Target’s Memorial Day sale now includes one of the best gaming deals of the year, with this big discount on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. You can currently save $15 on a 3-month code, reducing the price from $49.99 to $34.99. Additionally, 1-month codes are discounted to $11.89. Target’s price drop is a bigger discount than the previous best offer at Woot and the lowest price for Game Pass Ultimate in a while.
Discounts on Game Pass can be inconsistent, and even major shopping events like Prime Day or Black Friday don’t always offer great deals on Xbox’s flagship subscription service. Given the potential for future price hikes, taking advantage of significant discounts like this is increasingly notable.
The maximum duration you can stack Game Pass is three years (36 months). Purchasing twelve 3-month codes totals $418.88, which might seem like a lot. However, considering the MSRP cost of Game Pass Ultimate at $16.99 per month (totaling $611.64 for 36 months), you save $192.76 over three years by investing now. You could save even more if there is a future price increase.
You can save even more while stacking your membership, as Target Circle Card holders earn an extra 5% off (see here). Additionally, Target Circle Card provides a $50 credit upon opening a Reloadable account and spending $50, which you can use on this Game Pass deal. Alternatively, you can get $50 off when approved for the Target Circle Debit or Credit card. This is definitely worth considering to maximize your savings.
When Do Memorial Day Sales Start in 2024?
Memorial Day always falls on the last Monday of May, and in 2024, it will be observed on May 27. However, Memorial Day sales start much earlier. Many retailers launch their sales before the weekend begins, with the best discounts available well before Monday. In fact, several Memorial Day sales are already live now, as you can see.
The Best Memorial Day Retailer Sales Live Now
While there isn’t an exact date for when Memorial Day sales end, many discounts will likely expire the day after Memorial Day. However, some sales will extend beyond that. For instance, the Best Buy Memorial Day appliance sale runs until June 5, and the Adidas summer sale lasts until the 28th. If you want to shop Memorial Day discounts before the weekend, we’ve rounded up some of the best sales already live below.
Prime Day vs. Memorial Day Sales
If you’re wondering whether you should shop Memorial Day sales or wait for Amazon Prime Day in July, the answer to that depends on what you’re looking to buy. If you’re looking to buy a new refrigerator, lawn mower, or mattress, then Memorial Day sales are the time to do so. But if you’re hoping to purchase a new iPad or really good pair of headphones at a discount, you will likely want to wait until Prime Day sales to make that purchase. All in all, Memorial Day sales tend to be on par with Prime Day and Black Friday for a wide variety of categories.
Game Pass has gotten some heat since Microsoft decided to close studios like Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin. Larger third-party developers, for instance, have also complained that Game Pass cannibalizes retail sales — concerns that Microsoft admitted last year were founded.
It’s something to consider when purchasing even more time on the service. That being said, Game Pass is still one of the better deals in gaming, so if you use it often, this deal could be a good opportunity to stack up some membership time at a discount.
According to a new report by The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft will also soon announce its intention to release Call of Duty Black Ops 6 straight into Game Pass. WSJ reports that Microsoft will announce the plans during its Xbox showcase event in June.
If you want to see more discounts for specific platforms, you can also check out our roundups of the best PlayStation deals today, the best Nintendo Switch deals today, and the best PC video game deals today.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
Michael Johnson is a tech enthusiast with a passion for all things digital. His articles cover the latest technological innovations, from artificial intelligence to consumer gadgets, providing readers with a glimpse into the future of technology.
