{"id":44274,"date":"2022-12-01T09:48:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T17:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/?p=44274"},"modified":"2022-12-01T10:42:09","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T18:42:09","slug":"2022-gift-guide-video-game-hardware-and-accessories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/guides\/2022-gift-guide-video-game-hardware-and-accessories\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 Gift Guide: Video Game Hardware and Accessories"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Several years deep into the latest console releases, you\u2019d think it would be easier to discuss the many options available at the hands of video game shoppers over the holidays. Heck, maybe there\u2019s even a new inexpensive bundle box or two that\u2019ll have items includes alongside the console, making for an attractive box and perhaps a free game or two to spark excitement. Alas, it\u2019s the year 2022, where we\u2019re stuck in the tidal shifts between supply-chain production issues and rising costs due to inflation (disproportionate as they might be). Instead, we\u2019re left with a different sort of exciting aspect of shopping for video game systems over the holidays, one folks haven\u2019t been able to enjoy for several years: if they shop early, they should be able to get a system this year without all the hoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will this actually be the case this year? Who knows, but more and more retailers have been able to put stock of the ever-elusive PS5 on shelves over the past few months, and more online retailers have made pockets of stock available in one way or another. If you\u2019d like a few hints on how to keep tabs on stock of the various systems through trackers, please check out Ben\u2019s Bargains 2021 Video Game Hardware Guide<\/a><\/strong> about halfway down. Beyond, give this year\u2019s guide a look and see what\u2019s new in the landscape of consoles and accessories for the players in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Fans of Kratos, Comfy Controllers and 4K Horizons, Gift This.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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PlayStation 5 Console \u2013 God of War: Rganarok Bundle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pros:<\/em><\/strong> 4K Gaming, PS4 Compatibility, HDR Disc Playback, GAMES | MSRP:<\/em><\/strong> $559<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But wait! Look! Is that a bundle I see before me? As someone who\u2019s been covering the most unique, all-inclusive ways to give video game hardware as awesome gifts over the years, it\u2019s admittedly been quite a bummer to see the snazzy All-In-One Bundle dry up and become such a scarce item.  This year, however, despite the rampant demand and chip supply\/production complications, Sony will be offering a brand-new bundle that coincides with the release of the hotly-anticipated God of War: Ragnarok<\/em>. How easy this will be to find remains a mystery; however, the optimist in me seems to think that if they\u2019re designing specific PS5 retail boxes to draw attention to the bundle and, of course, will be including the digital info in the paperwork included with the system \u2026 then they\u2019re going to be reasonable available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opinions about the power of the PS5 over the Xbox Series X have largely become moot, as they\u2019re quite similar under the hood and will play most of the games anyone\u2019s wanting to play, so the topic once again gravitates towards other factors: exclusive titles and the strength of supplemental features. PlayStation added several noteworthy games to the PS5-only roster this year, notably the sequels to sprawling action franchises like God of War: Ragnarok<\/em> and Horizon: Forbidden West<\/em>, to which their execution of both gameplay and aesthetics result in not-to-be-missed adventures. There\u2019s also the remake of PlayStation darling The Last of Us<\/em>, and that\u2019ll become relevant at the beginning of next year when people are wanting to replay the game before the HBO series gets started.  Couple those things with an outstanding, comfy controller and continuously reliable 4K disc playback, and you\u2019ve got the makings of a console that\u2019s moved ahead of the pack in desirability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check Price\/Availability on Amazon<\/a><\/span> Or Search Ben’s for PS5 Console Deals<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For Fans of High-End HD Tech, Legacy Gaming, and Bethesda, Gift This.