How to set up alerts for desired game deals and discount codes?

Never Miss a Great Deal: Your Guide to Game Deal Alerts

For avid gamers, few things are as satisfying as snagging a highly anticipated title or a hidden gem at a significantly reduced price. The thrill of finding that perfect game deal or discount code can elevate your gaming experience, but constantly scouring the internet for sales is a tedious and time-consuming task. Fortunately, there are numerous tools and strategies available to help you set up automated alerts, ensuring you’re always in the loop when your desired games go on sale.

Leveraging Dedicated Price Tracking Websites and Apps

The most robust way to track game prices is through specialized websites and applications designed specifically for this purpose. These platforms monitor prices across various digital storefronts and often provide historical data, allowing you to gauge whether a current deal is truly a good one.

• IsThereAnyDeal.com: A popular choice, IsThereAnyDeal aggregates prices from numerous PC game retailers (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Humble Store, etc.). You can create a wishlist, set up email alerts for specific price drops or percentage discounts, and even integrate your Steam wishlist directly.
• SteamDB.info / PSNprices.com / DekuDeals.com: These sites are platform-specific. SteamDB is essential for PC gamers, offering detailed price history and package information. PSNprices.com and DekuDeals.com do the same for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch games, respectively, allowing you to track prices across regions and set up alerts.
• Dealabs / HotUKDeals (and regional equivalents): While not exclusively for games, these community-driven deal sites often feature excellent game deals, especially for physical copies or console bundles. You can set keywords for alerts (e.g., “PS5 game,” “Nintendo Switch deal”) to be notified when relevant deals are posted.

To set up alerts on these platforms, you typically need to create an account, add games to your wishlist, and then configure your notification preferences, choosing between email, browser push notifications, or even RSS feeds.

Browser Extensions for Instant Notifications

For a more integrated experience while you browse, browser extensions can be incredibly useful. These tools often overlay price information directly onto game store pages and can notify you without requiring you to visit a separate website.

• Enhanced Steam / Augmented Steam: These extensions add a wealth of features to Steam, including price history graphs directly on store pages and the ability to track games and receive notifications when they hit your desired price.
• Honey / Rakuten (formerly Ebates): While primarily for general shopping, these extensions can also alert you to available coupon codes or cashback opportunities on gaming purchases, sometimes even stacking with existing sales. They often have specific integrations for major retailers like Amazon or Best Buy.

Once installed, these extensions usually have a simple interface where you can add games to a watchlist and define your alert criteria, such as a target price or a percentage off the original price.

Tapping into Community Forums and Social Media

Sometimes, the best deals are discovered and shared by a dedicated community. Setting up alerts for these sources can uncover flash sales or niche discounts that automated trackers might miss.

• Reddit (r/GameDeals, r/buildapcsales): These subreddits are constantly updated by users sharing the latest game deals. You can use tools like IFTTT (If This Then That) or custom Reddit alerts to get notifications when posts containing specific keywords (e.g., “Elden Ring,” “Steam Sale”) appear. Many Reddit apps also offer notification features for specific subreddits or keywords.
• Discord Servers: Many gaming communities, publishers, and deal aggregators run Discord servers with dedicated channels for deals and discounts. Joining these servers and configuring notifications for specific channels can keep you informed in real-time. Look for servers like ‘Game Deals’ or those associated with your favorite publishers.
• Twitter: Follow dedicated game deal accounts, major publishers, and retailers. You can enable notifications for their tweets or use third-party apps to filter for specific keywords.

Optimizing Your Alert Setup for Maximum Savings

To make the most of your deal alerts, consider these optimization tips:

• Set Price Thresholds: Don’t just get alerted for any sale. Define the maximum price you’re willing to pay for a game to avoid being overwhelmed by minor discounts.
• Specify Platforms: If you only play on PC, ensure your alerts are filtered for PC games. If you’re looking for a PS5 title, filter out Xbox deals.
• Check Multiple Sources: While one tool might be comprehensive, cross-referencing with a community source or another tracker can sometimes unearth even better deals or clarify pricing across regions.
• Manage Notifications: It’s easy to get bombarded. Periodically review your alert settings and unsubscribe from sources that aren’t yielding relevant results.
• Consider Regional Pricing: Be aware that prices can vary significantly by region. Some tools allow you to track prices in different currencies or regions.

Conclusion

Setting up effective alerts for game deals and discount codes is a smart strategy for any budget-conscious gamer. By utilizing a combination of dedicated price tracking websites, browser extensions, and active community engagement, you can automate the process of finding great deals. This allows you to focus more on playing and less on endlessly searching, ensuring you can grow your game library without breaking the bank. Start configuring your alerts today and enjoy the satisfaction of never missing out on a fantastic gaming bargain!