Note: CDKEYS is now loaded.com
Don’t touch the digital stores. Grab the physical copy from Walmart or Ebay for $15 or just play it through Game Pass. Job done.
Black Friday’s over. The inbox spam has finally stopped. You probably assumed all the gaming deals died in November, yeah? That’s what they want you to think.
Turns out, reality’s messier than that. We tracked seven major titles from Black Friday 2025 through to mid-January 2026 to see what’s actually changed. Some games got cheaper. Some went back up. A couple are sitting at exactly the same price they were in November, but nobody’s talking about it because there’s no marketing push.
If you missed Black Friday, you’re not automatically stuffed. And if you did buy during Black Friday, you might’ve still overpaid. Here’s what we found when we stopped listening to retailers and started watching the actual numbers.
EA Sports FC 25: Walmart’s Still Flogging It at Black Friday Prices
EA Sports FC 26 launched in September 2025, which means FC 25 is yesterday’s news. And when football games go out of date, they collapse fast.
Black Friday 2025 Pricing
The lowest price hit during Black Friday was $13.99 on digital storefronts (Steam, Epic, Xbox) and $14.99 at physical retailers like Walmart and Amazon. That was genuinely cheap for a game that was still £60 six months earlier.
Current Pricing (January 19, 2026)
What’s actually happening: The official digital stores have reset to full price because they can. If you want to buy FC 25 digitally right now from PlayStation or Xbox, you’re looking at seventy quid. That’s lunacy for a year-old sports game.
But Walmart and Amazon are still clearing physical stock for fifteen dollars. Same game, same disc, fifty-five dollars cheaper than the digital version. Physical media isn’t dead yet, and this is exactly why.
The other option: EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate both include FC 25 now. If you’ve already got a subscription, you’re sorted. If you don’t, one month of EA Play is £3.99, which is cheaper than buying the game outright.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – The Used Market’s Beating Black Friday
Black Ops 6 came out in October 2024, so by January 2026 it’s technically old stock. Black Ops 7 launched late last year, which means retailers and second-hand sellers are dumping BO6 to make room.
Black Friday 2025 Lowest Prices
The official digital sale price during Black Friday was $34.99 in the US and £34.99 in the UK. Physical copies went for roughly the same at major retailers.
Current Pricing (January 19, 2026)
Here’s the surprise: The used market in the UK has absolutely tanked. You can pick up Black Ops 6 on eBay right now for £23.53, which is a tenner cheaper than the official Black Friday sale price of £34.99.
Why? Because everyone who bought it at Christmas is already bored of it and flogging it second-hand. That’s the cycle with Call of Duty – massive hype at launch, dead in three months when the next shiny thing arrives.
In the US: Walmart’s rollback price of $39.97 is slightly higher than Black Friday but still decent. If you don’t mind buying used, eBay’s got “Buy It Now” listings at $29.99, which undercuts everything.
The Game Pass angle: Black Ops 6 is still on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as part of the back catalogue. If you’re already paying for that, there’s no point buying the game separately.
Verdict: Black Friday wasn’t the best time to buy this. The used market’s cheaper now, and it’ll keep dropping as more people trade it in. If you can wait another month, you’ll probably find it under twenty quid.
Hogwarts Legacy: January’s Absolutely Smashing Black Friday
This is where it gets interesting. Hogwarts Legacy came out in February 2023, so by January 2026 it’s nearly three years old. Retailers are desperate to shift the last of the stock before any sequel announcement kills demand entirely.
Black Friday 2025 Pricing
The digital sale price during Black Friday was $23.99 (Steam/Xbox/PlayStation) and £19.99 in the UK. Physical copies went for around $30 at Walmart and Best Buy.
Current Pricing (January 19, 2026)
This is mad. The PlayStation Store is running a flash sale on the Deluxe Edition for $11.99 right now (ends January 21, 2026). That’s half the Black Friday price and includes all the extra content.
CDKeys has completely collapsed to $5.60 for a PC key. That’s less than a pint in London. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about this game, that’s your signal.
The catch: Steam and Epic have ended their winter sales and reset to $59.99 full price. If you buy from the official PC stores right now, you’re being robbed. Use CDKeys or wait for the next major Steam sale (probably Lunar New Year in late January or February).