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Xbox Series X Console<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pros:<\/em><\/strong> 4K Gaming\/Media, Multi-Gen Back Compatibility, Not THAT Big | MSRP:<\/em><\/strong> $499<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both primary systems have been a pain to buy over the past few years, and that conversation usually lumps the Xbox Series X and the PS5 together as simply \u201chard-to-find\u201d without much need to emphasize which is more difficult. When it comes to power under the hood, the specs may give the Xbox Series X a slight processing advantage, but if they\u2019re viewed side-by-side it\u2019s about as close as you can get \u2026 and outside of exclusive titles and compatibility choices, there aren\u2019t many factors giving the edge to either one. Truth be told, it\u2019s been a quieter year on the Xbox side of things, without much in the way of attention-grabbing exclusives that might push this decision any further in their direction; heavy hitter games like Bethesda\u2019s Starfield<\/em> and Arkane\u2019s Redfall<\/em> were pushed to 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, the Xbox Series X continues to rely on the pillars from which it was built: rock-solid operation, stunningly up-to-date graphics, and a dedication to backwards compatibility.  While it\u2019s true that the Xbox team halted its efforts this year to add any further backwards compatible titles, this BC dedication resulted in the current generation of Xbox consoles being able to play close to 5,000 games across the platform\u2019s history: 600+ of them being Xbox 360 titles and several dozen being original Xbox classics. It also shouldn\u2019t go without saying that the process of unplugging the previous generation of Xbox peripherals from the One system and reconnecting\/resynching them with the new Series console is a generally seamless process, all of which makes the choice of upgrading someone\u2019s console as a gift pretty much a no-brainer. And it\u2019s still a perfectly fine 4K disc player, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check Price\/Availability on Amazon<\/a><\/span> Or Search Ben’s for Xbox Series X Deals<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For Those Who Want Available, Reliable, Family-Friendly Fun, Gift This.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Nintendo Switch OLED Edition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pros: <\/em><\/strong>Improved, Larger OLED Screen, Metal Body, Available<\/em> | Cons:<\/em><\/strong> $50 More | MSRP:<\/em><\/strong> $349<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rumors have circulated over the past 2-3 years that Nintendo might be working on a beefed-up version of their Switch console \u2013 a higher-end \u201cSwitch Plus\u201d, if you will. Given the age of the console\u2019s life cycle, one would expect for this to be coming in the not-so-distant future; the Switch launched in 2017, after all. Instead, what materialized is an OLED screen model of the console everyone\u2019s come to know and love, providing a dose of disappointment to those who expected improved graphics or performance \u2026 but also a satisfying new version with improved hardware all-around.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Released last October, the Switch OLED model obviously boasts an improved screen, jumping from a 6-inch LCD to a 7-inch OLED for improved on-the-go play. A further adjustment to this comes in the widened stand for the screen that assists with Tabletop mode, further making this an appealing portable system even in comparison to their Switch Lite models. On top of that, the OLED model doubles up on the internal storage available, giving it 64GB of available space, and encases the system in a metal alloy body. Yes, these are upgrades to a system that\u2019s 5 years into its product cycle \u2013 the Gamecube stuck around for 6 years and the Wii U lingered for 5 \u2013 and there\u2019s a $50 upcharge, but there are a lot of great things still going for it. For instance, the Switch library has grown into an impressive range of both Nintendo franchises and third-party heavy hitters — Skyrim, The Witcher, Dark Souls<\/em> and Minecraft<\/em> are all options \u2013 and the upticks in material build quality suggest forward thinking for the Switch\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check Price\/Availability on Amazon<\/a><\/span> Or Search Ben’s for Switch Console Deals<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For Those Who Light Up at Steam Sales And Want Their PC Library Mobile, Gift This.