The GameStop 2012 Console Deals That Make Today's Gaming Prices Hard to Ignore

If you've only started buying gaming hardware during the current console generation, you may think higher prices are simply part of the experience. Over the last six years, consoles have steadily become pricier instead of more affordable. That marks a major shift from previous generations, when prices regularly dropped as hardware matured. 

The holiday shopping season in 2012 serves as a useful snapshot because it came just before the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One arrived. At the time, both next-generation systems were beginning to generate speculation, although Sony would not officially reveal the PlayStation 4 until early 2013. Fast-forward to today, and many people are already discussing what the PlayStation 6 and Microsoft's next console could cost. 

One of the biggest examples comes from the Xbox 360 Slim. 

During Black Friday 2012, you could buy a 250GB Xbox 360 Slim bundled with Forza Motorsport 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and a downloadable copy of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for just $250. At the time, including a full digital game in a console bundle still felt relatively new, since downloadable retail games had only recently become common. 

The PlayStation 3 offered an equally attractive deal. You could purchase a 250GB Blu-ray-equipped PS3 for $200, complete with multiple games, including the Uncharted collection, the inFAMOUS Collection, and a PlayStation Plus membership. PlayStation Plus was still finding its place in the market, making the bundle feel even more valuable. 

The Xbox 360 followed a similar path. Although the original console launched at $400 in 2005, the Slim version offered far better hardware, built-in Wi-Fi, HDMI support, and a hard drive that was dramatically larger than the launch model. Instead of only a few dozen gigabytes, players now had 250GB available for installs and downloadable games. 

Software pricing also highlights how much the market has changed. During the same sale, Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 were available for only $35 each. Looking back now, those prices seem remarkable considering how collectible many Pokémon games have become. If you could travel back to that holiday season, stocking up on sealed copies would likely be an easy decision.

Nintendo's handheld lineup also remained competitive. The Nintendo 3DS was still relatively new in late 2012, yet you could already purchase one for $170, with bundled software available depending on the package. That pricing feels especially surprising today, considering how much interest the 3DS has gained in the secondhand market. The system's popularity has only continued to grow years after production ended.

Meanwhile, the Wii U had just entered the market. 

Nintendo priced the premium 32GB model at $350, while the basic 8GB version sold for $300. Because the console had only recently launched, there were no meaningful Black Friday discounts available. Despite the Wii U's eventual commercial struggles, the launch generated enough excitement to drive strong sales among Nintendo fans.

Microsoft also continued promoting Kinect through several hardware bundles. One standout package included the special Star Wars Xbox 360, complete with an R2-D2-inspired console that even played themed sound effects. While the hardware design earned plenty of praise, the bundled game itself received a much less enthusiastic response. 

The PlayStation 3 Super Slim also appeared during the holiday promotion. The $270 bundle included a 250GB hard drive, Uncharted 3: Game of the Year Edition, a DualShock 3 controller, power cables, and even the standard AV cable that many people have forgotten was still included with consoles at the time. 

Another notable deal placed Max Payne 3 at only $20, a reminder of a game that many players still believe deserves a modern remaster or enhanced re-release. While the PC version remains the best way to experience it, console versions have seen very few improvements over the years.

Sony's PlayStation Vita also made an appearance, including the white model bundled with Assassin's Creed III: Liberation for $200. Looking back now, that price feels incredibly reasonable for new hardware. Unfortunately, the Vita never gained the momentum Sony had hoped for despite offering a capable portable gaming experience. 

The discussion around portable gaming has changed considerably since then. A modern Sony handheld could still fill an important role if the company decides to return to that market. While such a device would almost certainly carry a premium price, it could complement PlayStation's home consoles without relying entirely on streaming or a constant internet connection. 

Another reminder of changing prices comes from the accessories available during the sale. 

A gold DualShock 3 controller sold for only $40, while pre-owned hardware also offered significant savings. Used Xbox 360 consoles started at $120, Nintendo Wii systems could be found for $80, and even PlayStation 3 consoles remained relatively affordable despite holding their value because of the built-in Blu-ray drive. 

The sale also featured pre-owned Kinect sensors for $40 and Nintendo DSi XL systems for $80. Although the larger DSi XL screen made handheld gaming more comfortable for some players, stretching the same low-resolution display across a bigger panel also made individual pixels much easier to notice. 

Looking back at 2012 highlights a trend that feels largely absent today. As console generations matured, hardware became more affordable, not pricier. That gradual drop in prices brought more people into gaming and made upgrades feel less intimidating over time. With current hardware prices continuing to rise, many players worry that gaming could become less accessible for newcomers.

These days, rather than counting on major holiday discounts, shoppers are often just hoping to find a console at its standard retail price. That represents a dramatic shift from an era when Black Friday regularly delivered substantial savings across nearly every major gaming platform. 

The comparison reminds us that, once upon a time, we expected lower prices, not surprising. Whether that approach ever comes back is anybody’s guess, but it’s hard to ignore the difference between the market of 2012 and the market today.