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The holiday season is fast approaching, and video games and consoles are some of the most sought-after items this year. Fortunately, getting your hands on new software and hardware has never been easier, especially if you're looking to purchase Xbox gifts for your favorite gamer. To make your shopping easier, we've gathered up the best of the bunch to help you make an informed decision. This is also a great time to jump into Xbox , with highly anticipated games arriving this holiday season and 2025 shaping up to be a terrific year. There's a lot to look forward to.

PC Game Pass

• Buy at Microsoft Store

If you have a PC--or you're shopping for someone who enjoys gaming on one -a PC Game Pass membership is a great gift. This Game Pass membership will give you instant access to hundreds of high-quality PC games, including numerous first-party titles. The library is regularly updated with new games available on day one from Activision, Bethesda, Blizzard, and Xbox Game Studios, alongside third-party game releases. PC Game Pass is home to Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6--one of the biggest games of the year--and even more upcoming games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed, and South of Midnight.

There are extra benefits for anyone with a Riot Games account as well. If you regularly play games like VALORANT or League of Legends, linking your account to Game Pass will unlock premium rewards and other bonuses. Players can jump into series like F1, Battlefield™, and STAR WARS™ with an included EA Play membership. PC Game Pass members also get a discount on games in the Game Pass catalog--plus DLC and add-ons.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

• Buy at Microsoft Store

For the gamer who regularly plays across console, PC, and mobile devices with cloud gaming, Game Pass Ultimate is a must-have membership. You'll get access to console and PC games, and the library is regularly updated with new day-one and third-party releases for Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud-compatible devices. You'll get all of the benefits mentioned above, as well as several more to expand your gaming options at no added cost.

With EA Play included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, not only do you get access to a robust catalog of games from the publisher, you can also try selected new-release games for up to 10 hours. Considering that EA has big sports franchises in its portfolio like soccer, football, and Formula One, this is a good way to try out these games before you decide to purchase them. You'll also get member rewards with EA Play and can save 10% on select digital purchases.

Other benefits here include in-game add-ons, consumables, and partner offers for select games.

Xbox Gift Card

• Buy at Microsoft Store

Don’t know what you or someone you know wants? You can always grab an Xbox gift card to help make things easier. This way, you can let the recipient of this gift choose for themselves at the Microsoft Store, letting them pick from games and DLC for Xbox and PC. There are several values to choose from, starting from $1 and maxing out at $100. These are available in both digital and physical formats.

Xbox Series X Console Wraps

• Buy at Microsoft Store

Xbox Series X console wraps offer another choice for players to personalize their gaming experience by adding a bold design to their Xbox Series X. There are four designs available that you can choose from, and each one features solid panels and high-tech fabric for a precision fit and finish for your console. The inside of each Xbox console wrap consists of a soft silicone print material—designed to keep the wrap in place--and they are secured by a hook and loop enclosure for a quick and easy fit.

You can make a statement by applying the bold Arctic Camo and Mineral Camo wraps to your Xbox Series X, or show your fandom with the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Starfield inspired designs.

• Arctic Camo
• Mineral Camo
• Starfield
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Xbox Cloud Gaming Bundle

• Buy at Amazon

Xbox teamed up with Amazon this year to launch the Xbox app on select Amazon Fire TV devices. This is an affordable option that gives you all you need to start gaming, including a Fire TV Stick, Xbox Wireless Controller, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership.

Stream hundreds of games like Starfield, Forza Horizon 5, Fortnite, and more. Plus, now you can stream select cloud playable games that you own or buy like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II or NBA 2K25 (requires Game Pass Ultimate to stream with cloud gaming, and a supported device).

