Gift ideas for the gamer in your life

Looking for the perfect gift for the gamer in your life? Best Buy is here to level up the holidays with plenty of video games and accessory suggestions that will make any gamer happy. From classic experiences to the latest releases on Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC Best Buy has got you covered. With the selection of gaming consoles and accessories—from extra controllers, headsets to gift cards you’ll find something they’ll love. Here are some of my top gift ideas to take the guesswork out of video game gift giving this season.

A new controller to help share the fun

The holiday season is a great time to get together and play! An extra controller could be the perfect gift that gets more family and friends in on the action. There is also specialized hardware like joysticks, steering wheels and flight controllers for more accuracy and sim game thrills.

One of my personal favourites is the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight Universal Flight Control System and taking to the skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator.Best Buy has a wide variety of controllers, below are the official remotes for each platform:

PlayStation controller options

When it comes to purchasing PlayStation controllers there are two models to choose from: The PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 Wireless Controller or the PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller. Both the PS4 DualShock and PS5 DualSense come in a variety of colours and designs, with so many choices you’ll be sure to find one that suits their style.

Pre-order the PS5 DualSense Edge

If they are looking for a more customizable experience with their controller, the PS5 DualSense Edge Wireless Controller is coming in January 2023. Built with high performance gaming and customization in mind, this upcoming PS5 controller will help level up the way you play.

A new Xbox controller

The Xbox Wireless Controller features many ergonomic refinements and improvements. The line-up has new hybrid D-pad, textured grip and a share button for greater comfort and enhanced control. It’s also fully compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 PC, and Android taking the guesswork out of your purchase. With all the forward and backward compatibility, the only question is, which colour to pick.

Elite customization and precision

Help them take their gaming to the next level with Xbox One Elite Series 2 and Xbox Elite Series 2 Core wireless controllers. The Elite Series 2 features interchangeable components, adjustable tension thumbsticks, and shorter hair trigger locks. The Elite Series 2 Core is a similar controller with fewer accessories and a reduced price point.

A new set of Nintendo Joy Cons

Add a splash of colour and more players to their Nintendo Switch this holiday season with a new set of Joy Con controllers. They are designed with gaming on the go in mind and can each be used as a standalone controller. Check out the full selection with multiple colour combinations.

Video game service subscription

Subscription cards are a great gift that can offer a lot of value to gamers. They offer benefits like free games, multiplayer upgrades, cloud saves and much more. The only thing you need to know before purchasing one is which game console they are using. Below you’ll find subscription options for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo.

PlayStation cards

If you have a PlayStation gamer on your list you’ll want to consider purchasing PlayStation Network Cards that add funds to each player’s individual virtual wallet. This can be used to purchase digital content off of the PlayStation Store like full games, DLC and subscriptions services like PlayStation Plus. Learn more about the different tiers and benefits of PlayStation Plus in this article.

Xbox cards

If your gamer is all about the Xbox platform, you can find currency and subscription cards for the console. Xbox has its own online subscription service with Xbox Live, offering access to multiplayer, free monthly games and exclusive discounts. If they love playing online with friends, this is a great option.

Xbox Game Pass

One of the best gaming services out there is Xbox Game Pass which gives players access to over 100 great titles. The monthly subscription service delivers hundreds of hours of fun with a massive catalog of games for subscribers. If the gamer in your life is always looking for a new game, Game Pass offers a wide variety of options.

Nintendo digital subscription cards

The Nintendo Switch has its own online service with Nintendo Switch Online. It also allows Switch gamers to play with friends, make cloud saves, access classic NES, SNES, N64 titles and more. Nintendo even offers a 12-month family membership for up to 8 accounts, so the entire family can take advantage of the service.

Digital credit options

Each console also has it’s very own online store that you can purchase credit for. You can purchase PSN gift cards for PlayStation, eShop cards for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Live gift cards. Give the gift of choice with digital credit they can put toward their next gaming adventure.

More room to play

Each game console only has so much space to store games, media and other content. There are hard drive and memory card options for each console to expand space to play. Here are a few gifting options organized by platform:

Xbox hard drives

The Xbox can use a wide selection of storage devices which allow for more space to store games. The next generation of Xbox consoles in the Xbox Series X and S models require a faster drive to deliver cutting edge experiences. The Seagate 1TB Storage Expansion Card works with the new Xbox Velocity Architecture for faster loading times, richer environments, and more immersive gameplay. This is the ultimate upgrade in Xbox memory space when it comes to fast, powerful read / write storage.

PlayStation 5 storage ideas

Expand their room to play with on the PlayStation 4 or PS5, with a new hard drive or PS5 compatible SSD. Choose from a range of sizes and speeds, just keep in mind the PS5 requires special M.2 SSD storage in order to work with the new console’s advanced hardware capabilities.

The Western Digital WD_Black SN850 2TB M.2 SSD storage device is a great option. It is also officially licensed by PlayStation offering greater compatibility and reliability with your PS5.

Nintendo Switch SD Cards

Upgrading the storage space in the Nintendo Switch with microSD memory will allow for more gaming on the go. If you want a little extra Nintendo touch on your storage, Sandisk has branded cards featuring the Triforce (64GB), Mushroom (128GB) and Star (256GB). These make a great stocking stuffer and will ensure plenty of room for games, media and more.

The gift of sharper sound

A gaming headset makes another excellent gift with bigger and better sounds for their favourite games. There are plenty of options available from value-based to high end headsets that pump out big bass and clear, distinct audio.

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600X Gen 2 Wireless Gaming Headset offers great sound and durability. It also comes in models that work with Xbox and PlayStation platforms.

If you are looking for a higher end option the SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Gaming Headset offers excellent performance. They deliver an incredible range of sound and the sleek, design looks great in all settings doubling as a day-to-day headset. The Arctis 9X is available for the Xbox and the Arctis 7P+ (Plus) for PlayStation platforms.

Webcams and streaming accessories

If you’ve been looking for a gift to give the video creator or video game streamer in your life Best Buy has a large selection of webcams.

I’ve tested out and recommend the Razer Kiyo Pro 1080p HD Webcam. The camera boasts a 1080p resolution, perfect for streaming in crystal clear quality at 60 frames per second. It also has built-in autofocus and auto white balance for easy setup and hassle-free use. There’s even an integrated light sensor that gives your videos a professional touch without any extra fuss or gear.

Purchase Razer Kiyo Pro 1080p HD Webcam

Bring the merry home with Best Buy

As the holidays draw near, keep it locked to Best Buy Blog for more great gaming and tech gift ideas!