A lot has changed for Xbox this year. In addition to Xbox games making their way to PlayStation, players are finally seeing what came of the Activision deal. It’s an interesting time that could go a lot of different ways. Naturally, fans of the console are excited for the future, and we wanted to suggest a couple gifts to help them take full advantage of the potential future.
Xbox Holiday Gift Guide 2024
Games
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Earlier this year Microsoft increased the price of Xbox Game Pass. This was a move many players expected, though were still disappointed to see.
Despite the increase, it’s impossible to deny it’s the best deal for games on an Xbox platform. Simply being able to get the latest Call of Duty, ambitious experiences like Hi-Fi Rush, highly anticipated returns like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and even exciting upcoming releases, such as Avowed with no risk through the membership is great.
Best of all, this includes the ability to play online, so it’s a relatively safe option. And, even if they already have access to Xbox Game Pass in one form, or another, this can be added to an existing membership to help them save a few bucks.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Easily one of the year’s biggest releases is Metaphor: ReFantazio. The exciting RPG received near universal praise, even getting a perfect score from us, for bringing the beloved Persona formula to a new world. Even after release it received praise from players who loved the charming characters, and diverse experience. It’s easily one of the best experiences currently on Xbox, and a title many on the casual side might not even know exists.
Hardware/Storage
Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S
As our only Xbox Series exclusive product, the Seagate Storage Expansion Card is perhaps one of the simplest and most useful accessories for the new consoles. Instead of a complicated installation or confusing details, players can simply buy between 512 GB and 2 TB of storage for their new console. This is incredibly helpful with some games easily using 100 or more GB of data. Especially in the case of Call of Duty, and the unfortunate install of Modern Warfare III regardless of whether you purchase it or not.
INNOCN Monitor
Recently, Xbox has made a massive push towards bringing the best PC aspects to the console. This includes various resolution support, Dolby Vision/Atmos, variable refresh rates, and so much more. For this reason a lot of players are opting to use a monitor instead of the traditional television.
With INNOCN’s recent push for OLED, and microLED technology, they have a number of options that deliver a great picture without breaking the bank.
Controller
Xbox Design Lab Controller
Xbox Design Lab is perhaps one of the coolest things Microsoft offers that very few players even know about. Instead of forcing players to stick with conventional colors like black, white, blue, red, or if you’re feeling daring grey, Xbox Design Lab allows players to make their own controller from a wide variety of options.
Options include front, back, triggers, thumbstick, and even engraving. While it costs a little bit more than a normal controller, with some notable disadvantages like not being returnable, it’s a personalized gift that really isn’t much more than a normal controller.
NACON Revolution X Pro Controller
In addition to Microsoft’s solution, NACON has their own take on a pro controller. While it is, unfortunately, wired, the controller boasts some killer features at an incredibly reasonable price. This makes it perfect for someone who wants to step up their game, without destroying their budget.
Xbox X|S and Xbox One Power Swap Controller Batteries
Microsoft sticking with batteries is one of the more divisive topics for the platform. Despite not being as simple as Sony and Nintendo’s internal rechargeable batteries, the ability to always have power can be invaluable to some gamers. A common counterargument is the benefit of rechargeable batteries. Otterbox took this a step further with their Power Swap controller system.
The small docking station allows players to quickly insert and use a battery while the other is charging. It isn’t the first or only of the kind, there have been many over the years, though the Power Swap system is one of the nicer looking setups for anyone concerned with how their gaming area looks.
Headset
Audeze Maxwell
After a divisive experience with Penrose, Audeze gave Maxwell their all and it shows. The extremely comfortable headset is an absolute delight to use. It has some of the best sound I’ve heard on a wireless headset, along with supporting various forms of immersive sound. It’s simply an experience well worth the cost of entry, and one players will likely enjoy for years to come. Best of all, the Xbox version has various reports it should work on PlayStation, and comes in delightful limited edition styles.
