New Xbox Series X/S owners urged to immediately do one thing first with console

We are just six days away from Christmas, a time that separates many of us into two distinct categories. Those with our presents wrapped and under the tree, and those who are yet to even begin their festive shopping.

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying many of my formative gaming memories are linked to Christmas. I remember the year my brother got a PlayStation 1 - something I clearly very quickly became a fan of. There was also the year I got my Game Boy Advance or my Nintendo DS Lite. It’s a time of discovery, and I expect it will be again this year as children and adults alike excitedly unwrap PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox Series X/S consoles. If an Xbox Series X/S is being booted up in your household this Christmas for the first time, Microsoft have handily shared their one must-know tip.

You may want to dive into this year’s major Xbox exclusive, Starfield. Take a look at some wins and fails below.

It’s somewhat of a funny tip because bottom line, it’s going to make Microsoft more money. It’s marketing but equally, it’s a worthwhile piece of advice and something I’d also recommend as an Xbox owner - and that is to buy Xbox Game Pass. It’s no secret that gaming is expensive, something you’ll know if you’ve just forked out on a console. When you consider that each game could cost you up to £70 (although many are cheaper than that) on top of that console cost, you’re going to want to save a few pennies somewhere.

Xbox Game Pass offers excellent value for money. The vast majority of releases, including hits like Starfield, land on the service as day one releases. You will need to pay a subscription cost, of course, but this is much cheaper than the cost of one AAA game. Considering you gain access to a library of a ton of games, you can see the value. If you’re brand new to Xbox though, you can actually get 14 days of Xbox Game Pass for the measly price of £1. Yes, just £1.

It’s the perfect way to try it out. After that point, the subscription will automatically renew at the full price. Ultimate costs £12.99 a month whilst Core will set you back £6.99. Core only grants you access to a curated list of 25 games, whilst Ultimate has hundreds of options. Again, if you’re new to Xbox though, Core might be the most cost-effective place to start. There’s always room to upgrade further down the line. Happy gaming.