Best way to track wishlist game price drops across PC & console stores?

Never Miss a Deal: Tracking Game Price Drops Across Platforms

For avid gamers, the thrill of adding a long-awaited title to your wishlist is often matched only by the satisfaction of snagging it at a significantly reduced price. With the vast ecosystem of digital storefronts across PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Humble Store, etc.) and consoles (PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop), manually checking each platform for price drops is an impossible task. Fortunately, a host of dedicated tools and strategies can help you track these elusive deals efficiently.

The Challenge of Multi-Platform Price Monitoring

The digital distribution landscape is incredibly fragmented. Each platform operates independently, running its own sales, often at different times and with varying discounts. A game on sale on Steam might be full price on the PlayStation Store, and vice-versa. This complexity means that relying solely on platform-specific wishlists can leave you missing out on better deals elsewhere, especially if a game is available on multiple systems you own.

Dedicated Game Price Tracking Websites

The most robust solutions come in the form of specialized websites designed to aggregate pricing data from numerous storefronts. These sites are invaluable for comprehensive tracking:

• IsThereAnyDeal (PC-centric): This is a powerhouse for PC gamers, tracking prices from virtually every major digital PC store. You can import your Steam, Epic, and GOG wishlists, create custom lists, and set up email alerts for desired price thresholds. It also shows historical low prices, helping you determine if a current deal is truly good.
• DekuDeals (Nintendo Switch): An absolute must for Switch owners, DekuDeals tracks prices across all regional Nintendo eShops. It provides detailed historical data, allows you to build wishlists, and sends email notifications for sales and all-time lows.
• PSDeals / XBDeals (PlayStation & Xbox): These sites, often community-driven, do an excellent job of tracking discounts on their respective console stores. They offer similar features to DekuDeals, including wishlists and email alerts.

By leveraging one or more of these sites, you can centralize your deal hunting and receive proactive notifications rather than reactive searching.

Browser Extensions and Wishlist Integrations

While less universal, some browser extensions and platform integrations can streamline the process:

• Enhanced Steam (Browser Extension): While not a pure price tracker, this popular extension for Chrome/Firefox adds a wealth of useful information to Steam store pages, including historical price data from IsThereAnyDeal, making it easier to gauge a discount’s value directly on Steam.
• Platform Wishlists with Notifications: Don’t forget the built-in wishlists on each digital storefront (Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop). While they only track prices on their respective platforms, they are excellent for receiving direct notifications when a game on *that specific store* goes on sale. Treat them as a first line of defense, augmented by the more comprehensive tracking sites.

These tools, while not always cross-platform, can add convenience to your existing browsing habits.

Aggregators and All-in-One Solutions (Limited)

The dream of a single, perfect aggregator for every single PC and console store remains largely elusive due to the sheer volume and complexity of data. Most solutions tend to specialize. However, some platforms attempt broader coverage:

• GameFAQs / Metacritic Game Tracking: While primarily known for reviews and guides, some major gaming news sites or community hubs might feature deal sections that aggregate information, though usually not with personal wishlist integration.
• PriceCharting (Retro/Physical focus): While exceptional for tracking physical game prices (especially retro), its digital deal tracking across new PC/console releases is not its primary strength.

For now, a combination of specialized trackers is generally more effective than relying on a single ‘all-in-one’ for all digital platforms.

Best Practices for Savvy Gamers

To maximize your chances of getting the best deals:

1. Centralize with 1-2 Primary Trackers: Pick IsThereAnyDeal for PC and DekuDeals/PSDeals/XBDeals for your console(s). Import your wishlists and set up email alerts.
2. Utilize Platform Wishlists: Add games to wishlists on their native storefronts for platform-specific notifications.
3. Be Patient: Most games, given enough time, will eventually go on a significant sale. Setting a price threshold on your trackers is key.
4. Check Historical Data: Always look at a game’s price history. Knowing its all-time low helps you decide if a current discount is worth it or if you should wait for a deeper cut.

By combining these strategies, you create a robust system that works proactively to inform you of sales, rather than you having to constantly search for them.

Conclusion

Tracking game price drops across the fragmented PC and console digital markets doesn’t have to be a chore. By strategically utilizing dedicated price tracking websites like IsThereAnyDeal and DekuDeals, coupled with native platform wishlists and smart browsing habits, you can build an efficient system that ensures you’re always informed about the best deals. Happy gaming, and even happier saving!