How to track PC game deals across Steam, Epic & GOG for lowest prices?
Never Miss a Bargain: Your Guide to Tracking PC Game Deals
The world of PC gaming offers an incredible array of titles, but with games often retailing for premium prices, finding a good deal can significantly expand your library without breaking the bank. The challenge, however, lies in navigating the numerous digital storefronts – Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com being the most prominent – each with their own sales, flash deals, and promotions. Manually checking every store daily is impractical, but thankfully, a suite of tools and strategies exists to help you pinpoint the absolute lowest prices.
Why Tracking Deals Matters
In a landscape where games can fluctuate from full price to 90% off within weeks, being informed is key. Not only does effective deal tracking save you money, but it also allows you to snag games you’ve been eyeing for months at a fraction of their cost. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to leverage various resources, ensuring you’re always one step ahead of the sales curve, whether it’s a major seasonal event or a surprise publisher promotion.
The Power of Wishlists and Notifications
Every major PC game storefront offers a wishlist feature, and using it effectively is your first line of defense against missing a deal. Add every game you’re interested in, even if you’re only mildly curious. When a game on your wishlist goes on sale, these platforms will typically send you an email notification. This passive approach is excellent for catching deals directly from the source:
- Steam: Robust wishlist with email notifications for price drops.
- Epic Games Store: Similar functionality, often highlighting their generous free game giveaways alongside sales.
- GOG.com: Excellent for DRM-free titles, their wishlist also notifies you of discounts.
While useful, relying solely on individual storefront wishlists doesn’t account for cross-platform price comparisons or deals from smaller retailers. For that, we need more powerful tools.
Mastering Cross-Platform Deal Trackers
This is where specialized deal tracking websites become indispensable. These platforms aggregate prices from multiple storefronts, allowing you to see where a game is cheapest at any given moment and track its price history.
IsThereAnyDeal.com
Often considered the gold standard, IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD) tracks prices across Steam, Epic, GOG, Humble Store, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, and many more. Its key features include:
- Personalized Waitlist: Sync your Steam wishlist or add games manually. ITAD will notify you via email when a game drops below a certain price or hits a new historical low.
- Price History Charts: See a game’s price fluctuations over time, helping you determine if a current deal is truly a good one.
- Bundle Detection: It also flags if a game is part of a bundle, which often offers incredible value.
GG.deals
Another strong contender, GG.deals offers a very similar set of features to ITAD, with a user-friendly interface and often slightly different store coverage. It’s great for cross-referencing and finding the absolute best deals, including official key resellers and some indie stores.
Both ITAD and GG.deals offer browser extensions that can show you price comparisons directly on a game’s store page, saving you clicks.
Understanding Sales Cycles and Events
While tracking tools are essential, knowing when to expect major sales can also give you an edge. Digital storefronts typically follow predictable patterns:
- Seasonal Sales: Steam’s Summer, Halloween, Autumn (Black Friday), and Winter sales are legendary, often featuring massive discounts across thousands of titles. Epic and GOG run similar large-scale events.
- Publisher Sales: Major publishers (e.g., Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Bethesda) frequently host their own sales, often coinciding with new game releases or anniversaries.
- Weekly/Weekend Deals: Most platforms offer rotating weekly or weekend discounts on select titles or genres.
- Free Games: Epic Games Store is famous for its weekly free game offerings. Keep an eye on these, as they often include popular titles. GOG and Steam also occasionally offer freebies.
Additional Tips for Savvy Deal Hunting
- Check Subreddits: Communities like r/GameDeals on Reddit are excellent for real-time deal alerts, often with user discussion about deal quality and regional pricing.
- Humble Bundle & Fanatical: These sites frequently offer game bundles at incredibly low prices, often supporting charity. Even if you only want one game in a bundle, it can still be cheaper than buying it individually.
- Consider DRM: GOG.com specializes in DRM-free games, meaning once you own them, they’re yours forever, free from launcher requirements. While not a “deal tracking” tip, it’s a consideration when comparing identical prices.
- Regional Pricing: Prices can vary significantly based on your geographical location. Deal trackers usually account for this, but it’s worth being aware.
Conclusion: Play More, Pay Less
With a strategic approach and the right tools, tracking PC game deals across Steam, Epic, GOG, and other retailers doesn’t have to be a chore. By utilizing storefront wishlists, powerful cross-platform trackers like IsThereAnyDeal and GG.deals, and understanding sales patterns, you can build an impressive game library without overspending. Happy hunting!
