What’s the best way to track active game deals on Steam, Epic, & consoles?

Navigating the Digital Storefront Labyrinth for Gaming Deals

In the vast and ever-expanding universe of video games, finding the perfect deal can feel like a quest in itself. With new titles and sales constantly emerging across multiple platforms—from PC giants like Steam and Epic Games to console ecosystems like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch—keeping track of discounts requires a strategic approach. Missing out on a desired game at a fraction of its price can be frustrating, making efficient deal tracking an essential skill for any savvy gamer. This guide will explore the most effective ways to stay on top of active game deals, helping you build your library without breaking the bank.

Leveraging Dedicated Deal Tracking Websites

One of the most comprehensive methods for tracking game deals is to utilize websites specifically designed for this purpose. Platforms like IsThereAnyDeal, CheapShark, and GG.deals aggregate prices from numerous digital storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Humble Store, and many authorized third-party sellers (like Fanatical and Green Man Gaming).

These sites allow you to create wishlists, set price alerts for specific games, and even filter by platform, historical low prices, and ongoing sales events. They offer a holistic view, comparing prices across various retailers and often showing the lowest price ever recorded for a title, helping you decide if the current discount is truly worth it.

Mastering Platform-Specific Wishlists and Notifications

Each major gaming platform offers its own built-in tools for tracking deals, and these should be a cornerstone of your strategy. Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Nintendo eShop all feature robust wishlist functionalities.

• Steam: Add games to your wishlist, and Steam will send you email notifications when they go on sale. You can also customize your discovery queue and follow specific publishers.
• Epic Games Store: Similar to Steam, Epic’s wishlist notifies you via email when a game drops in price. They also frequently offer free games, which are well worth keeping an eye on.
• PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop: All three console platforms allow you to add games to a wishlist. When a game on your list receives a discount, you’ll often get an email or a notification directly on your console, making it easy to jump on deals for your favorite console exclusives and multi-platform titles.

While these are platform-specific, they are invaluable for games you know you want to play on a particular system.

Enhancing Your Browser with Price Comparison Tools and Extensions

For PC gamers, browser extensions can significantly streamline the deal-finding process. Extensions like ‘Enhanced Steam’ (for Firefox/Chrome) or ‘Augmented Steam’ integrate directly into the Steam store page, providing historical price data, comparisons with other retailers, and Metacritic scores right within your browser. While primarily focused on Steam, similar tools exist for other PC stores or can alert you to deals across a wider spectrum of digital shops.

These tools often highlight when a game is at its historical low price, preventing you from buying something only to see it cheaper a week later. They add an extra layer of transparency to your shopping experience.

Engaging with Gaming Deal Communities and Forums

The gaming community itself is a powerful resource for deal tracking. Subreddits like r/GameDeals are incredibly active, with users constantly posting new discounts, free game offers, and flash sales as soon as they go live. Websites like CheapAssGamer also host vibrant forums dedicated to sharing and discussing game deals across all platforms.

These communities are not only fast to report deals but also provide valuable insights, discussions about game quality, and often highlight regional price differences or specific coupon codes that might not be visible elsewhere. Following these channels can give you a significant edge in finding fleeting deals.

Subscribing to Newsletters and Following Publishers

Don’t underestimate the power of direct communication. Many game publishers and digital storefronts offer newsletters that provide updates on upcoming releases, special events, and, crucially, sales. Signing up for these can ensure you’re among the first to know about exclusive discounts or major seasonal sales like the Steam Summer Sale or PlayStation’s Days of Play.

Additionally, following your favorite publishers and developers on social media platforms can give you early alerts for flash sales or limited-time promotions that might not appear on aggregate deal sites immediately. This direct approach complements broader tracking methods by catching niche or time-sensitive offers.

The Multi-Pronged Approach to Gaming Savings

Ultimately, the “best” way to track active game deals isn’t a single method but a combination of several. By leveraging dedicated deal tracking websites for a broad overview, utilizing platform-specific wishlists for targeted alerts, enhancing your browser for quick price checks, engaging with passionate deal-finding communities, and staying informed through direct newsletters, you can create a robust system that ensures you rarely miss out on a great gaming deal. Happy hunting!