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Steam Deck<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pros:<\/em><\/strong> Play Steam Game Library on Strong Mobile Device | Cons:<\/em><\/strong> Battery Life | MSRP:<\/em><\/strong> $399-649<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A specific piece of equipment designed to play PC games from a user\u2019s Steam account on-the-go isn\u2019t the easiest sell, because you\u2019ve got to explain why this isn\u2019t essentially a laptop and what it does that, say, a Switch wouldn’t. Once you\u2019ve worked yourself into the conversation and learned that the Steam Deck does exactly what\u2019s being described, focusing on the nuts-\u2018n-bolts of gaming instead of other PC noise and making it straightforward to play computer games on a ready-to-go device, the question kind of answers itself. The mastermind at Steam\/Valve, Gabe Newell, has stated that he\u2019s always wanted this product as a gamer and further wanted it for PC developers, and it\u2019s easy to see why. Broad questions like \u201cWhen will this game come to consoles?\u201d and \u201cWhy is it worth it to build a gaming PC?\u201d could reach an end with a device like the Steam Deck that makes it all \u2026 easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a processor named after one of the main characters from Final Fantasy VII, a Linux-based version of the Steam desktop client, and a team of people curating and ensuring that games are \u201cverified\u201d to run on the device, the Steam Deck has a lot of thought poured into its power and accessibility.  Consoles have been priced relatively affordably — $399 for 64GB of storage; $520 for 128GB; $649 for 256GB \u2013 and the anticipated delivery dates have been trimmed down to just 1-2 weeks.  There\u2019s also a peripheral charging and connection dock now available, which makes it easier to plug-and-play the system into conventional TVs and hook up other devices via USB-C ports. If someone has ever seen a PC gamer get all googly-eyed over the prospect of the \u201cSteam Sale\u201d and its heaps of cheap games, and wanted to revel in the good times, the Steam Deck might just be the way they finally take the plunge.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click to Buy Steam Deck<\/a><\/span> Or Search Ben’s for Steam Deck Deals<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For Those Into Getting Lots of Gaming For Their Buck, Gift This.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Xbox or PlayStation Branded Gift Cards – Pre-Paid Subscriptions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

$100 Xbox Card on Amazon<\/a><\/span> $110 PS+ Wallet Funds on Amazon<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been lots of talk over the past few years about when and how the subscription services would ultimately change, moving into their next evolutionary step as the old, simple paradigm of \u201cfree downloads + online gaming\u201d reaches its end. Sure enough, that finally happened this year as PlayStation Plus transformed into a 3-tier subscription service: the $9.99\/month tier is the \u201cfree games + online\u201d as it\u2019s known; the $14.99 tier unlocks a gaming library similar to Xbox\u2019s Game Pass; and the $17.99 tier unlocks an extensive retro gaming backlog. The change isn\u2019t as drastic, but the team at Xbox also did a bit of restructuring by scrapping any further 360 and original Xbox freebies \u2013 and backwards compatibility \u2013 while keeping the number of free titles each month to 2, doing a heavy number of the perceived value of the Gold-only tier. The two lowest $10 sub tiers are looking \u2026 old, and obsolete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The $15 tiers, on the other hand, have risen more and more in value, and that\u2019s where our gift recommendation comes from this year. Instead of the year-long Gold or bottom-tier PlayStation Plus subscription cards that we\u2019ve generally recommended here, it\u2019s probably best to go ahead and splurge on the more expensive $15 subscription programs for either the Xbox or the PlayStation to better maximize the dollar value. The Xbox has previously made Game Pass Ultimate prepaid subs available in up to 3-month increments; PlayStation hasn\u2019t done the same yet, but they have a clearly labeled “PlayStation Plus” digital gift card \/ “wallet funds”. Best bet? Find a way of wrapping up a printed Sony or Microsoft gift card for them to apply to their accounts, or just hook them up with an Amazon gift card with a specific purpose in mind (hint: they may not use it for that).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For the Gamer That\u2019ll Appreciate a Touch of Personality and Usefulness, Gift This.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Exquisite Games \u201cCable Guy\u201d Character Device Holders<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pros:<\/em><\/strong> Holds Controllers, Holds Cellphones, Adds Personality to Game Space | MSRP:<\/em><\/strong> $20-40<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 2 aspects to these statues that\u2019ll appeal to gamers. The first should be obvious: these are awesome ways to represent one\u2019s fandom in a functional way. Unlike, say, Funko Pop figures that merely sit there for the sole purpose of proclaiming one\u2019s appreciation for a franchise, these will actually hold your favorite controller and wait patiently until it\u2019s picked up again. The designers of these products \u2013 represented here by Exquisite Gaming\u2019s Cable Guy brand \u2013 have figured out the right height and character arm distance to comfortably hold most modern controllers, at the perfect level for maximum stability and character recognition.  