Microsoft and Sony always seem to battle leaks of their exclusive sales, bundles and games. When it comes to Black Friday 2014 deals those leaks are especially hard, if only due to the number of shoppers waiting to see who will have the best Black Friday sales on games. Yet Microsoft took an interesting turn Monday, leaking its own Black Friday 2014 Xbox One deals.
The console manufacturer and Windows developer already implemented an Xbox One price drop for the holidays. That discount, a $50 Xbox One price cut that effects all individual console sales and bundles, is underway now through January 3, 2015. However, that Xbox One price drop is far from the only Black Friday 2014 Xbox One deal on the horizon.
In an email sent to Microsoft Store customers, the Redmond-based company shared a list of at least 32 different Black Friday 2014 deals. The specials didn’t appear in any Black Friday 2014 ads, but they will surely begin appearing in the next two weeks.
The best Black Friday 2014 Xbox One deals “leaked” by Microsoft are likely to be tied to specific bundles. Microsoft did not divulge specific pricing on its special Black Friday sales for Xbox One. The company did, however, highlight three bundles that have just released: the Xbox One with Kinect Assassin’s Creed Unity bundle, the Kinect-free Assassin’s Creed Unity bundle, and the Xbox One Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare bundle.
The latter bundle is especially valuable, because the Xbox One console included in that package contains a large 1TB hard drive.
All of the Black Friday 2014 Xbox One deals shared by Microsoft on Monday start at midnight on November 27. That puts the sales starting on Thanksgiving, which implies Microsoft Stores will be opening early on Thanksgiving for shoppers who want to get a jump on their Black Friday shopping.
Other retailers are currently scheduled to open early on Thanksgiving to get a jump on their Black Friday sales. Among them: Target, Sears, Macy’s, Best Buy and Kmart. It’s still unclear when Black Friday 2014 Walmart ads will go into effect, though with Walmart stores open 24 hours their Black Friday 2014 sales will likely begin sometime on Thanksgiving Day as well.
Microsoft did not indicate whether the Black Friday 2014 Xbox One deals available in its own stores will also be available for Target, Best Buy, Walmart and other retailers. Considering the PS4 vs Xbox One sales gap, they likely will be available everywhere.
Some of the more unexpected Black Friday 2014 Xbox One deals offered by Microsoft include “fringe” games. For instance, a Duck Dynasty game for Xbox One (who knew?) and Sniper Elite 3 for both Xbox One and Xbox 360 will both be on sale on the long Black Friday sales weekend. Even newer titles such as Sunset Overdrive and The Evil Within are included in the roster. You can check out the full list here.
It will be interesting to see whether Microsoft offers altogether free Xbox One games as part of its Black Friday 2014 deals. Some Walmart Black Friday 2014 deals, for instance, will include a free Xbox One game. Those sales have already begun.