How to track PC & console game deals across all major digital storefronts?

Why Keeping Up with Game Deals is a Game Changer

In the vast and ever-expanding world of video games, finding the perfect deal can feel like a quest in itself. With new titles launching constantly and digital storefronts offering seasonal sales, flash discounts, and daily deals, knowing where and when to buy can save you a significant amount of money. However, the sheer number of platforms – from PC giants like Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG to console mainstays such as PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop – makes tracking these price drops a daunting task. This guide will equip you with the best tools and strategies to become a deal-hunting maestro, ensuring you never miss out on that coveted discount.

Leveraging Dedicated Game Deal Aggregator Websites

The first and most powerful weapon in your deal-tracking arsenal is a dedicated game deal aggregator website. These platforms are specifically designed to scour the internet for price drops across hundreds of digital storefronts, providing a centralized hub for all your deal-hunting needs.

• IsThereAnyDeal.com: A long-standing favorite, IsThereAnyDeal tracks prices from numerous PC storefronts. It offers a comprehensive wishlist feature, allowing you to add games and receive email alerts when they hit a desired price point. You can also view historical low prices, helping you determine if a current deal is genuinely good.
• CheapShark.com: While primarily focused on PC games, CheapShark is excellent for quick price comparisons. It’s known for its clean interface and ability to quickly show you the cheapest current price for a game across various authorized retailers.
• GG.deals: A robust platform that covers both PC and console deals. GG.deals allows you to filter by platform, genre, and even DRM. Its price history charts are invaluable, and its user-friendly interface makes browsing sales a breeze.

These sites often integrate with your existing game libraries (like Steam), making it easy to see which games on your wishlist or in your library are currently on sale elsewhere.

Browser Extensions for Instant Price Checks

For those who prefer a more integrated approach, several browser extensions can bring deal-tracking capabilities directly to your storefront pages. These extensions often pop up with price history or compare prices from other stores while you’re browsing a game’s page on Steam, Epic, or elsewhere.

• Augmented Steam (PC): While primarily for Steam, this extension adds a wealth of information to store pages, including historical low prices from various retailers (via IsThereAnyDeal integration), user reviews, and regional price comparisons.
• Enhanced GOG (PC): Similar to Augmented Steam but tailored for GOG, providing price history and other useful data.

While not as comprehensive as dedicated aggregators for cross-store comparisons, these extensions are fantastic for on-the-spot price validation and historical data when you’re already in a purchasing mindset.

Tapping into Community-Driven Deal Sources

Sometimes, the best deals are unearthed by dedicated communities of fellow gamers. These platforms thrive on user submissions and discussions, often highlighting deals that might be missed by automated trackers or providing insights into the quality of a sale.

• Reddit (r/GameDeals, r/buildapcsales): These subreddits are treasure troves of user-submitted deals. Members actively post sales from all major storefronts, often discussing the quality of the game, the fairness of the price, and potential future discounts.
• Slickdeals, HotUKDeals, and other regional deal forums: While not exclusively for games, these general deal sites often have dedicated gaming sections. They cover a broader range of products, including physical games, consoles, and accessories, alongside digital titles.

Participating in these communities can lead to discovering niche deals and getting advice from experienced deal hunters.

Direct Storefront Features and Newsletters

Don’t overlook the built-in features offered by the storefronts themselves. While they won’t compare prices across competitors, they are essential for tracking games you specifically want on that platform.

• Wishlists: Almost all major digital storefronts (Steam, Epic, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop, GOG) offer a wishlist feature. Add games you’re interested in, and you’ll typically receive an email notification when they go on sale.
• Email Newsletters: Sign up for the newsletters of your favorite storefronts. They regularly send out updates on new sales events, weekly deals, and publisher promotions.
• Official Blogs and Social Media: Follow the official blogs and social media accounts of platforms and publishers. They often announce major sales events ahead of time or highlight specific deals.

Combining these direct methods with aggregator sites ensures you catch both broad sales campaigns and targeted discounts on your most wanted titles.

Becoming a Savvy Deal Hunter

Tracking game deals across multiple digital storefronts doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By utilizing a combination of dedicated deal aggregator websites, browser extensions, community forums, and direct storefront features, you can efficiently monitor prices and snatch up games at their lowest points. Remember to be patient, set price alerts for your most desired titles, and always check price history to ensure you’re getting a genuinely good deal. Happy hunting!