Cyber Monday 2019: What Is Cyber Monday, Deals To Expect, And More

When it comes to sales, nothing really surpasses the mania surrounding Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which together make up the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Whether you’ve got your eye on a new console, game, or piece of tech, there’s no better time to snag the products on your wishlist at a discount. But if you’re planning to do your shopping on Cyber Monday, it’s still important to have a plan and know what to expect. While you may not see the other shoppers grabbing things off shelves and tossing them in their carts, know that the best deals will still sell out quickly online. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for Cyber Monday 2019.

What is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is basically an extension of Black Friday, except you’re sitting at a desk pretending to work while browsing deals instead of physically shoving your way through crowded stores (although many Black Friday deals are, thankfully, available online as well). The online shopping holiday is relatively new, dating back only to 2005, and it was created to encourage people to shop online and to compete with brick-and-mortar stores’ sales on Black Friday.

The online-only deals may not be as good as the doorbuster sales on Black Friday, but since those brick-and-mortar deals tend to have low stock and long lines, you really can’t beat the ease and convenience of shopping on Cyber Monday (and online shopping in general).

When is Cyber Monday 2019?

Cyber Monday is always the Monday after Thanksgiving, and this year, that falls on December 2. Because of Black Friday, many sales will run that entire weekend and even into the following week, but certain deals will become available only on that Monday.

Best Cyber Monday 2019 deals to expect

Cyber Monday deals will likely be on par with what we see during Black Friday 2019, and you can check out our full Black Friday 2019 preview for a guide to what we expect for holiday deals. For now, here’s an overview of the kind of deals you’ll likely see:

Games

Nearly any game from recent years will be marked down, but releases from early 2019, like Resident Evil 2 and Devil May Cry 5, should see some nice discounts in the $15-$30 range. More recent releases, like Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Borderlands 3, may drop as low as $40.

Consoles

Don’t expect to see any crazy deals on the Switch Lite or newer Switch model with better battery life, though we may get some good console bundles during Cyber Monday. We do expect the original Switch model will get discounted to $250 or even less–and that’s not a bad option if you’ve yet to invest in a Nintendo Switch, if you don’t want to commit to handheld-only play.

The PS4 and Xbox One are nearing the end of their lifespans, and as a result, discounts on those systems are common these days. If you’re looking to pick one up during Cyber Monday, you can expect to see the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X as low as $300; meaning, the base consoles may go for less than $200. Keep an eye out for some great console bundles, too, which will throw in a game along with the system.

Other deals

Aside from games and consoles, Cyber Monday will also be a great time to snag a discounted membership for PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online, or Xbox Game Pass. You’ll also find discounts on VR systems, controllers, headsets, memory cards, computers, Blu-rays, and much, much more.

How to get the best Cyber Monday deals

The same way you get the best Black Friday deals: by paying attention to retailers in the weeks leading up to the event and having a plan. Some retailers will promote their upcoming deals for Cyber Monday, but you can also find leaked Cyber Monday ads online to get a heads-up on what products will be on sale. Of course, you’ll want to stay tuned to GameSpot, as we’ll be covering all the leaked and officially confirmed deals in the weeks leading up to Cyber Monday as well as during the event itself. And remember: If you spot a good deal, hop on it fast, as the hottest products will sell out in the blink of an eye. For the most up-to-date information, be sure to follow GameSpot Deals on Twitter–we’ll keep you posted on the best deals in gaming and entertainment as we spot them.