The Holidays are just right around the corner, and we understand that you, dear reader, might be having a hard time finding the right gifts. Whether the gifts are for you or for a loved one, this 2020 Holiday Gift Guide will help you make the right purchase. Gamers are blessed to have such a great array of games to choose from this holiday season. With this guide, we'll help you narrow your choices to just the best products that the Xbox Series X/S can offer.
Our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide for the Xbox Series X/S will help you choose the right console, introduce you to some of the best games, and give you options for accessories to bling out your brand-new console. Without further ado, let's get right into things.
WHY THE XBOX SERIES X/S?
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Microsoft's newest console for the next-generation is the mechanically-superior between it and Sony's PlayStation 5. (If you're in the market for the PS5, check out our 2020 Holiday Guide for the PS5.) It's got the power and the library to back itself up, and believe us when we tell you that it's worth every penny you'll be spending on it.
Another advantage the Xbox Series X/S has over its competition is backward compatibility. Longtime fans will appreciate the expanded gaming library they will have access to. Meanwhile, newcomers to the Xbox community will have a large array of games to choose from, including earlier entries to long-running series.
Microsoft's focus on improving their console's hardware is very apparent here. They did really well in designing a powerful console that will surely dominate the competition for the foreseeable future.
XBOX SERIES S VS XBOX SERIES X
Microsoft's naming conventions for their consoles may be confusing at first. The next-generation consoles are named too closely for their previous-generation brethren. If by any chance you were looking for our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide for Xbox One instead, it's completely understandable. We've been there, before, no pressure.
For the next-generation consoles, we have the Xbox Series X/S. The Series X is the flagship model for this console generation, while the Series S is like a “lite”, more budget-friendly version.
The Xbox Series X boasts the most powerful hardware available right now in the console market. Its powerful hardware virtually eliminates load times. Meanwhile, its custom-made graphics card can play not only 4K but also 8K resolution for games. Note that games right now don't even feature 8K resolution yet, but this should let you know about how future-proofed Microsoft has made their console.
Meanwhile, the smaller and much cheaper Xbox Series S is also a strong contender in today's gaming console market. It's more compact, thanks to the exclusion of a disc drive. That means the Xbox Series S is a digital-only console. Its hardware takes a slight downgrade from the Series X, with the most notable exclusion is its ability to play 4K. However, it's still a powerful device that can get you ready for next-generation console gaming for a cheaper price.
BEWARE OF SCALPERS
Sadly, the high demand for Xbox Series X/S makes it almost impossible to purchase one now. Pre-orders for the console until 2021 are already filled, and the only way you can grab an Xbox Series X/S nowadays is through resellers.
Be careful in buying from resellers, as the prices they sell the console for are jacked up. The high anticipation for the console's release is driving the prices up to exorbitant levels. For reference, the MSRP for Xbox Series X/S is $499 for the Series X and $299 for Series S.
XBOX GAME PASS
As mentioned earlier, the Xbox Series X/S is home to thousands of games, and a lot of it can be yours for a very low price. Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass for the Xbox Series X/S will unlock more than a hundred games for you at launch. Don't worry, the games included in the selection include Triple-A games and not vaporware. Rest assured that the games in the selection will be worth your time and that there will be a huge selection for you to choose from.
Here's a list of some of the best games you can get from the Xbox Game Pass when you subscribe right now:
- DRAGON QUEST® XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age™ – Definitive Edition – Square Enix
- Gears Tactics – Xbox Game Studios
- DOOM Eternal Standard Edition – Bethesda Softworks
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ – Electronic Arts
- NieR:Automata™ BECOME AS GODS Edition – Square Enix
The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is usually $14.99 a month, but you can get it for only $1 for your first month during this holiday season.
NEXT-GENERATION GAMING
The biggest reason to get an Xbox Series X/S right now is for you to experience next-generation gaming during this holiday season. The next-generation takes gaming to new frontiers – with even better graphics and more immersive gameplay than ever. The next-generation gaming library for Xbox Series X/S is a healthy mix of new IPs and continuation of old series. Check out the following games that you should pick up to add to your holiday gaming list:
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Ubisoft
- Immortals Fenyx Rising – Ubisoft
- Watch Dogs: Legion – Ubisoft
- NBA 2K21 – 2K Sports
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – Activision
More games are coming, like the much-anticipated Halo Infinite. The Xbox Series X/S opens up the floodway for the future of gaming, and you shouldn't miss out on that!
ACCESSORIES FOR XBOX SERIES X/S
The Xbox Series X/S will be able to use all accessories compatible with the Xbox One. Nonetheless, there are a couple of Xbox Series X/S specific accessories that you might like. Here are just some of the accessories you might want to get for your new console:
- Xbox Core Controller – While your old Xbox One controller is still compatible with the Xbox Series X/S, the new Xbox Core Controller is a great addition to your console collection, especially if you don't have any extra controllers lying around for some multiplayer-goodness. Microsoft improved its wireless connection and made a new design for its D-pad. Furthermore, a new “Share” button has been added on the controller, allowing you to seamlessly share your most epic gaming moments to social media.
- Seagate Storage Expansion Card – While the Xbox Series X comes with a large 1TB storage, expect that the next-generation games will easily eat up your space. If you're a digital games hoarder, then you'll need some extra space to make room for the whole library. This is especially true for the Xbox Series S as it only ships with 512GB of storage space. Pick up the official Storage Expansion Card for the Xbox Series X/S made by Seagate to make sure that you'd be able to download all the games you'd like to play during the holidays.
- PDP Gaming Ultra Slim Charge System – For your console to keep up with your nonstop gaming this holiday break, then you'll need to pick up a charging system. Make sure that your controller always has enough juice when you play with the PDP's charging system. Your Xbox Core or Xbox One Controllers will easily snap over the charging plate and your controller will charge. No need for extra cables to hook up your controller to the charger. No more cable hassle!
CONSIDER: XBOX ELITE WIRELESS CONTROLLER SERIES 2
If you want a more premium experience for your controller, then consider getting an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. If there's such a thing as an artisanal controller, then this is it. Fully-customizable for the best gaming experience for you, you can swap its D-Pad, hair triggers, and even the joysticks to make sure you have the best control possible. It also prides itself on its amazing 40-hour battery life, making sure that it'll never run out of gas while you're playing.
If personalized gaming is your thing, then you can get no closer to it than with this controller. While the default configuration for the controller is already optimized for gaming with pro players in mind, you can improve your experience further by mixing and matching the different customizable parts that come with the Xbox Elite Series 2. Create your very own controller for an experience that is tailored specifically for you.
CONCLUSION
The next generation of console gaming is upon us, and the Xbox Series X/S is your gateway to the future of gaming. We still haven't seen the best that this juggernaut of a console can offer, so it's going to be a worthy investment for you. The next couple of years will fully unlock the potential of this console, and the next couple of years will be an exciting time for us Xbox Series X/S users. But for now, we hope our gift guide helped you in your purchasing decisions this holiday season.
Whichever you got for yourself, the most important part of gaming is enjoying and having a great time. We wish you the best of luck in your games and hope you have a very fun time with your new console. Happy gaming!
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