Keeping controllers safe from fluids or Cheeto dust? Let Sonic or Vault Boy hold \u2018em above such hazards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other fun aspect of these \u201cdevice holders\u201d for gamers is, perhaps oddly enough, how they also function as mobile phone stands. If the player\u2019s trying to pull off a certain combo of skills in a fighting game (or looking at a map or tutorial), they can have Claptrap hold up their phone with the button connection loaded up on the phone screen while brawling it out on the primary one.  Or, maybe there\u2019s a sports event on and they\u2019d like to flip it on while in the middle of a gaming session.  Just fork it over to Spyro or Ryu to hold for a while. Yes, it\u2019s a simple concept with other, simpler solutions, but if there\u2019s someone in your life who even mildly appreciates one of the available popular characters \u2013 which extend beyond gaming; Wolverine, Spider-man, and  they\u2019ll get a charge out of these device holders.  Not a literal charge, mind you: a charge cable may be included, but actual cables aren\u2019t looped through the statue itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check Price of Vault Boy on Amazon<\/a><\/span> Check Price of Sonic on Amazon<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For Those Nostalgic For the Retro Arcade Glow But With Limited Space, Gift This.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Arcade1UP’s CounterCade and PartyCade Models<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pros:<\/em><\/strong> Retro Gaming That Occupies Small Spaces | Cons:<\/em><\/strong> Tight Control Spaces | MSRP:<\/em><\/strong> Varies ($150-300)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By now, even the significant others and family members of starry-eyed gamers have probably seen a photo or video of someone who\u2019s transformed their basement or spare room into an arcade, thanks in large part to the affordable, fit-to-scale cabinets from Arcade 1Up. They\u2019ve made it pretty easy to replicate the lovely neon radiance in any dedicated space, but they\u2019ve also made it possible to just slide one near full-sized arcade machine into a corner for a splash of functional enjoyment, as the Arcade 1UP machines are also significantly above-average quality than one might expect for a pint-sized replication. Thing is, even that might occupy too much for space for some, but why should they be left out of the nostalgia?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, Arcade 1UP introduced something new for that crowd: their PartyCade and CounterCade line. The Countercade is somewhat self-explanatory, compacting the scale of an arcade cabinet into a structure that both fits on a countertop and captures the retro feel of old-school machines. PartyCades are slightly different but essentially go in the other direction, condensing the cabinet into a long, slim profile that can be mounted to the wall (or, with the stabilizer feet attached, also placed on a tabletop surface). Sure, these smaller retro cabinets may be getting a little brave with what they\u2019re doing \u2013 after all, the actual games can be bought and saved on most game consoles and any PC for a fraction of the price \u2013 but these scaled-down cabinets still capture enough of that vintage magic to be worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Super Pac-Man PartyCade at BestBuy<\/a><\/span> NBA Jam CounterCade at BestBuy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Several years deep into the latest console releases, you\u2019d think it would be easier to discuss the many options available at the hands of video game shoppers over the holidays. Heck, maybe there\u2019s even a new inexpensive bundle box or two that\u2019ll have items includes alongside the console, making for an attractive box and perhaps […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":44277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[32,2375,243,1683,102,25,2265],"class_list":["post-44274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-arcade","tag-consoles","tag-gift-guide","tag-nintendo-switch","tag-splendiferous","tag-video-games","tag-xbox-series-x"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44274"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44473,"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44274\/revisions\/44473"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}