16 Gifts for PlayStation Lovers
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the holiday season is so close you can practically taste it. And with shipping delays expected due to the ongoing pandemic-related supply chain issues, now is the time to order presents for that special person in your life who loves PlayStation.
The (still) extremely hard-to-get PS5 may be top of your to-buy list, but just in case it doesn't arrive on time, we have a ton of other gift options as a backup—from some of the best games for PS4 and PS5 right now to supporting gear for both consoles and merch that runs the gamut.
For more ideas, be sure to check out our list of great PS4 games to play, gifts for PC gamers, gifts for Xbox owners, and our many other holiday gift guides and buying guides. Happy shopping, WIRED ones.
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- Courtesy of Hazelight
For Collaborative Fun
It Takes TwoThe holidays are all about spending time with the ones you love, so why not play one of this year's best co-op games together? It Takes Two is an action-adventure title that will have you laughing out loud and high-fiving (or groaning in frustration when you don't time your actions just right). While it makes brilliant use of the PS5's capabilities, it's just as good on the PS4. There's no need to stress if you haven't yet copped the new console.
- Photograph: SteelSeries
For Quiet(er) Gaming
SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis 7PThere's nothing worse for a gamer than having loud family or friends around when you're trying to hear the micro-sounds of your enemies moving in a multiplayer game. Or, if you're the family member or friend, having to hear all the loud game sounds while you're trying to have a conversation. The solution? Buy them a headset. The SteelSeries Arctis 7P is one of the most comfortable gaming headsets on the market and has great battery life. Bonus: It'll work well with your shiny new PS5.
- Photograph: Elgato
For Remote Bonding
Elgato HD60 S Capture CardIf you can't be with family and friends in person this holiday season (or just want a good excuse to do more fun virtual hangouts in the future), then a capture card is the perfect gift. This Elgato card is extremely easy to use with both the PS4 and PS5 and captures in 1080p with zero-lag passthrough for streaming. Jump into Discord or on Twitch and watch your loved one play games—or play games like the newly released Jackbox 8 together.
- Photograph: Sony
For Those Lucky PS5 Owners
Sony DualSense Charging StationSpeaking of PS5s, make sure their controllers never run out of battery with this charging station so they can spend all their waking hours running through your favorite new game. This is the official charging dock, so it will match their PS5 if and when you get it. You can charge two controllers at the same time, and it frees up your console’s USB ports. Win-win.
- Photograph: Seagate
For Some Extra PS4 Space
Seagate 2-Terabyte Game Drive for PS4There’s nothing worse than getting a new game and having to uninstall another one just so you have the space to load it up. Avoid that dilemma completely with this 2-terabyte external hard drive. Since it's an officially licensed product, you can just plug it in and you’re good to go.
Note to PS5 owners: This is not compatible with your new system. Sony has not yet released officially licensed storage options for the new console.
- Photograph: Western Digital
For Adding More Games to Your PS5
WD_BLACK D30 Game Drive SSDDon't worry, you lucky PS5 owners. We didn't forget about you. The 2 TB Seagate drive may not work with your console, but this 2 TB WD_Black external drive will do the trick. You'll have plenty of room for all of this holiday season's biggest releases, with many more to come.
If you'd prefer to install an internal drive in your PS5's M.2 SSD slot, the 2 TB WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD ($500) is a great option—and it's available with or without a heatsink, depending on your needs. Just keep in mind that it will set you back more than the external drive (and remember to follow the instructions when installing and ground yourself first).
- Photograph: Amazon
For a Gift Guaranteed to Be Useful
Sony PlayStation Plus Gift Card (1 Year)A subscription to PlayStation Plus is one of those humdrum gaming necessities that anyone with a PS4 or PS5 will appreciate. You can’t play online games without it, and the service also gives you access to a few free games each month. As far as gifts go, these are holiday socks: boring but practical, and much appreciated in the long run.
- Photograph: Teckman
For Brushing Up
Cleaning and Repair Kit for PS4
- Photograph: Guerrilla Games
For More Games
Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition (PS4)While 2021 saw delays on a few big game releases, there are still many standout options—and some older releases that are worth revisiting.
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart ($70): The latest in the beloved PlayStation franchise, Rift Apart utilizes the PS5's capabilities to their fullest so you can hop between dimensions in less time than it takes to blink. If you have a 4K TV, this third-person shooter game will also look stunning.
- Deathloop ($60): Another game that showcases the PS5's abilities to the fullest, Deathloop is both beautiful and full of action. For a full rundown, read our review.
- Horizon Zero Dawn ($20): If your loved one hasn't yet played HZD, now is the time—the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, is one of the most anticipated upcoming titles. It’s a PlayStation exclusive slated for release on February 18, 2022, so there’s no better time to play through the original. At $20, it's also a steal.
Photograph: SonyGet Some Gear
PlayStation ApparelThe official PlayStation Store has a ton of merchandise options for keeping you warm over the holidays. We have not tried them out, but here are a few we like.
- PS5 Bomber Jacket for $130: This stylish black bomber jacket will make your loved ones' friends jealous. It features an embroidered PlayStation logo on the left breast pocket and a black-and-white design with the iconic PlayStation symbols on the inside. Oh, and did we mention it's water-resistant?
- Controller Buttons Sticker for $3: These stickers are the perfect stocking stuffer. You can choose from a matte, transparent, or glossy finish. There are also three different sizes, so you can pick one that will fit on pretty much everything.
- PlayStation Thermal Tumbler for $23: There's nothing worse than your hot apple cider or eggnog going cold while you throw snowballs at each other, so keep your preferred beverage hot this holiday season with this PlayStation-branded 16.9-ounce tumbler. It has a threaded insulated lid and comes in a gift box.
- Controller Buttons Pullover Hoodie for $41: Your standard hoodie, this one features the classic PlayStation controller buttons and has a pouch pocket on the front.
- Women's Iridescent Semi-Crop Sweatshirt for $60: Made of 52 percent cotton and 48 percent polyester fleece, this black crew neck crop sweatshirt features a screen-printed iridescent PlayStation logo on the front.
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