Microsoft has now launched the Xbox One in the UK - a week before Sony's PlayStation 4 goes on sale.
Both next-gen consoles will run games like Watch Dogs, Destiny and Battlefield 4. But the Xbox One ships with a Kinect motion sensor as standard and has a greater digital media focus.
With launch day behind us, you can now order an Xbox One and stand a good chance of getting it before Christmas (or in some cases, before the end of the year). These Christmas delivery dates mark the arrival of the second wave of stock from Microsoft, but the challenge is getting one without paying over the odds for a console that's often part of a higher-priced bundle.
Unless you want a bundle that is. Like most console launches, buying options range from the big websites like Amazon and Tesco Direct to indie sellers like simplygames.com. On its own, the Xbox One has an RRP of £429.99, but bundles are available that can jack this price up as high as £650. Some are good value. Some aren't and have been marked up to catch out desperate buyers.
As you'll see, packs range from Standard Edition packs with a free game (such as FIFA 14, Ryse: Son of Rome or Forza 5) or Xbox One packs that come with two or three extras, such as a free game, an extra controller and an Xbox Live subscription. Obviously, the higher-priced bundles aren't selling out as quickly as the £429-£449 packs.
We've rounded up all of the current deals in this article, which we'll keep updating so you know just where to get the best deal on an Xbox One.
How to get an Xbox One before Christmas
Theofficial place to get an Xbox One is via the Microsoft Store. The standalone £429.99 console shows as sold out for launch, but you can still order one. Unlike some of the other UK retailers, however, Microsoft won't guarantee that you'll get a second-wave machine in time for Xmas.
Amazon
Looking elsewhere, Amazon UK has two console bundles - the first is a FIFA 14 Special Edition (£449.99) with a December 13 release, although "customers who order this console from November 19 may receive it after release day (December 13), but before Christmas."
The second is a standard edition machine (£429.99), but it's worth noting the disclaimer - "Orders placed from November 13 may not be delivered before Christmas."
Order now for December delivery
Look around and you'll find other retailers also offering pre- and post-Christmas Xbox One deliveries. Zavvi has a basic £429.99 machine - "stock not available for launch day, order now for December delivery."While Asda is also offering a standard console (£429) that it claims will get to you before you start carving the turkey and unscrewing the cranberry sauce.
An unlikely place to find an Xbox One is men's fashion retailer Jacamo, which is also offering deliveries pre-Christmas. But there's a catch. Its various bundles are shamelessly overpriced. A standard edition console plus Forza 5 costs £575, the same pack with Call of Duty: Ghosts will set you back £590. A standard edition on its own is priced at an eye-widening £549, while a rare Day One Edition console has a £100 markup. Ouch.
Expensive Xbox One bundles
If money is no object, but Christmas delivery is a must, Game has three highly-priced super bundles to tempt you. How about an Xbox One with Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome, Forza 5, Battlefield 4, Need for Speed: Rivals and Call of Duty: Ghosts (£699.99)?Or an Xbox One with Dead Rising 3, Forza 5, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4 and Xbox One Controller with Play & Charge Kit (£664.95)?
Something cheaper? An Xbox One with Dead Rising 3, Forza 5, Call of Duty Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Despicable Me 2, The Wolverine & Man of Steel Blu-ray movies can be yours for £644.93.
Some more retailers to try
As for the rest, Very.co.uk has four bundles with pre-Christmas deliveries (23-24 December). At least the prices are realistic. An Xbox with FIFA 14 costs £449 or you can get the same footie bundle with an extra controller for £489.Very's other two bundles are more expensive. An Xbox One with with FIFA 14 and COD: Ghosts has a £499 price tag, while an Xbox One with FIFA 14, COD: Ghosts and Battlefield 4 will dent your wallet to the tune of £549.
You can also preorder a plain, standard edition Xbox One console for £429, but you won't see it before March 2014.
Your last chance for an Xbox One
Over at shopto.net, there's a variety of bundles that are guaranteed for a Christmas delivery too, although there's no specified date. Choose between an Xbox One on its own (£428.86), an Xbox One with FIFA 14 (£448.85), or an Xbox One with Forza Motorsport 5 (£472.85).Wait. We're not done yet. An Xbox One with Ryse: Son of Rome and an exclusive controller skin is £472.85 on shopto.net, an Xbox One with Dead Rising 3 and a controller skin is also £472.85, while an Xbox One pack featuring Battlefield 4 and an extra controller is £519.85.
The overall picture
After launch day, retailers will be concentrating on delivering post-launch Xbox One stock to their customers in time for Christmas. Some big names, however, have simply run out of consoles. Argos is empty, simplygames.com are out of all their many bundles, Toys R Us and Gamestop are currently Xbox One wastelands. The situation might change and we'll keep you updated if they do.Our advice? If you want an Xbox One, don't hesitate in ordering one. The longer you leave it, the fewer your options will become and there will come a point when only the high-priced bundles remain on retailers' virtual shelves. If you don't manage to get an Xbox One before Christmas, there might be some extra stock floating around early in the new year. But a March delivery date looks like the next milestone.
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment