What’s the best way to track PC/console game deals & get price drop alerts?

Navigating the World of Game Deals

In the vast and ever-growing landscape of PC and console gaming, finding your next great title often comes with a hefty price tag. Thankfully, sales, discounts, and price drops are a regular occurrence across digital storefronts and physical retailers. The challenge isn’t finding deals, but efficiently tracking them and getting alerted precisely when a game you covet hits an irresistible price point. This guide will help you set up an optimized system to become a savvy game deal hunter.

Dedicated Game Deal Aggregators

The most powerful tools in your arsenal are websites specifically designed to aggregate game prices across multiple stores. These platforms often include price history, wishlist features, and email alerts.

IsThereAnyDeal.com

• Features: Tracks prices from a multitude of PC game stores (Steam, Epic Games, GOG, Humble Store, etc.). You can import your Steam, Epic Games, or GOG wishlists directly. Offers email alerts for specific price thresholds or historical lows.
• Best for: PC gamers looking for comprehensive coverage and historical price data.

CheapShark.com

• Features: Focuses primarily on PC game deals, providing a clean interface to view current discounts. It’s known for its robust API, which powers many other deal-tracking services. Includes price history graphs.
• Best for: Quick checks on PC game prices and historical data, often for developers creating their own tracking tools.

GG.deals

• Features: Covers both PC and console (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch) game deals, including physical copies where applicable. Features price history, meta-reviews, and user ratings. Offers a comprehensive wishlist and price alerts via email or browser notifications.
• Best for: Gamers who play on multiple platforms and want a unified tracking solution.

Platform-Specific Wishlists and Alerts

Don’t overlook the built-in features of your favorite digital storefronts. These are often the first to notify you of sales.

PC Digital Stores (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG)

• Steam: Add games to your wishlist. Steam will automatically send you email notifications when a wishlisted game goes on sale during major events or individual discounts.
• Epic Games Store: Similar to Steam, utilize the wishlist feature to receive email alerts when games you’re interested in get a price drop or become free.
• GOG: Their wishlist also functions with email notifications for sales and discounts.

Console Digital Stores (PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop)

• PlayStation Store: Use the ‘Follow’ feature for games you’re interested in. You’ll receive emails when the game is part of a promotion.
• Xbox Store: Add games to your ‘Wishlist’ to get email notifications for sales.
• Nintendo eShop: Add games to your ‘Watch List’ to receive alerts when they go on sale.

Browser Extensions and Community Hubs

Beyond dedicated websites and store features, several other tools and communities can significantly enhance your deal-hunting efficiency.

Browser Extensions

• Many aggregators (like GG.deals) offer browser extensions that integrate deal information directly into store pages, showing price history or comparing current prices with other retailers without leaving the page.

Reddit Communities & Discord Servers

• r/GameDeals: This subreddit is a goldmine for real-time deals posted by a passionate community. It’s often the fastest way to learn about flash sales or unexpected price drops.
• Platform-Specific Subreddits: Many console-specific subreddits (e.g., r/PS4Deals, r/XboxDeals, r/NintendoSwitchDeals) also highlight relevant sales.
• Discord Servers: Numerous gaming communities and dedicated deal servers exist where members share deals as they appear.

Tips for Maximizing Your Savings

• Be Patient: Most games, especially popular ones, will eventually go on sale. If you’re not in a hurry, waiting is often rewarded.
• Check Historical Prices: Use deal aggregators to view a game’s price history. This helps you determine if a ‘sale’ price is genuinely good or just a minor discount.
• Consider Bundles: Keep an eye out for game bundles (e.g., Humble Bundle, Fanatical) that offer multiple titles for a fraction of their individual cost.
• Combine Strategies: The best approach is often a combination: use an aggregator for comprehensive tracking, maintain platform wishlists, and skim Reddit for urgent flash deals.

Conclusion

By leveraging a combination of dedicated deal aggregation websites, platform-specific wishlists, and active community hubs, you can create a highly effective system for tracking PC and console game deals and receiving timely price drop alerts. Gone are the days of missing out on a steal; with these tools at your disposal, you’ll be well-equipped to grow your game library without breaking the bank.