How do I set up game deal alerts for my wishlist across multiple stores?
For avid gamers, the thrill of a new release is only matched by the excitement of catching a favorite title on sale. However, keeping track of price drops across numerous digital storefronts – from Steam and Epic Games Store to PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo eShops – can feel like an impossible quest. Manually checking each store’s wishlist or browsing daily deals is time-consuming and prone to missed opportunities. Fortunately, there are powerful tools and strategies available to automate this process, ensuring you never miss a prime discount on games you’ve been eyeing.
Why Automated Game Deal Alerts Are Essential
In today’s expansive gaming landscape, sales are frequent but often fleeting. Setting up automated deal alerts transforms a tedious manual hunt into a streamlined, efficient system. You’ll save money by only purchasing games when they hit your desired price point, discover new games or DLC you might have overlooked during a flash sale, and reclaim valuable time that would otherwise be spent price-checking. It’s about smart shopping, allowing you to grow your game library without breaking the bank.
The Best Tools for Multi-Store Wishlist Tracking
To effectively track deals across multiple platforms, you’ll need third-party aggregators that pull data from various storefronts. These services are the backbone of a robust deal alert system.
IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD)
Widely considered the gold standard for PC game deals, IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD) tracks prices from dozens of reputable PC storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Humble Store, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, and many more. You can import your Steam wishlist directly or manually add games to your ITAD collection. Once a game on your wishlist drops below a certain percentage or price threshold, ITAD can send you email notifications. It also offers historical price data, helping you determine if a current deal is truly a good one.
GG.deals
Similar to ITAD, GG.deals provides excellent price comparison and deal tracking. It boasts a clean, intuitive interface and often includes deals for console games (though its primary focus remains PC). Like ITAD, GG.deals allows you to import wishlists from Steam and other PC launchers, set price alerts, and view comprehensive price history charts. It’s a fantastic alternative or complementary tool, especially if you appreciate its user experience.
CheapShark
CheapShark is another reliable aggregator focusing primarily on PC game deals. While its interface might be simpler than ITAD or GG.deals, it’s highly effective at finding the lowest prices across a broad range of digital stores. It’s particularly useful for quick price checks and can also be integrated into other applications via its API. While it doesn’t have the advanced wishlist features of the others, it’s a solid data source.
Store-Specific Wishlists (with limitations)
Most major storefronts – Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop, GOG – offer their own wishlist functionality and often send notifications for games on sale. However, their major limitation is that they only track deals within their own store. For a truly comprehensive multi-store alert system, you’ll need the aggregators mentioned above.
How to Set Up Your Multi-Store Deal Alert System
Creating your personal deal-finding machine is straightforward:
- Choose Your Primary Aggregator: Decide between IsThereAnyDeal or GG.deals as your main hub. Both are excellent, so personal preference for their interface might be the deciding factor.
- Import/Build Your Wishlist:
- For PC games, connect your Steam account to automatically import your Steam wishlist. You can also manually add games from other PC stores.
- For console games, manually add them to your chosen aggregator’s wishlist if it supports console tracking (GG.deals has better console support). Otherwise, rely on the console store’s native wishlist.
- Configure Alert Preferences: Within your chosen aggregator, navigate to your settings or wishlist preferences.
- Set up email alerts for price drops.
- Define price thresholds (e.g., alert me when the game is 50% off or drops below $15).
- Consider browser push notifications if the service offers them.
- Utilize Store-Specific Alerts for Exclusives: For PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo exclusives, make sure they are on your respective store’s official wishlist. While they won’t track competitor deals, they’ll notify you of their own sales.
- Regularly Check Your Alerts: Keep an eye on your email or notifications. Deals can be time-sensitive!
Tips for Maximizing Your Gaming Savings
Beyond setting up alerts, a few strategies can further enhance your deal-hunting prowess:
- Be Patient: Unless a game is an absolute must-have on day one, waiting for a sale is almost always rewarded. Most games will see significant discounts within a few months to a year of release.
- Set Realistic Price Thresholds: Don’t expect a brand-new AAA title to drop to $5 overnight. Set alerts for reasonable discounts (e.g., 25-50% off initially, then deeper cuts later).
- Look for Bundles: Services like Humble Bundle, Fanatical, and Epic Games Store often offer game bundles at incredible value. Keep an eye on these.
- Check Price History: Use the historical price data provided by ITAD or GG.deals to understand typical sale patterns and identify truly deep discounts versus minor price adjustments.
- Utilize Free Game Promotions: Platforms like Epic Games Store and Amazon Prime Gaming frequently give away free titles. Add these to your library whenever possible.
Never Miss Another Game Deal
Setting up a robust game deal alert system for your wishlist across multiple stores is a game-changer for budget-conscious gamers. By leveraging powerful aggregators like IsThereAnyDeal and GG.deals, you transform the daunting task of tracking countless sales into an automated, efficient process. With a little initial setup, you’ll ensure that the games you want most land in your library at the best possible price, allowing you to enjoy more gaming without the financial stress. Happy hunting!
