PS5 and Xbox Series X have both been out for two years and are finally a little easier to find than they used to be. You can’t just walk into a store and grab one whenever you feel like it, but supplies tend to be available by hours or days rather than seconds.
However, if you plan to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X for Black Friday, you may run into some stiff competition. Game consoles are regularly top contenders for Christmas gifts, and this year will likely be no exception.
While PS5 and Xbox Series X supplies may be scarce during Black Friday, you should have the opportunity to buy one or the other at some point within the next week – at least if you’re frequent. If you plan to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X for Black Friday, but aren’t sure which console to use, we’ll summarize the main pros and cons, as well as which games and accessories you’ll want to grab.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Cheat sheet
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
First off, if you want a detailed comparison of the two consoles, you should check out our PS5 vs Xbox Series X comparison. In this piece, we break down the specs, price, game library, performance, design, controller, and other than each console.
If you don’t have time to go through it all now, however, here’s a quick overview:
PS5 and Xbox Series X have more in common than differences. Both cost $500, both play huge libraries of high-quality games, both perform equally well, and both double up as acceptable streaming media/4K Blu-ray players. If you just want a powerful console to play third-party games, like Madden NFL 23 or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, you can get both systems and call it a day.
The big differences between the two consoles concern the physical design, the shape of the controller, the exclusive games and the game subscriptions. To address the first two points, the PS5 is ugly; the Xbox Series X is less ugly. The PS5 controller is innovative, but oddly shaped; the Xbox Series X controller plays it safe, but feels a little more comfortable.
Exclusive games and game subscriptions are much meatier matters. Sony has built the PlayStation brand on strong exclusives and the PS5 is no exception. This year alone we had the best Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7 and God of War Ragnarök. Xbox Series X, on the other hand, doesn’t have true exclusives, as every first-party Xbox title is also available on PC and for streaming via Xbox Game Pass.
Speaking of Xbox Game Pass, it’s one of the best features of the Xbox Series X, even though you don’t technically need a console to use it. With this subscription service, you can download more than 400 games to a gaming console or PC, or stream nearly as many to a smartphone or web browser. Sony’s counterpart, PlayStation Plus, is much more limited. While you can still download or stream hundreds of games to a PS5, the PC app is a mess, and there are no smartphone apps at all.
In short: the PS5 has a more robust library of exclusive games, but the Xbox Series X makes it easier to play games on any screen you want.
Christmas games for PS5 and Xbox Series X
(Credito immagine: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
As we discussed in the previous section, PS5 and Xbox Series X have exactly the same library, for the most part. To put this into context, consider the NPD Video Game Sales Stats. As of October 2022, eight of the 10 most popular games were available on both consoles; in sales since the beginning of the year, seven of the 10 most popular games were available on both consoles. Only two PS5 exclusives (Horizon and Gran Turismo) reached the top 10, while the other exclusive games were all on the Nintendo Switch.
Based on sales data, search traffic, and our own observations, here are some popular games for this holiday season. Most of them are available on both consoles:
Black Friday PS5 and Xbox Series X supplies
(Image credit: Future)
We know for a fact that there will be some PS5 restocking during Black Friday. At this time, Walmart has confirmed it will host three separate restock events: 12pm ET on Nov. 21, 12pm ET on Nov. 23, and all day in stores Nov. 25 (the same as Black Friday). You must be a Walmart plus member for the first one, but not the last two.
The Xbox Series X is a little more mysterious at the moment. No retailer has made a specific announcement about Xbox Series X availability. However, the Xbox Series X has been more widely available than the PS5 overall, so check out the usual suspects over the next few weeks and you should be able to glean something. As of this writing, you can get an Xbox Series X at Best Buy (opens in new tab) or Staples (opens in new tab), or directly from Microsoft (opens in new tab).
You can also get a $300 Xbox Series S pretty easily. The S-series is considerably less powerful than the X-series, maxing out at 1440p resolution and not having a hard drive. However, if you have an older TV or mid-range gaming monitor, you might be better off with the cheaper and more widely available Series S.
Black Friday deals on PS5 and Xbox Series X games
(Image credit: Microsoft)
There are already some good Black Friday deals available for PS5 and Xbox Series X games, though we imagine there will be even better ones next week. However, if you want any of the games in question, you may want to retire them while they’re still available:
Black Friday deals on PS5 and Xbox Series X accessories
(Image credit: Future)
While the PS5 and Xbox Series X themselves probably won’t see any Black Friday discounts, we usually see some great deals on accessories this time of year. To get you started, we’ve recommended an additional controller and mid-range wireless headset for each system.
PS5 and Xbox Series X Black Friday Perspectives
Whether you want a PS5 or an Xbox Series X on Black Friday, you’re probably going to have to do some work to get one. Both consoles are hugely popular and tend to sell out quickly. That’s no surprise, considering each one is excellent hardware with a rich selection of games to play.
In general, if you want to play Sony-exclusive series, like God of War and Ratchet & Clank, you’ll need a PS5. On the other hand, if you want to take full advantage of Xbox Game Pass and the ability to play games on almost any screen in (or outside) your home, you’ll want the Xbox Series X. If you don’t feel strongly about either category, then both systems they should be fine.
Stay tuned to Tom’s Guide, as we’ll keep this page updated with the best Black Friday deals we can find.
