Stray caught everyone a little by surprise when it first leapt onto PlayStation consoles back in 2022. A cyberpunk platformer where you play as a cute kitty sure looked sweet, but it was surprisingly heartfelt? Surprisingly fun to play? And (un)surprisingly drove any real-world cats in its vicinity wild? We weren’t expecting that.
Things blew up really rather fast, with the cat platformer (catformer?) going on to be nominated at just about every awards show going. It even picked up a few big ones, including Best Independent Game at The Game Awards. Having clawed its way onto Xbox last year, we imagined it was only a matter of time before the cute kitty made its way to Switch. And right we were. Stray slinked into the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, with a November 19th release date following shortly after.
It’s official, Nintendo is having a great Black Friday this year. Tears of the Kingdom is the only Nintendo Switch game released by Nintendo to retail for $69.99, and soon at $30, this will be the lowest we’ve seen the game yet. If you’re a Walmart+ member, there’s a 5-hour early access that starts 12 PM ET on Monday, November 25.
If it doesn’t sell out within that time, it’ll be live at 5 PM ET for everyone else. As a backup, Target has the game down to $39.99 right now as well, which, while it isn’t as good, is still a tremendous offer.
You can see the Tears of the Kingdom listing at Walmart below, and even add to your cart ready to buy tomorrow. We’ll endeavor to update you when the deal is live, and if retailers like Best Buy and Target price match the offer as well.
Should You Sign Up for Walmart+ Before Nov. 25?
While one of the standout deals in Walmart’s first wave of Black Friday offers is a 50% discount on a 12-month Walmart+ membership, it’s still probably not worth signing up just to snag a single deal. You’d likely be better off purchasing the game at Target for $40.
Instead, consider whether early access to Walmart’s upcoming deals or the other benefits of a 12-month membership makes sense for you. Take some time to weigh the value of the subscription against your shopping habits to decide if it’s the right choice.
Can’t Wait? Tears of the Kingdom is $39.99 at Target Today
Like we said, if you can’t wait, or as a backup, Tears of the Kingdom is $39.99 at Target for Black Friday from today onwards. It’s is one of the best games on Nintendo Switch, and the sequel to Breath of the Wild brings new areas to explore in the clouds and depths below the surface, offering what feels like a brand-new take on Hyrule.
It begins one year after Breath of the Wild. One day, while exploring under Hyrule Castle, Princess Zelda and Link discover a mummy that comes alive, shattering the Master Sword and wounding Link. When he awakens, Link finds himself on the Great Sky Island, one of the many floating islands in the sky. Here, the many mysteries of the ancient Zonai tribe are revealed.
What We Said in Our Review
In our 10/10 review, we said Tears of the Kingdom “is an unfathomable follow-up to one of the greatest games ever made, somehow improving upon it in nearly every way – be that with simple quality-of-life improvements, a genuinely exciting story, or wildly creative new building mechanics that make you rethink what is possible.
It both revamps old ground and introduces vast new areas so immense it somehow makes me wonder if Breath of the Wild was actually all that big, with an almost alarming number of tasks to complete, mysteries to discover, and delightful distractions to keep you from ever reaching that place you naively thought you were headed. Nintendo has followed up a triumph with a triumph, expanding and evolving a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds.”
More Black Friday Game Deals We’ve Found So Far
The actual date ofBlack Friday in 2024 falls on November 29, but the holiday deals season starts a lot earlier than that. Plenty of retailers have already been dropping deals online.
More and more deals will roll out leading up to the event, which culminates in massive discounts on Black Friday. Retailers will not reveal their biggest Black Friday deals until the big day, but most general deals will be available well in advance, such as the impressive Sonic deal.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
This article includes contributions from Noah Hunter.
Ubisoft has recently released the huge Title Update 1.4.0 for Star Wars Outlaws, which most notably, cuts stealth requirements from almost the entire game. If that sounds appealing, I’ve got some good news, it’s also on sale for Black Friday. Now down to $39.99 at Amazon (the previous best deal was $49.99 last week), that’s $30 off the game, only released back in August this year.
A blog post detailed the patch notes and confirmed the removal of forced stealth—meaning players will no longer have to return to a checkpoint when triggering “do not raise the alarm” or “do not get caught” objectives—alongside improvements to enemy AI and detection, facial expressions and animations, and more.
“This Title Update brings changes to combat and stealth allowing for greater player choice, the ability to now keep pick-up weapons in more situations, visual options to allow for a sharper image and much more to improve your journey across the galaxy,” Ubisoft said.
Star Wars Outlaws creative director Drew Rechner promised to make big changes to “elevate the game experience to better meet” player expectations. Sentiments such as these are often seen in the wake of disastrous game launches but Star Wars Outlaws debuted to positive reviews.
