Microsoft has a big holiday season ahead of itself, with new consoles, accessories, and games on the market. Big games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Yakuza: Like A Dragon are purported to show off the power of the next-gen Xbox Series X and S consoles, but with Microsoft’s commitment to backwards compatibility, all Xbox One games and a varied library of Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles are also playable on the Series X and S. On top of that, all Xbox One accessories will be compatible with both of the new Xbox consoles, making this console launch particularly exciting–you don’t have to buy a brand-new set of accessories for your loved one if they’re getting a new console.
Unfortunately, the Xbox Series X and Series S are currently sold out after preorders went live on September 22, but it’s possible some consoles will be restocked before the holidays. Microsoft has urged hopeful buyers to sign up for stock updates at major retailers. We’re also tracking Xbox Series X and Series S availability in our preorder guide, where you can quickly check all the main retailer listings.
Even if you can’t get your hands on one of the new consoles just yet, there are still a lot of gift options that would make any Xbox fan happy. From merchandise and accessories to subscriptions and games like Watch Dogs Legion and Cyberpunk 2077, there’s a wide selection of great Xbox gifts available this holiday. And the fact that all Xbox One accessories are compatible with Xbox Series X/S makes it incredibly easy to find a great headset, controller, or anything in between.
For more Xbox gift ideas, see our guides to the best Xbox Series X controllers and the best 4K TVs for next-gen gaming.
$500
Microsoft is touting the Xbox Series X as the most powerful next-gen console, capable of running games at 4K and 120Hz. It also features SSD storage, which allows for faster loading times and more. A number of games have already announced 120Hz support, which provides ultra-smooth gameplay at much higher frame rates than the Xbox One. These games include Gears 5, Rainbow Six Siege, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
It also features a disc drive and complete backwards compatibility. The vast majority of Xbox One games will run on it with faster loading times and, in some cases, better performance. However, many of the biggest Xbox One games come with free next-gen upgrades that deliver enhanced versions for Series X or S. Some of the games that feature these free upgrades include Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Watch Dogs Legion, and Yakuza: Like A Dragon.
$300
The Xbox Series S is a more budget-focused option with lesser specs than the Series X and no disc drive. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a slouch. The Xbox Series S is capable of outputting 1440p gameplay at 120Hz and features the same backwards compatibility as the Series X–almost everything that runs on an Xbox One will also run on the Series S.
It’s definitely an appealing console, though if you do buy it for a loved one, make sure to buy them Xbox gift cards and not physical games. Without a disc drive, they’ll only be able to get their games from the Xbox Store or Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S games
Thankfully, Microsoft has kept it simple when it comes to games. Every Xbox One game can be played on the Xbox Series X and S. Xbox One games will also see faster load times and greater performance on the new consoles. This holiday season is full of great Xbox games that will see these benefits and more via free next-gen upgrades, including titles like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs Legion, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
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Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (with free next-gen upgrade)
If your loved one has a digital-only console like the Xbox Series S or you’re just not sure what they’d like, an Xbox gift card is a great option to put in a card or stocking. They can redeem the digital code on their Xbox console and use that money toward new Xbox games, preorders, and movies, among other things. You can put up to $100 on one gift card.
$45
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate provides subscribers with a huge library of games they can download and play at any time–and with the newly added Xbox cloud gaming service, they can also stream a lot of these games on their Android devices. Ultimate includes Xbox Game Pass for console and PC as well as Xbox Live Gold and EA Play, the latter of which will become available to users in November. Anyone who has an Xbox One or is getting a Series X/S will be able to get a lot of use out of an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, especially since Microsoft puts all first-party games on the service on day one.
$60-$65
Xbox’s new wireless controller works on both the Xbox Series X/S and the Xbox One. It’s very similar to its predecessor, except it’s added a new “Share” button that makes it easy for gamers to save and post their screenshots and video clips on social media.
$160
If you really want to spoil your loved one, then the Xbox One Elite Series 2 controller is one of the best ways to do that. It’s a premium controller that features adjustable analog stick tension, remappable back paddles, and an internal rechargeable battery. It also feels like a premium controller, meaning whoever you buy this controller for will be able to appreciate its build quality, hand grips, and more.
$220
Razer makes great fight sticks, and if you’re looking to get a nice gift for a fighting game fan, then the Razer Atrox is an excellent choice. It’s easily moddable, so parts can be changed and adjusted to the user’s liking. It has a Sanwa joystick and eight buttons and features a removable USB cable that makes the stick easy to store and travel with.
