This Prime Day Deal Is the Cheapest Way to Get Started Playing Xbox
Prime Day 2025 runs from Tuesday, July 8 through Friday, July 11, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price tracking tools.
-
Subscribe to our blog to stay up to date with the best sales we find.
-
Check out our Editors’ Picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, home appliances, and more.
-
Sign up for our Add to Cart shopping newsletter to get the best deals delivered to your inbox.
-
New to Prime Day? We’ve got everything you need to get started . Sales information is accurate at time of publication, but prices and stock levels are subject to change.
When you were a kid, playing video games was all about having the right console (or PC, if you were lucky). Things are a bit more complicated these days. If you’re not a hardcore gamer who’s willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a console but still want to play Xbox occasionally, there’s a cheaper solution: this Prime Day deal , which includes a controller and everything you need to stream Xbox games to your couch.
Right now, Amazon has an Xbox Core Wireless Controller (the most basic model, but good enough for most people), an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $88. Bundles with other color controllers will cost more, but no matter what you choose, it’s still a lot cheaper than buying an Xbox.
Streaming Games Without a Console
Sure, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max isn’t powerful enough to play games on its own, but the cool thing is that it can use the Xbox app to stream games. With an included month of Game Pass Ultimate, you’ll be able to play hundreds of cloud-streaming-compatible games , including third-party titles like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered , right on your TV. The gameplay won’t be as responsive or high-quality as playing on a console, and you’ll need to renew your subscription to keep clicking “Continue,” but for casual gamers, that might be enough. (It’s also a great way to try out console gaming if you’re not completely sold on it yet.) Plus, even if you cancel your subscription, you’ll keep the controller and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Xbox controllers are versatile little devices that work just as well on mobile and PC as they do on the Xbox consoles themselves. Meanwhile, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max typically costs $60 and supports 4K content, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Audio, along with 16GB of storage. Both the controller and streaming box would be nice on their own, but together — and with a month of cloud gaming — they make a great package.
Looking for something different? Retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Home Depot are running Prime Day sales that are especially helpful if you don’t have an Amazon Prime subscription.
-
Walmart’s Prime Day sale starts at midnight on July 8 and includes discounts of up to 50% . It’s an especially great deal for those with a Walmart+ subscription.
-
Best Buy’s Prime Day sale , Black Friday in July, runs through Sunday, July 13, and is one of the best tech deals online . It’s an especially good deal for My Best Buy Plus or Total members.
-
Home Depot has extended its Fourth of July sale through at least July 9, offering some great deals . This is an especially great deal if you’re looking for power tools, appliances, or outdoor gear.