Physical clearance: Walmart’s clearing Xbox Series X stock for $11. If you prefer owning a disc, that’s your best shout. Amazon’s slightly higher at $19.99 for the Switch version.
Verdict: January is destroying Black Friday for Hogwarts Legacy. The game’s old enough now that retailers just want it gone. Don’t pay Black Friday prices – you can get it for half that or less right now.
Spider-Man 2: You Missed It, Sorry
This one hurts. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a proper bargain during Black Friday 2025, and if you didn’t grab it then, you’re paying more now. Simple as.
Black Friday 2025 Record Low
The PlayStation Store dropped Spider-Man 2 to $29.39 (58% off) during Black Friday. Physical copies at Amazon and Walmart matched that at $29.99.
In the UK, it hit £29.99 across the board.
Current Pricing (January 19, 2026)
What happened: Black Friday was the all-time low. The PlayStation Store has since jacked the price back up to $57.99, and physical retailers are hovering around $43-49.
The PC version launched on January 30, 2025, which explains why Steam’s charging full whack at $59.99. But even accounting for the new platform, you’re looking at twenty to thirty quid more than the Black Friday deal.
Is it worth waiting? Probably. Spider-Man 2 will drop again around Easter or during the next major PSN sale (March/April). If you’re not desperate to play it right now, save yourself the fifteen quid and wait.
Best current option: Best Buy’s physical copy at $42.98 is the least painful option if you absolutely need it today. But it’s still 43% more expensive than Black Friday, so don’t pretend you’re getting a bargain.
Verdict: Black Friday won this round. Current prices are a rip-off by comparison. Be patient or overpay – your choice.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Full Price, Wait for the Next Sale
Baldur’s Gate 3 is still riding high on critical acclaim, which means it’s not dropping to bargain-bin levels anytime soon. But there’s a predictable sale cycle if you know where to look.
Black Friday 2025 Pricing
Steam, GOG, and the console stores all hit $44.99 (25% off) during Black Friday. That’s been the standard “on sale” price since launch.
Current Pricing (January 19, 2026)
What’s going on: The official winter sales ended earlier this month, and everything’s back to full RRP. Unless you’re in a region with specialised pricing (Eastern Europe, South Asia), you’re paying sixty quid.
The reseller trap: You’ll see CDKeys and Eneba listings as low as $10.63 for Xbox or $21.38 for PC. Sounds amazing, right?
Here’s the problem – a lot of these “keys” are actually Steam accounts or regional gift codes that violate the platform’s terms of service. If you buy an account and the seller reclaims it six months later, you’re stuffed and out of pocket. Only buy verified “Global Keys” from trusted sellers, and even then, know the risk.
When to buy: Steam runs a Lunar New Year Sale in late January or early February every year. Baldur’s Gate 3 will almost certainly drop back to $44.99 during that event. If you can wait three to four weeks, you’ll save fifteen quid.
Physical edition: The Deluxe Edition is available from Larian’s store for $79.99. It includes the soundtrack on three CDs, a cloth map, stickers, and patches. Never goes on sale, so don’t wait for a discount that won’t come. eBay scalpers are flogging it for $150-250, which is mental considering Larian restocks it regularly.
Verdict: Don’t buy at full price right now. Wait for the Lunar New Year Sale or the next major Steam event. You’ll save £12-15 for the sake of a few weeks’ patience.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Slightly Better Now Than Black Friday
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched in March 2025, so it’s still relatively new. The release of the “Claws of Awaji” expansion and a Nintendo Switch 2 port have triggered some discounting on the base game as Ubisoft tries to upsell people to the expansion pass.
Black Friday 2025 Pricing
Digital storefronts (Steam, Ubisoft, Xbox, PlayStation) offered the game at $41.99 during Black Friday. Walmart had a physical rollback at $30 for a brief period, but stock was limited.
In the UK, digital went for £35.99.
Current Pricing (January 19, 2026)
This is one of the rare cases where January beats Black Friday. The digital storefronts are running a “January Sale” that’s knocked $7 off the Black Friday price. You’re now looking at $34.99 on Steam, PlayStation, and Ubisoft’s own store.