$100
The Xbox adaptive controller is an excellent choice for those who have special needs but still want to enjoy gaming like everyone else. It’s compatible with Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC and works with a large variety of accessories and third-party controllers that can be programmed to work with games on the aforementioned platforms.
$100
The SteelSeries Arctis 1 for Xbox is one of the best wireless gaming headsets out there, thanks to its comfortable ear cushions, great sound quality, and affordable pricing. It’s also the most versatile gaming headset on the market, as it works with every major console, including the Switch in handheld mode. That means your loved one will have an easy time switching between consoles and won’t have to worry about buying multiple headsets.
$300
For a higher-end gaming headset, Astro’s A50 is an excellent option. It features a base station that you insert the headset into for charging. The A50 also boasts a battery life of more than 15 hours and Dolby Atmos, which provides immersive 3D audio. You can also customize your audio settings and save them to a profile for easy setting swaps.
$20
The Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S are also capable of streaming movies, TV shows, and even YouTube videos and Twitch livestreams. However, they’ll likely want to save their battery power for gaming, and since a controller will fall asleep after a short period of inactivity, it can be a bit of a hassle to turn it back on when they need to pause what they’re watching. Thankfully, the Talon media remote works just like a regular TV remote. It’s always on and ready to use at a moment’s notice.
$220
For more of that super-fast SSD storage, this is what they’ll need. This Seagate SSD card plugs into the back of the Xbox Series X/S and provides you with an extra 1TB of SSD space. The Series S only has 512GB of space, so more storage will definitely be appreciated, especially by those who are subscribed to Xbox Game Pass.
Starts at $90
With expanding game sizes, an external hard drive will be a huge help for any gamer. The Xbox Series X/S require you to play next-gen versions of games on their internal SSD. However, you can transfer games from an external hard drive to that internal SSD whenever you want to play them, saving space on the console. This also saves you internet bandwidth, as you won’t have to redownload games you deleted previously to make space. Thankfully, you can keep all Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games on the external drive and play them from it as well.
$20
This Master Chief action figure stands at 6.5 inches and features the iconic Xbox steward equipped with a Battle Rifle. It’s also fully articulated, so the Halo fan in your life can pose Master Chief in a number of different positions and display him however their heart desires.
$12 each
These new Halo Infinite-themed Funko Pops are some of the best the company has released this year. They feature Master Chief in his iconic armor as well as two Mark VII options with different color themes.
$34
Gears of War fans will really dig this Marcus Fenix action figure. It features his look from Gears 5, complete with a very nice beard and bloody Lancer, and comes with an interchangeable head that lets you recreate his classic, beardless look.
$42
The Gears Funko Pop collector’s box comes with some seriously cute gear. It features four exclusive Pop figures, four enamel pins, a Gears Funko book, a Gears Funko hat, and a digital code for the Gears Pop game.
$50
Nerf guns are always a fun time, and if your Xbox fan is into Halo, they’ll get a kick out of this Halo Nerf Battle Rifle. It comes with 10 darts, which you can fire with the help of a built-in motor. The Nerf rifle features a button that kicks the motor into action, at which point you can start pulling the trigger to fire darts.
Comfy T-shirts are always a great gift to receive, and TeePublic has some excellent Xbox designs to choose from. Some of the best designs include the Xbox Splatter logo shirt as well as the Xbox xCloud shirt that features a rocket ship and several controllers flying into the cloud.
$20
This backpack has an all-black design with a neon green Xbox logo that really pops. It also boasts a huge Xbox logo on the back as well as an interior lining that features a collage of Xbox imagery like the controller, logo, and more.
$33
Paladone’s Xbox logo light is a sizeable lamp that would make a cool addition to their gaming setup. It can be plugged in via USB or powered by AA batteries, the latter of which are not included. It comes with a stand but can also be wall-mounted.
$25
With all of the games, controllers, and other accessories a gamer collects, it can be a bit hard to organize it all. This Xbox game locker is a great way for them to display their collection while keeping everything organized. The gaming locker can hang up to four controllers, hold up to 10 games, and display a gaming headset atop the logo.
$13
Heat-changing mugs are a lot of fun, and this Xbox-themed one has two neat designs. The cold design features a collage of Xbox logos, buttons, and controllers, and when you add a hot drink, you get a green Xbox design that shows classic weapons from Halo and more.
$30
Ugly Christmas sweaters are always a fun gift to receive, and choosing the right one can really speak to its wearer. This Xbox Achievement Unlocked sweater features a great design that implements a number of Xbox elements: controllers, buttons, and–of course–an Achievement notification.
