February is looking like one of the biggest gaming months of the year already. For starters, Pokemon Legends Arceus is launching at the end of January, with Dying Light 2 releasing soon after on February 4, followed by PlayStation exclusive Horizon Forbidden West, Destiny 2's The Witch Queen expansion, and finally, Elden Ring rounding off the month on February 25.
This will be a huge month, full of surprises, blockbuster review scores, and plenty of amazing games. But, unfortunately, it's still looking like an expensive one as well. To help with this, we've collected a few tips and tricks to help you get through this densely packed period, and relieve your bank account of, at least a little, stress. Here's how you can save some cash during February's huge gaming lineup.
For Starters, Don't Buy Everything
I imagine most of you will already be commenting this, so let's get it out the way. Don't buy all the games. Yeah, 10/10 advice, IGN, but no matter how seemingly obvious it might be, it's still worth saying and then saying again a bit louder for those in the back.
For example, Far Cry 6, which came out fairly recently in October 2021, has recently dropped and now sits around $20. This isn't an uncommon occurrence with Ubisoft games, but it still stands to show that a lot of big games can quickly drop in price if you're willing to wait a couple of months for a sale. While we're on the topic, make sure to drop a quick follow on @IGNDeals on Twitter, as we'll always inform you when there's a new sale on the latest games.
FOMO is definitely going to be an issue for a lot of us, especially with how huge some of these games are. But, trust me when I say, all you will do is burn out on too many games.
If you've got the time and the money, there's nothing wrong with buying everything, but for the average gamer, I'd still suggest choosing one or two games and sticking with them this month, don't overextend yourself.
Prioritize Your Most Anticipated Game
Personally, I'll just be picking up Horizon Forbidden West in February, and sticking with that for a while. But, you might be different with your priorities in February. Dying Light 2, for example, is another huge release releasing soon. Not only that, but it'll be launching right at the start of the month, and is set to have plenty of content to dive into.
Developers Techland has stated that 100% completion (side quests, multiple endings, etc), it's going to take players up to 500 hours (further clarifying that the campaign is ~20hrs long without side activities). That means you can invest your $60 in maybe months worth of gameplay in your free time. Techland has also stated they're looking to support the game for at least five years, which matches up with its consistent Dying Light updates (free DLC and events) all the way into 2022.
So, while you're occupied with Dying Light 2, you can wait out the releases of games like Pokemon, Horizon, and Elden Ring, and pick them up at a later date, at a discounted price.
This stands for every game coming out over the next few weeks, and beyond. Prioritize what you really want to play, and consider how much you're going to get out of the game in terms of enjoyment, time invested, and money spent. I wouldn't suggest investing in other games days after purchasing a game you're already in love with and in the midst of playing.
Save $10 on Horizon Forbidden West on PS5 (February 18)
No matter what you do decide to play in February, try to save as much money as possible where you can, especially if you're going to buy multiple games.
For starters, Horizon Forbidden West is going to be receiving a free PS4 to PS5 upgrade path at release. This means you can insert your PS4 copy of the game into a PS5 console, and receive a free upgrade with all the bells and whistles of the new system (increased frame rate, graphical fidelity, loading time etc). This will work when purchasing the game digitally as well.
Now that's a big deal, as the PS4 version still costs just $60 (digital and physical), compared to the PS5 edition still being listed at $70. This is an easy win if you're looking to save cash in February, as you can pick up the PS4 copy for $10 less (see here), and still experience the game in all its PS5 glory. This also applies in other territories as well, so those in the UK, for example, can also save £10 on their purchase (see here).
Consider Reviews Before Finalising Your Purchase
Keep an eye out for reviews on games in the weeks before launch, if things are looking up, you can feel a lot safer with your preorder and make sure you're not wasting time and money on a game that might not meet your expectations. This could give you more time to look at gameplay, opinions from your favourite YouTubers, and even your friends if they've already got the game.
Thankfully, most online preorders these days won't take your money until a game has shipped, so you've got a little time to cancel any unwanted games before you get charged. Plus, sites like Amazon will happily take returns if you change your mind before opening the game and want to send it back for a full refund.
Save $5 on Pokemon Legends Arceus Preorders (January 28)
It might come out in January, but it's coming out so late into the month that it definitely needs to be taken into consideration alongside the rest of the February releases.
Right now, Amazon is taking Pokemon Legends Arceus preorders for just $54.99 instead of $59.99, that's a $5 saving on your purchase (see here). Now a $5 saving isn't the best saving in the world, but it's certainly a rare occurrence for Nintendo games to go on sale soon after release, let alone before. So, take advantage of this while you can.
Upgrade to Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection on PS5
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection includes remastered versions of the PS4 games Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. But, if you already own either of those games, you can upgrade to a digital version of this collection for $10, saving you from paying full price for a game you already own.
Starting January 28, 2022, you’ll be able to visit the PlayStation Store and pay $10 to get a digital copy of Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection. If you own a physical version, you’ll need to insert the disc to download or play Legacy of Thieves Collection (sorry PS5 Digital owners). The one other caveat is that people who claimed Uncharted 4 when it was available through PlayStation Plus are not eligible for the upgrade.
However, if you don’t own either game and you want to be a little crafty, you can buy either one now at a heavily discounted price (see above). Then, starting January 28, you’ll be able to upgrade to a full digital copy of Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection on PS5 for an additional $10. That ought to save you some cash as well.
Buy Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Buy Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
That's all we've got for now, but if any new deals appear, we'll make sure to keep this article updated, alongside posting the latest offers on @IGNDeals. Got any other tips and tricks to share to help save some money? Help out your fellow gamers and sign off in the comments with your ideas.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/how-to-save-money-during-february-2022-gamers
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