Xbox Wireless Controllers

• Xbox Wireless Controller - Sky Cipher Special Edition
• Xbox Wireless Controller - Ghost Cipher Special Edition

Specs:

• Battery: 40 hours
• Hall Effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: None
• Connectivity: Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

The Xbox Wireless Controller has long been one of our favorite devices, as it combines excellent ergonomics with long battery life and a durable design. Not only are these great to use for extended gaming sessions, but they also look fantastic thanks to the numerous designs released over the last couple of years. Two options are the Sky Cipher and Ghost Cipher Special Edition Xbox wireless controllers. Both feature a transparent design that allows you to peer inside of the device and see all of the fine detail beneath the surface. The Sky Cipher controller has a transparent blue design complemented by metallic features and silver interior, while the Ghost Cipher stands out with a transparent casing and metallic silver details.

Another great feature of these controllers is their compatibility with multiple platforms. In addition to using them with Xbox consoles and PC, they also work with mobile devices via Bluetooth. With textured grips and triggers, an eight-way D-pad, and a Share button for quick image and video capture, this is one of the best controllers on the market right now.

Seagate Expansion Cards

• Buy at Microsoft Store

With all the incredible game launches this year, your Xbox Series X|S game library is expanding rapidly! For even more storage, an expansion card is a quick and easy upgrade. These are designed to be plug-and-play devices, and you can play games off of them without having to worry about compromises. Like the internal SSD on the Xbox Series X|S, the Seagate Expansion Cards offer the same lightning-fast speed, and combined with the Xbox Velocity architecture, there's no sacrifice to the graphics, latency, load times, or frame rates of your favorite games. The Xbox Quick Resume function also works on these cards--allowing you to switch between multiple games almost instantly--and they're available in 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB versions.

8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Controller

• Buy at Amazon

Specs:

• Battery: About 20 hours
• Hall Effect sticks: Yes
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: Two extra rear buttons, remappable inputs, trigger/thumbstick sensitivity, rumble intensity, custom profiles
• Connectivity: USB-C (Xbox, PC); 2.4Ghz wireless (PC); Bluetooth (PC, Android)
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Android

The 8BitDo Ultimate 3-mode controller is a substantial upgrade over the 8BitDo's excellent Ultimate controller for Xbox, thanks to some clever tweaks to its design. It offers three connection modes--Xbox via wired USB-C; PC via 2.4Ghz wireless, Bluetooth, or USB-C; and Android via Bluetooth--and all three of them can be easily swapped between by using the toggle switch located on the back. Like other 8BitDo Ultimate controllers, this one is equipped with Hall Effect joysticks, Impulse triggers, and programmable back buttons, and it also has a redesigned D-Pad and bumper buttons that provide an extra layer of responsiveness and smooth, tactile motion. With the included multifunctional charging dock, you’ll be ready to jump into your games at any moment.

Xbox Wireless Headset

• Buy at Amazon
• Buy at Microsoft Store

The Xbox Wireless Headset was refreshed this year, and the new headset offers all the same features as the original model and includes several enhancements . The new headset model features Dolby Atmos support for immersive audio, as well as improved battery life of up to 20 hours of play from a full charge. Additionally, the microphone has enhanced auto-mute and voice isolation for clearer communication.

This headset has a snug and comfortable fit, and with its all-black design, it complements any gaming setup. Direct pairing with Xbox consoles, along with Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity for PC and mobile devices, allows you to seamlessly switch between platforms.

PDP Riffmaster Guitar Controller (for Fortnite)

• Buy at Amazon

Fortnite has come a long way over the years, and these days it's far more than just a battle royale game. One of the more popular modes in the game is Fortnite Festival, which is a spiritual successor to Rock Band and is even developed by Harmonix, the same studio as that beloved game. Exclusively available within Fortnite and packed with licensed tracks, the best way to play this is with a guitar, specifically the PDP RIFFMASTER. This wireless guitar has an ambidextrous design, can be folded up for easy storage, and has up to 36 hours of battery life.

There's also a thumbstick behind the headstock,the pickguard can be removed, and if you'd like to use it outside of Fortnite, it'll work just fine in Rock Band 4.

