According to IGN, PlayStation is dominating this year’s Black Friday console wars by offering $100 off all PS5 consoles from November 21 through December 1. The discounts apply to everything from the premium $749 PS5 Pro down to $649, to the new Fortnite bundles starting at $399.99 for the digital edition. Meanwhile, both Xbox and Nintendo are completely sitting out major console discounts, with Xbox’s sale featuring no Series X deals despite its $650 price matching the discounted PS5 Pro. Nintendo’s Black Friday announcement contained no Switch or Switch 2 offers, though their sale doesn’t officially start until November 23. The PS5 Pro discount effectively cancels out its recent $50 price increase and matches its best-ever price from the Days of Play sale earlier this year.
Why PlayStation is winning
Here’s the thing about console wars during holiday seasons – it’s not always about who has the best games or most powerful hardware. Sometimes it’s just about who’s willing to actually discount their products. Sony’s playing this perfectly aggressive by putting everything on sale, from their flagship Pro model down to entry-level bundles. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Nintendo seem content to let PlayStation have this battlefield to themselves. That’s a risky move when you consider how many people wait specifically for Black Friday to make their big gaming purchases.
Is the PS5 Pro worth it?
Even at $649, the PS5 Pro remains a premium purchase that requires serious consideration. As IGN’s Michael Higham noted in his review, you’ll need to think twice about whether the upgrade justifies the price tag. The Pro features what Sony calls the “big three” improvements: a larger GPU for more raw power, Advanced Ray-Tracing for better lighting effects, and PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) that uses AI to upscale games to higher resolutions. Basically, it means games can run at higher frame rates and resolutions simultaneously without the usual compromises. But at nearly $700 after tax, this is really for enthusiasts who want the absolute best console gaming experience available today.
Better deals for everyone
If the Pro is too rich for your blood, there are plenty of other compelling options in this sale. The Fortnite Flowering Chaos bundle at $399.99 includes exclusive cosmetics and 1,000 V-Bucks, effectively baking the discount right into the package. For those who prefer actual games over cosmetic extras, the PS5 NBA 2K26 Bundle at $449.99 represents what I’d call the best overall value in the entire sale. And let’s not forget the stunning Ghost of Yotei limited edition bundles at $499.99 – you’re getting roughly $20 in savings compared to buying separately, plus that gorgeous special edition design that’ll make your setup pop.
Beyond consoles
Sony isn’t just stopping at console discounts either. The sale includes $100 off PlayStation VR2 bundles, $20 off DualSense controllers, and solid game discounts like Astro Bot at $39.99 and Death Stranding 2 at $49.99. What’s particularly reassuring for shoppers is that according to IGN’s deals expert Robert Anderson (who you can follow @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky), PlayStation deals tend to stay consistent throughout the entire sale period. So no need to worry about missing out or finding a better deal later – what you see now is what you’ll get through December 1.
