The fourth quarter (Q4) of the calendar year isn’t regularly known as that, but is instead better understood as the holiday season. Between October to December, publishers will be trying to launch what they hope to be their big games in the hope they’ll be the biggest holiday title. Last year saw Fallout 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, and Star Wars: Battlefront dominate the charts, each game selling over 10 million units. It’s always tempting to open our wallets and grab every possible game, but how much will the holiday season really cost you?
Before we continue, the prices are list prices from Amazon, and are only for games with release dates for 2016 so far. There are several anticipated games, such as Kingdom Hearts 2.8 HD Prologue and Telltale’s Batman series that are due out this year, but as of this time do not have official release dates. So keep in mind, your costs could grow this holiday season.
Shooters
The holiday season, a time for giving as much as it is a time to splurge on the hottest new releases, always sees the release of major first and third-person shooters. This year, EA has two first-person shooters that will be released in an attempt to dethrone Activision’s stranglehold on the genre. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Battlefield 1, and Titanfall 2 will all cost $60 at launch, so dedicated FPS gamers will have to fork over $180 for the standard editions alone. If you have an Xbox One or a Windows 10 PC, you can buy Gears of War 4 for $60 as well. These four major shooters will cost you around $240, but wait till you see how expensive the collector’s editions are.
Titanfall 2’s Vanguard Edition will run $250 when it is released on October 28 and the Deluxe Edition costs $80. Battlefield 1’s Early Enlister Deluxe Edition is listed at $80, but Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare’s Legacy Edition may be the best snag. It costs $80 and comes with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered for the current generation of consoles. Gears of War 4: Ultimate Edition is $100, and this includes the Season Pass for DLC and an Early Access code, which allows gamers to play four days earlier on Oct. 7. Total, all of the premium editions will run players $510, and we’re only just getting started.
Action-Adventure Games
Between dynamic open world adventure games and character-driven experiences with unique mechanics, this holiday season will see the release of the likes of Dishonored 2, Watch Dogs 2, Mafia III, Dead Rising 4, The Last Guardian, and Paper Mario: Color Splash. All three of these releases will cost $60, as well as Dead Rising 4 for the Xbox One and Windows 10. Finally, barring any last-minute delays, The Last Guardian will see a full retail release in October, meaning another $60. Paper Mario: Color Splash for the Wii U is $60, and that brings the grand total to $360 for all major action-adventure games.
Oh, and of course there are bigger and better editions to be tempted by, too. Mafia III’s Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the season pass for $80. Watch Dogs 2’s Gold Edition comes with the season pass as well, for $100, and the Deluxe Edition is $80, which features additional content, just not the season pass. The Last Guardian also has a pretty cool Collector’s Edition, which includes an art book and a Trico statue among other things, for $120.
Dishonored 2 can be preordered now, and with it, you’ll receive a digital code for Dishonored: Definitive Edition. There’s also the collector’s edition for Dishonored 2, and with it includes replicas of Emily Kaldwin’s ring and Corvo’s mask, a metal case with the faces of Kaldwin and Corvo, as well as the Digital Imperial Assassin’s Pack that contains currency and weapons which can be redeemed in game. Bethesda’s store has it listed for $100. All told, purchasing these five premium editions, as well as Dead Rising 4 and Paper Mario: Color Splash (both of which do not have premium editions at the time of writing) will cost players around $520.
RPGs
Q4 will also see a number of titles release to keep RPG fans happy. World of Final Fantasy will run you $60, South Park: The Fractured But Whole comes out in December for $60, and console fans of Bethesda can fast travel back to Skyrim with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition for $50. Pokemon Sun and Moon will cost $40 each, and Dragon Quest Builders for the PS4 is listed at $60. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI will cost you $60 as well. Your total cost, and this includes both versions of Pokemon, is $370.
In terms of special editions, there’s only one option. Much like Dishonored 2, those who preorder South Park: The Fractured But Whole will also receive its prequel, South Park: The Stick of Truth, as a digital code. The Gold Edition, which can be bought for $100, also contains this preorder incentive, as well as a Season Pass and a SteelBook Case, among other treats. Additionally, there is a collector’s edition for The Fractured But Whole, which includes a season pass of the game, the complete game, exclusive in-game bonuses, a six -inch replica figure of Cartman’s superhero alter ego “The Coon,” and small prints of art from South Park Studios. If you already have The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on your PC, you get the special edition for free. Look to spend around $410 when purchasing additional base game products.
PlayStation VR
This October finally sees the release of PlayStation VR, as its official release date is October 13, 2016. For those who already have a PlayStation 4, a PlayStation Camera, and PlayStation Move controllers, you can pick up just the VR headset for $399.99. However , if you don’t have any of the necessary accessories, a PSVR Bundle will be available for purchase at $499.99. This includes two PS Move controllers, a PlayStation Camera, the PSVR headset itself, and a game called PlayStation VR Worlds.
Speaking of games for PSVR, Gran Turismo Sport looks to be a big title for the new platform, as well as for the PS4 itself. Launching on November 15, 2016, a little over a month after PSVR’s own long awaited debut, the game will include full PSVR support. The PSVR Bundle, which runs at $500, along with GT Sport at $60 means you’ll spend at least $560 for the entryway to a new way to play video games.
Grand Total
The standard editions of each aforementioned category, , along with the complete PSVR bundle and Gran Turismo Sport, will run players an estimated $1530. Keep in mind that these are the listed prices for games that have a listing on Amazon and a confirmed release date in the fourth quarter of 2016. If you were to buy all of the available special editions, as well as all of the standard editions that do not have premium versions for sale, plus the PSVR bundle and GT Sport, it’ll run you $1700. Amazon Prime members can save 10% off all new game purchases, but this is also the holiday season. There are sure to be major unannounced Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals as well.
Are you going to rack up a similar bill this holiday season? Are there any titles we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
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