Poor sales shook a struggling Ubisoft, however, and it is now working to improve the game ahead of what it hopes will be a sales bump, hopefully thanks to the $40 Black Friday deal, alongside its Steam launch and the holiday period.
What We Said In Our Review
IGN reviewer Tristan Ogilvie said is his review: “It’s ironic that Kay’s ship is called the Trailblazer, since there’s actually not a whole lot of ideas in Star Wars Outlaws that haven’t been done before in other action and open-world adventures.”
“Instead, it’s quite like the Millenium Falcon: a bucket of bolts held together with repurposed parts and prone to breaking down, but at its best it’s more than capable of jolting your pleasure centres into Star Wars fan hyperspace.”
“A clever syndicate system brings real weight to almost every task you choose to undertake, some of which have creative quest designs that can often conjure up some genuinely stunning blindsides. Having a pal like Nix at your side the entire time not only adds an extra dimension to Kay’s fairly generic smuggler character, but also gives her an enhanced set of useful abilities.”
More Black Friday Deals
The actual date ofBlack Friday in 2024 falls on November 29, but the holiday deals season starts a lot earlier than that. Plenty of retailers have already been dropping deals online. More and more deals will roll out leading up to the event, which culminates in massive discounts on Black Friday. Retailers will not reveal their biggest Black Friday deals until the big day, but most general deals will be available well in advance, such as the impressive Sonic deal.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
Hello reader who is also a reader, and welcome back to Booked For The Week – our regular Sunday chat with a selection of cool industry folks about books! This week, it’s Looking Glass Studios’ legend, Deus Ex director, and Otherside’s Warren Spector – who I suspect might have realised the very secret goal of this column. Cheers Warren! Mind if we have a nose at your bookshelf?
With the sale now underway, the march toward Black Friday continues, and deals for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo are already rolling in. Let’s dive into the best Xbox Black Friday deals available right now.
The best Xbox video game deals for Black Friday are here, and they’re packed with incredible savings on both fan favorites and new releases. You can snag Elden Ring for just $19.99, a must-have for any RPG fan, or pick up fresh titles like Metaphor ReFantazio, a standout Game of the Year contender, for $49.99.
If you’re into premium editions, don’t miss the Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition—a recent physical release that’s perfect for collectors. We’ve rounded up some of the top picks to save you time, but if you’re feeling adventurous, dive into the vast selection of deals at Amazon today and discover the many discounts waiting to be uncovered.
If you’re in need of a new controller or looking to grab an extra for multiplayer sessions, Black Friday has you covered with Xbox Wireless Controllers now available for just $39.99. This is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen all year, making it the perfect time to upgrade your setup or stock up on spares.
Whether you prefer classic colors or some of the more vibrant options, this deal is hard to beat. With availability at major retailers like Best Buy, now’s the time to snag one before they sell out. There’s also the Xbox Sky Cipher controller, down to just $49.99 at Amazon today as well.
Xbox Expansion Card SSD Deals
Is Call of Duty eating up your internal SSD space? Black Friday has you covered with excellent deals on storage solutions. Our top pick is the Xbox 1TB Expansion Card, now at its lowest price ever—just $99.99 at Amazon. Typically, these expansion cards hover around $125 during sales, with occasional steep discounts at Woot that sell out quickly.
This Black Friday, the WD BLACK C50 1TB Storage Expansion Card is $50 off its list price, making it the best Xbox storage deal you’ll likely find. Amazon hasn’t matched the price yet, but it’s worth keeping an eye on them in case Best Buy sells out before you grab one.
“No Xbox Required” Streaming Bundle Deals
Amazon is currently offering a ‘No Console Required’ Xbox Bundle as part of its Black Friday sale. For just $79.99, you’ll snag a 4K Max Fire TV Stick, an Xbox Wireless Controller in any color of your choosing (we’ve gone for the new Sky Cipher variant) and 1 month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Separately, the items in the 4K Max bundle would set you back about $142, so you’re saving $62. That’s a phenomenal deal to access Xbox’s Game Pass library without even needing a console.
If you don’t need the controller or Game Pass, a Fire TV Stick 4K is also now at its lowest-ever price of $21.99. If you’re eyeing an upgrade, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is also at a record-low $32.99. Both are stellar deals, but act quickly—these prices won’t last forever.
Xbox Series X|S Black Friday Deals
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Xbox console, now might be the perfect time. The 1TB Xbox Series X is currently $50 off, bringing it down to $448—a rare discount on Microsoft’s flagship console. This price is set to last until at least November 23, giving you a bit of time to decide, but don’t wait too long as stock might dwindle closer to Black Friday.
For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, the Xbox Series S will be available for just $248 at Walmart starting November 25. The Series S is a fantastic entry point to the Xbox ecosystem, offering next-gen performance in a compact and affordable package. With both consoles on sale, there’s never been a better opportunity to dive into Xbox gaming.
When Is Black Friday 2024?