The Amazon trick: The Limited Edition physical copy is currently $34.99 on Amazon, which matches the digital price but includes the Naoe Sekiryu Character Pack (extra gear, weapon, and mount). If you’re buying on console, the Amazon version gives you more for the same money.
UK market: Steam’s leading at £29.99, which beats the Black Friday digital price of £35.99 by a decent margin.
Ubisoft+ angle: If you’re just after the story and the expansion, one month of Ubisoft+ Premium is $17.99. Finish the main campaign and the DLC in 30 days, cancel the sub, and you’ve spent half what buying the game would cost.
Verdict: Don’t feel bad if you skipped Black Friday for this one. The current January sales are better, and Amazon’s Limited Edition is the smartest buy if you want to own it outright.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Nintendo Tax in Full Effect
Nintendo doesn’t do “sales” the way other publishers do. Their first-party games hold value like property in central London – they barely drop, and when they do, it’s grudging.
Black Friday 2025 Pricing
Super Mario Bros. Wonder finally dipped below forty quid during Black Friday 2025 for the first time since launch. The lowest price was $39.99 at Target and Walmart in the US, and £34.99 at Argos and Amazon in the UK.
Current Pricing (January 19, 2026)
The usual Nintendo story: The eShop hasn’t budged. It’s still sixty quid for the digital version, and it’ll probably stay there until the heat death of the universe.
Physical copies have crept back up to $47-49 at major retailers, which is about seven to nine quid more than the Black Friday low. Still cheaper than the eShop, mind, but not the bargain it was in November.
The used market: If you’re fine with second-hand, eBay’s got copies for $34.97, which actually beats Black Friday. GameStop and CEX will have similar pricing if you’d rather buy in-person.
Switch 2 compatibility: The good news is that if you’ve got the new Switch 2 (launched late 2025), the original Wonder cartridge works and gets a free “Boost Mode” upgrade – stabilised 60FPS in 4K when docked. So buying the old version isn’t a waste.
When to buy: MAR10 Day sales happen every March 10th (get it?). Historically, Nintendo drops first-party games back to around $39.99 during that event. If you can wait seven weeks, you’ll save eight to ten quid.
Verdict: Black Friday was better. Current prices are higher, but not outrageous. If you’re desperate, Amazon’s $47 is tolerable. If you’re not, wait for MAR10 Day or buy used.
Beyond Console Games: Where Deals Don’t Follow Black Friday Cycles
While AAA titles like Spider-Man 2 see seasonal price drops tied to retail calendars, other corners of gaming operate on completely different schedules. Subscription services, mobile games, and online casino platforms maintain their own promotional rhythms independent of November sales events.
Subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus don’t tie promotions to Black Friday. They run recruitment drives year-round, often offering £1 first-month trials or discounted annual passes whenever subscriber numbers dip. If you’re eyeing Game Pass, there’s no point waiting for Black Friday – the “deal” price is available most months if you know when to look.
Mobile gaming rarely participates in traditional sales cycles. In-app purchases and battle passes operate on weekly or monthly refresh schedules. A “discount” in a mobile game usually means a limited-time bundle that appears every fortnight, not an annual event.
Online casino and slot games sit in a similar space. Platforms maintain ongoing promotional structures rather than event-driven sales. Games like gates of olympus, feature welcome bonuses, free spins, and loyalty rewards that don’t fluctuate with Black Friday calendars. For players who engage across multiple gaming formats – console, mobile, and casino – understanding these separate ecosystems helps maximise value without waiting for annual shopping events.
The key difference: console games are products with fixed prices that depreciate over time. Digital services and casino games are experiences with ongoing promotional hooks designed to maintain engagement rather than clear inventory. There’s no “stock” to shift, so there’s no need for a once-a-year blowout sale.
Takeaway: If you’re waiting for Black Friday to get a deal on Xbox Game Pass or an online slots platform, you’re wasting your time. Those sectors don’t work that way – the “deal” is always running, just under a different name each month.
PC Game Keys: CDKeys, Eneba, and the Grey Market
Throughout this article, CDKeys has come up repeatedly because they consistently undercut official storefronts by 20-40%. But let’s be clear about what you’re actually buying.
