Gift Guide: 15 gift ideas for gamers when the next-gen consoles aren’t an option

We're pleased to present TechCrunch's 2021 Christmas Gift Guide! Are you looking for ideas for gifts? We've got plenty. Are you looking for other guides? Look them up here!

The season of giving has arrived however, the abundance of new consoles hasn't. With the shortage of chips and resellers/bots, the possibilities of anyone getting their hands on an PS5 or Xbox Series X without a large amount or effort(/luck) are very slim to zero. It is possible! However, you may not want to bet on the holidays on it.

If you think it's not going to occur next year, you can plenty of items that can keep the gamers you love a lot -accessories and other nice-to-have items that gamers will love and help make their existing setup more comfortable while Microsoft, Sony, et and. meet the demands of gamers.

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Headphones

Everyone needs a quality pair of headphones - not investing in them will lead to headaches. In a lot of today's played games, poor sound is an obvious disadvantage.

Are you trying to choose between wireless and wired? Wireless is a good option when playing at a desk. However, when gaming at the couch wireless gaming, wireless is a better option. It will to be more comfortable and less strangled.

To play on Xbox as well as PlayStation: SteelSeries 7X and 7P

I've played nearly every PS5 game using these headsets. They're simply amazing and better than Sony's own PlayStation brand headsets. They're comfortable, great sound excellent battery life, fast connection.

They're not the most expensive, however they're certainly far from being the most costly There's an updated version which doesn't make any changes and the (still excellent) previous generation is currently being sold. It's important to note that the 7X is only for Xbox consoles while the 7P is designed for PlayStation Unfortunately, there's no one version that is compatible with both. If you're looking for something similar to that you can find it next to be considered.

For Switch multiple consoles or for those on a spending plan: SteelSeries Arctis 1

They're not as soft or full-sounding as the 7 series , however they're comfortable, solid as well (because the wires are connected) are compatible with every device you can think of that includes all major consoles as well as phones and their cost is certainly just right. If this list sounds SteelSeries weighty, it's because they've have it right this year.

For PCs: Razer BlackShark V2 or V2 Pro

This headset is minimalist in its design, yet it is incredibly sound and is very comfortable. I've received nothing but positive feedback regarding the quality of the microphone.

I'm just not convinced it's worth paying the extra money for Wireless (Pro) option, as PC gamers are usually close to their laptops. If you can purchase the wireless version at a bargain, then go for it, however it's the wired model that's an excellent alternative when you're strapped for cash.

Cost:Razer BlackShark V2 (Wired), $75 from Amazon | Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (Wireless), $140 from Amazon

Perhaps a mechanical gaming keyboard?

This is a difficult one. I had planned to compile a list of various keyboards ... However as with next-gen consoles, some of the top ones are extremely difficult to locate at the moment.

If you know that your loved one who plays PC is using a keyboard they love it, take at it and buy them either a new or upgraded version of the same model. However, if you can find them discussing what "color" of mechanical switch they like , or they're thinking about making the perfect one ... perhaps they'll go it's time to go back. If they do go down the rabbit hole, the options are incredibly individual and difficult to find the right gift for them. You could consider giving an e-gift card or some other thing.

Accessories for consoles

Perhaps someone you love got lucky enough to own an Series X or PS5 already or has one in the pipeline. Perhaps they're looking to upgrade their current console. Whatever the reason, they'll likely require a little more equipment.

Remote control for the media

If someone uses their PlayStation 5 as the primary way of watching Netflix, Plex and so on, it gets old pretty fast using the rather large, heavy, easy-to-bump-off-the-couch DualSense gamepad for it. Get the remote control, and no one must learn what "O" or "X" means cancel, or how to use the triggers, bumpers or D-pad to fast-forward and rewind. This thing ought to be in a box. It's a simple and practical gift for those who combine gaming and cord-cutting.

A big hard drive expansion

If you have the PS4 it is possible to purchase an external USB hard drive and plug it into. The same can be done on the PS5 however you'll have ... limitations. In general it is better to upgrade your internal storage.

Anyone with a decent level of tech proficiency is able to install the expansion drive on PS5s. They'll need in the near future, as games nowadays are a flurry of big. This is a single purchase and installation that will prolong the life of the console, and make life simpler, particularly in the case of a "digital" version without a disc drive. The main brand names (Samsung, PNY, Kingston) have all PS5-compatible options Make sure that it's one of those brands and you're all set. A detail that's easy for people to overlook is that some models state that they require the use of a heatsink for the PS5 however they don't include one with the package. THANKS.

Elite controller

It's a bit of a spend since the standard Xbox controllers are quite excellent ... however, If you think that the Xbox has been your favorite primary gaming device for many years, you may be able to assist them in helping to improve their game. The new ergonomics, amazing D-pad, triggers for rear paddles, as well as other features could be game changersabsolutely. It's possible to do things with the rear paddles that require some pretty extreme hand movements to accomplish otherwise. Xbox One controllers work to Xbox Series X consoles, therefore this is a good investment that will be able to last for years, no matter the model they're using now.

Series X storage expansion card

Similar to PlayStation External USB drives are compatible for the older Xboxes however, there are some limitations for using them with the newer consoles.

The PS5's expansion card is especially difficult, but with Xbox Series X you literally connect it to the back. That's it. The price of $220 for a TB is to be a bit high for me, but it's all up to you.

Pro Controller

The only thing that is better than having Pro Controllers can be having two of them. They're fantastic and provide the best method to play a variety of games even if you're sitting on your couch. With the focus of the Switch on multiplayer, it can result in bitterness when one player gets an ergonomic Pro while all the other players are playing with tiny Joy-Cons.

Tips for you: While they're not as as difficult to find as consoles with next-gen technology First-party controllers are out of stock this year! Get them early to ensure that it happens.

8BitDo SN30 Pro SNES-style controller

Nintendo has an ever-growing library of games from the past for its gaming console (if you pay the monthly charge to play them) and it's more fun to play them with old controllers. It's true that Nintendo is reportedly only able to make around 50 units every year, and they're often out of stocks. Take advantage of one of the SN30 as they're wireless, they can be used with other platforms and include analog sticks in the SNES layout to allow you to play almost any game with 90s design. "You" refers to you "you" I mean your loved ones, clearly.

A monster microSD card

The Switch will quickly run out of storage If you're not careful and it's almost a must to buy a microSD memory card to increase its storage. It's good to know that expanding the storage capacity of the Switch is simple and fairly inexpensive! Get a 256GB or microSD card of 512GB and eliminate storage concerns one-for-all.

Do not bother paying any markups on microSD cards with Mario on it, or anything else after it's placed in the console, you won't will be able to see it.

Digital goods and subscriptions

Nowadays, most gamers have to pay for one thing or another consoles for instance for online multiplayer, the majority of multiplayer games require a subscription. Find out which subscription option they're using is and then set them up in a couple of months, and you'll know it's a present that will be put to great use.

Xbox Game Pass or Live Gold

You have a lot of options. If they only need to play in online mode, Xbox Live Gold starts at about $10 per month. If you'd like to provide them with all-you-can-eat access to a fantastic assortment of gaming, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs about $15 per month and comes with Xbox Live Gold.

PlayStation: PS Plus or PS Now

Sony also offers two plans available: PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now. Plus ($10 per month (or $5 monthly if pay per year) is the best option for online multiplayer. Now (same price) provides the ability to play hundreds of games. Be aware the difference between these two different subscriptions.