We hope you’ve prepared your wallets, because it’s Black Friday season. During the biggest sales event of the year, keep an eye out for price drops on the games you’ve been waiting to add to your library. The same can be said for TVs, gaming PCs, Apple products, and more. Whatever you’re in the market for, right now is probably one of the best times to make your biggest purchases.
Square Enix has rolled out an update for its 2019 Switch release Final Fantasy VII and it makes a surprising change. Version 1.03/1.04 removes the restrictions on the “sharing features” across Switch and multiple other platforms. Here are the full patch notes:
FINAL FANTASY VII Update Nov. 6, 2024
All previous restrictions for sharing features have been removed from FINAL FANTASY VII on the following platforms: – PlayStation 4: patch ver. 1.04 – Nintendo Switch: patch ver. 1.03 – Xbox One: patch ver. 1.04 – Microsoft Store (Windows): patch ver. 1.04
FromSoftware has done it again, blending the chaos of battle with the strategy of customization in Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. This Black Friday, you can snag the game on PS5 or Xbox at Amazon and Best Buy for just $19.99, down from its usual $59.99 price. That’s a $40 discount on a game that puts you in the pilot seat of a customizable mech for some of the most intense action of the year.
Drawing from the expertise behind Dark Souls and Elden Ring, Armored Core VI offers a dynamic gameplay experience that combines 3D maneuverability with a mix of ranged and melee combat. It’s like they took FromSoftware’s signature challenge and sprinkled in some explosive mech mayhem, because why not?
The game’s story sends you to Rubicon 3, a contaminated wasteland where corporations and resistance groups are locked in a brutal battle to control a mysterious, catastrophic energy source. As a mercenary caught in the middle, it’s up to you to outfit your mech with the perfect loadout and dive into missions that require brains, brawn, and a little button-mashing finesse.
With Armored Core VI, it’s not just about blowing things up (though there’s plenty of that). The customization options let you create a mech that reflects your playstyle, whether precision strikes from afar or close-quarters carnage. Add a visually stunning world and epic boss battles, and you’ve got a recipe for hours of adrenaline-fueled fun. Let’s not forget Armoured Core being pretty much a Soulsborne franchise but with mechs, so get good!
If you’ve been itching to join the mech party, now’s your chance. At $19.99 you’re not just saving $40, you’re scoring a ticket to one of the most exciting games in the genre. Don’t wait too long, though. Black Friday deals tend to disappear faster than a mech dodging enemy fire.
We’re in the home stretch: Black Friday falls on November 29 this year. All month long, retailers have been rolling out sales, ramping up to massive discounts on Black Friday and through the weekend into Cyber Monday. We already know what PlayStation and Xbox have in store, and most general deals will be available well in advance, such as this excellent discount on DualSense controllers.
Christian Wait is a UK-based freelancer for IGN, you can follow him @ChrisReggieWait on Twitter/X.
Ready to sneak back into one of gaming’s most legendary franchises? Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for PS5, Switch, and Xbox is just $18.99 at Amazon for Black Friday. That’s a stealthy 53% off its $39.99 retail price, saving you over $20 while delivering a masterclass in espionage action. At under $20, this is a Black Friday deal worth crawling through an air vent for.
This iconic bundle includes a lineup of classics that define a generation, such as Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. But the nostalgia doesn’t stop there. You’ll also get early entries like Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, plus rarities like Snake’s Revenge and the NES version of Metal Gear. It’s like a time machine for your gaming console with better graphics.
And then there’s the bonus content: screenplay books featuring in-game text, master books detailing the series’ storylines and characters, and two digital graphic novels that bring Solid Snake’s adventures to life with dynamic art and voice acting. Kojima fans, this one’s for you.
Want to dodging guards or binge-reading digital screenplays? This collection guarantees hours of stealthy fun. And let’s be honest: there’s something deliciously ironic about picking up a game about sneaky infiltration at a price this loud. At 39% off, it’s practically begging you to shout, “Mission accomplished!”
With so much content packed into one disc (or download), this deal might be the best Black Friday gift you can give yourself—or your favorite gamer. But remember, in the world of Black Friday, deals disappear faster than Snake in a cardboard box. Get yours now before this one vanishes into the shadows.
We’re in the home stretch: Black Friday falls on November 29 this year. All month long, retailers have been rolling out sales, ramping up to massive discounts on Black Friday and through the weekend into Cyber Monday. We already know what PlayStation and Xbox have in store, and most general deals will be available well in advance, such as this excellent discount on DualSense controllers.
Christian Wait is a UK-based freelancer for IGN, you can follow him @ChrisReggieWait on Twitter/X.
Before we dive into this week’s battle, let’s see how things panned out last time. We looked at Double Dragon for the NES, and it was yet another close call. After over 1,600 votes from our dear readers, it was the Western design that took home the win with 53% of the vote. Well done!