Backbone One Controller (for Xbox Cloud Gaming)

• Buy at Amazon

Thanks to Xbox Cloud Gaming, you don't need to be home to continue playing your favorite games. You can easily stream games on mobile devices, and with the right controller cradle attached, it feels very similar to the console experience. The Backbone One is a great device for playing games on the go, as the cradle can fit a wide variety of smartphones and offers a familiar selection of controls. It's also quite comfortable with its grip style, and when you're not playing, it doesn't take up much space with its compact design.

Xbox Gear Shop New Releases (Apparel)

• Buy at Microsoft Store

Another great gift option is Xbox apparel, with a fashionable selection of hoodies, T-shirts, and jackets to choose from. From new games to legacy titles, this high-quality clothing makes for a festive seasonal gift. Some options include all the Halo 2 20th anniversary gear,featuring classic box art, poster designs, and more on a wide variety of garments. There are also clothing options for other games like Hellblade, Avowed, and Gears of War, and you can even enhance those purchases with extras like branded mugs and posters. Plus, you can get official Xbox trading pins, which include a Halo 2 option and more to come this holiday.

Indiana Jones and the Great CircleTM - Digital, Physical, Collector's, Game Pass

• Buy at Microsoft Store

Get ready to become Indiana JonesTM and explore some ancient mysteries. Developed by Wolfenstein studio MachineGames, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks like an authentic adventure that captures the spirit of the franchise. Not only will you get to explore ancient ruins while attempting to stay one step ahead of sinister forces, the game will let you be Indy as you use his wits, fists, and whip to overcome dangerous obstacles.

The game will be available in a variety of editions--digital, physical, and day-one through Game Pass--but if you're looking to really make an Indy fan's day, consider picking up the Collector's Edition, as this comes with several preorder bonuses and a bunch of extra collectibles like a digital art book and a replica globe that has a hidden storage compartment.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Digital, Physical, Collector's, Game Pass

• Buy at Microsoft Store

Finally, you can venture into the radioactive heart of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, an atmospheric first-person shooter that has been years in the making. Not only does this massive playground have a photorealistic design, but it's also home to strange anomalies, deadly mutants, and rogue scavengers who'll test your survival skills. Another Game Pass day-one release, you can pick it up on PC and Xbox Series X|S.

Xbox Series X|S Console

• Buy at Microsoft Store

A new console is guaranteed to be a sure-fire hit. This holiday season, you have a variety of storage and design options with the Xbox Series S – 512GB, Xbox Series S – 1TB (White), Xbox Series X – 1TB Digital Edition, Xbox Series X – 1TB, and Xbox Series X – 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition.

Each console offers great visuals with features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Plus, Xbox's Smart Delivery ensures you always get the best version of a supported game. Spend more time gaming and less time waiting with features like Quick Resume, lightning-fast load times and gameplay up to 120 FPS. On the audio side, 3D Spatial Sound uses advanced algorithms to create immersive soundscapes and the consoles support gaming in both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The consoles are also backward compatible giving you access to thousands of Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Original Xbox games. And if you want to sit back and relax with a movie, the Xbox Series X|S supports 4K streaming, allowing you to enjoy your favorite content from apps like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+.

Experience the fastest, most powerful Xbox with Xbox Series X. Featuring the same speed and performance of Xbox Series X, there are now also 1TB Digital Edition and 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition. The Xbox Series X offers an impressive and powerful gaming experience. with these consoles, you can enjoy games in a sharp native 4K resolution and at up to 120 FPS.and combined with the Xbox Velocity architecture, games will load significantly faster and the Quick Resume function will allow you to seamlessly switch between different titles and pick up where you last left off.

You can experience the best value in gaming with Xbox Series S, the smallest Xbox console ever. Designed for disc-free gaming, there are 512GB and 1TB models available, and the compact nature of this device makes it great for transporting with you to events, in case you want to catch up on your games while you're away from home. Games are rendered in 1440p on the Xbox Series S, , and just like every Xbox Series X|S console, players will make the most of every gaming minute with Quick Resume, lightning-fast load times, and gameplay of up to 120 FPS.

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