enters the Game Pass library will also be available for purchase to you once they go out of the rotation for a discount, so any game you may have missed can be easily added to your collection for a lower price.
BEST SELLING GAMES
If you're not sold on the Game Pass, or if you're into having a physical collection of your games, then good news for you: Xbox One has a healthy library of games with lots of depth and variety. Included here are Microsoft's exclusives, like Fable and Halo, as well as some of the best third-party multi-platform games from the previous generation, like Witcher 3 and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Below is a list of the best selling Xbox One games of all-time:
- Grand Theft Auto V – Rockstar Games
- PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds – PUBG Corporation
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Activision
- Call of Duty: WWII – Activision
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – Rockstar Games
In terms of critical acclaim, Xbox One is also the home of many of the best games to have ever been created. Here are some of the best Xbox One games according to video game critics:
- Sunset Overdrive – Insomniac Games
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection – 343 Studios
- Forza Horizon 4 – Playground Games
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps – Moon Studios
- Sekiro Shadows Die Twice – FromSoftware
ACCESSORIES
If you already have an Xbox One or looking to add more bling to your console, then you can shop for accessories. Regardless of which version of the console you have, all of these accessories will work for your console.
The first item on our list is the GAEMS Vanguard Personal Gaming Environment. It's a storage bag for your Xbox One. In case you're traveling for the holidays, then it'd be a shame if you'd have to leave your beloved console behind. This storage bag will be able to fit your console, controllers, power supplies, and accessories for safe transport. What more, it comes with a 1366×768 monitor that will let you play wherever you are. Find a power plug in the airport and play while you wait for your flight – this bad boy lets you do that.
Playing a lot of multiplayer games with your mates? Then communication is important. But what if you don't have a headset, or you can't talk because it's 2AM in the morning and you don't want to wake up everyone in the house? Then get yourself an Ortz Xbox One Chatpad Keyboard Keypad. It's a fully-functional keyboard that connects wirelessly to your console via Bluetooth connection. It's also compatible with other devices, such as laptops and computers, so it's not something that will only be used while playing with your Xbox One.
Planning on streaming your games during the holidays? Then pick up an Elgato HD60 S Capture Card. Every respectable streamer knows about Elgato. It's the best brand out there for anything related to stream, which includes stream decks and key lights. But the most important among their wide range of products is the Capture Card. It allows you to record and live stream your games from your console to whichever platform you want, from Facebook to Youtube and to Twitch. Have multiple consoles aside from the Xbox One? This capture card can be used for any of them.
BEST BUY: XBOX ELITE CONTROLLER
Microsoft has been the leader in terms of hardware over the past couple of console generations, and they perfected their controller design with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. It's the follow-up to the Series 1, and it's been hailed as the best hardware or peripheral during E3 2019 by Game Critics Awards.
Don't think too lightly about this controller. It's a premium controller that gives you the best gaming experience a controller can ever give you. Retailing for $179.99, it almost costs as much as a console all by itself. But it's not overpriced, it's worth every penny you'll be spending for it.
What's so good about the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2? It's made with pro players in mind. It's enhanced with new adjustable-tension thumbsticks, shorter hair trigger locks, and a wrap-around rubberized grip. If you don't understand what these mean, then just trust us in this. Once you have this in the palm of your hands, you'll understand by the feel of it.
The controller's base buttons and triggers already feel perfect, but you won't wisen up about a better experience until the moment you finally experience it. Customize the controller further with 6 sets of thumbsticks, 4 sets of paddles, and 2 sets of D-pads. Play games the way you want to, this controller will enable your wildest gaming fantasies.
Moreover, the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 can go for as long as you can. It comes with 40 hours of rechargeable battery life and can be charged via USB-C cable.
This controller is also compatible with the next-generation console, the Series X/S, and as well as with your Windows PC, so it's also a versatile purchase if you're a multi-platform gamer. You'll be able to continue enjoying games the way you want them to be controlled by the time you upgrade to the next generation console.
CONCLUSION
The Xbox One is still a beast of a machine even with the next-generation of consoles already arriving. But with shortage issues abound and very little means to get an Xbox Series X/S, then getting an Xbox One instead for the holidays is still a viable option. It will still take some time before the next-generation of consoles will mature and become worth the investment. In the meantime, having an Xbox one or upgrading from what you have right now is a more viable and safer option.
We hope that this guide helps you with your holiday gift shopping. Enjoy your new console, games, and accessories, and unlock all achievements that you can during the holiday break. Game on!
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