What is a “key reseller”? Sites like CDKeys, Eneba, and G2A sell game activation codes (keys) that they’ve sourced from lower-priced regions or bulk purchases. They’re not official retailers – Microsoft, Sony, and Steam don’t authorise these sales. That’s why the keys are cheaper.
Is it legal? Yes. Buying a game key isn’t illegal. You’re purchasing a legitimate activation code.
Is it risky? Sometimes. The main risks are:
- Regional locks: A key sold as “Global” might only work in specific regions. If it’s locked to Russia or Argentina, it won’t activate on a UK account.
- Revoked keys: Very rare, but if a key was purchased fraudulently (stolen credit card), the publisher can revoke it months later.
- Account scams: Some ultra-cheap listings aren’t keys at all – they’re Steam accounts with the game installed. Buying an account violates Steam’s terms and can result in a ban.
How to buy safely:
- Stick to verified sellers on CDKeys and Eneba. Avoid random G2A marketplace listings from sellers with no reviews.
- Look for “Global” or “Region Free” tags. If it says “RU” or “Argentina,” it’s region-locked.
- Never buy “accounts.” Only buy activation keys.
- Use PayPal for buyer protection.
Current CDKeys pricing (January 19, 2026):
- Hogwarts Legacy: $5.60 (vs $59.99 on Steam)
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows: $33.79 (vs $59.99 on Ubisoft)
- Call of Duty Black Ops 6: $34.49 (vs $69.99 on Battle.net)
For PC gamers, CDKeys is consistently cheaper than waiting for official sales. Just know what you’re buying and who you’re buying from.
The Verdict: 3 Games Beat Black Friday, 4 Didn’t
Here’s the final scorecard for January 2026 vs Black Friday 2025:
Games Currently Cheaper Than Black Friday
- Hogwarts Legacy – Digital Deluxe at $11.99 vs $23.99 (50% cheaper)
- Call of Duty Black Ops 6 – Used market at £23.53 vs £34.99 (33% cheaper)
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Digital at $34.99 vs $41.99 (17% cheaper)
Games Where Black Friday Was Better
- Spider-Man 2 – Was $29.39, now $42.98+ (44% more expensive)
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Was $44.99, now $59.99 (33% more expensive)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Was $39.99, now $47 (18% more expensive)
- EA Sports FC 25 – Physical unchanged at $15, but digital reset to $69.99
The Pattern
Last year’s physical games: Stores are trying to clear out old stock, and so the prices match — if not fall even lower than — Black Friday (à la used copies). The first to fall are sports games and annual franchises.
Digital storefronts: They return to full RRP when winter sales finish. You’re waiting until the next major sale (Lunar New Year, Easter, Spring Sale) on a digital if you missed it for Black Friday.
New releases: Games released within the past year (Spider-Man 2, Mario Wonder) reached their lowest prices during Black Friday and have rarely been priced lower. You’ll be waiting months for those deals to come back.
Oldies titles (2 years or more): These continue to fall regardless of the season. Hogwarts Legacy demonstrates that if a game is old enough, retailers just want it out.
What to Do Now
Buy immediately:
- Hogwarts Legacy (any platform, it’s dirt cheap)
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows (if you’re interested, January sales are solid)
- Call of Duty Black Ops 6 (used market in UK is brilliant value)
Wait for the next sale:
- Baldur’s Gate 3 (Lunar New Year Sale in 3-4 weeks)
- Spider-Man 2 (Easter sales around April)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder (MAR10 Day on March 10)
Skip entirely:
- EA Sports FC 25 digital at £69.99 (play it via Game Pass or buy physical for $15)
The Takeaway
Black Friday isn’t the be-all and end-all for gaming deals. It’s good for brand-new releases and flagship titles, but older games and clearance stock often hit better prices in January and February as retailers make room for the next wave.
The real trick is knowing which games follow which pattern. Annual franchises (FIFA, COD) collapse after Black Friday. Nintendo games barely move. Digital services don’t care about Black Friday at all.
So no, the deals didn’t end in November. They just shifted. And if you’re paying attention, you’ll catch them.
