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Xbox One Release Date Tips for Buyers

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The Xbox One release date is here later tonight as many retailers open late on Thursday night to start selling the Xbox One Day One edition as soon as the clock rolls over to 12:01 Am local time.

For gamers who ordered online, the Xbox One should be on the way from UPS or FedEx and shoppers with a pre-order at GameStop, Best Buy and Walmart are undoubtedly watching the clock in anticipation of lining up after school, work or dinner to get their hands on the first new Xbox in almost a decade.

We’ve rounded up the tips you need to know for he Xbox One release date. While picking up a pre-order is relatively straightforward there are some things you need to take and if you are getting the Xbox One from amazon through UPS, we have a tip that might let you get your console hours ahead of the 8PM delivery time that many users are seeing.

Read: 10 Things Xbox One Buyers Need to Know

The Xbox One release date is Friday November 22nd, but many stores will start events later tonight and will sell the console at 12:01 AM to buyers who line up. Not every store will be open for a Midnight release, but most of the big names n retail are planning a midnight Xbox One release event.

Xbox One Midnight Release List

The Xbox One release date starts at midnight.

The Xbox One release date starts at midnight.

If you ordered your Xbox One from a major electronics retailer or department store, odds are good they will be holding a special midnight release event tonight. The great news is that the PS4 release prepped them for what to expect, so there should be smooth sailing at most stores.

  • Best Buy – 12:01 AM
  • GameStop – 12:01 AM
  • Walmart – 12:01 AM
  • Microsoft Stores – 12:01 AM
  • Target – 8 AM

Many of these stores holding midnight releases will open earlier in the day to finalize the details for a faster checkout process at midnight. GameStop opens at 6 PM to complete all but the last part of your Xbox One pre-order and Best Buy will start the process two hours before midnight. If you are going to Walmart, look for a line in the electronic section.

Some Best Buy stores will open at 8 AM for the Xbox One release date as well.

Get There Early to Game Faster

If you want to get home, download the Xbox One release day update and get on with the gaming, you should get to the store early — even if you have a pre-order. The stores will process orders based on the order customers lined up. So even if your Xbox One pre-order is months older than the guy at the front of the line he will still get his first. You’ll still get one as supply is set up to meet pre-order demand, but you won’t get it first.

Most of the retailers are processing orders two to six hours ahead of midnight to make things go smoother as soon as they can start selling the Xbox One. If you don’t have a pre-order you will want to get there even earlier.

Xbox One Release is Best Bet Without a Pre-Order

If you did not get an Xbox One pre-order for release date delivery or pickup on release date, this is the best time to try to get an Xbox One this holiday season.

Microsoft assured us that retailers will have extra Xbox One consoles to sell on release day for users who did not pre-order.

The Xbox One release at Walmart starts at midnight and should offer a chance for gamers without a pre-order.

The Xbox One release at Walmart starts at midnight and should offer a chance for gamers without a pre-order.

We had good luck buying a PS4 at GameStop without a pre-order and Best Buy in Ohio tells us that they expect to have some additional units on hand, though they did not tell us how many they will have.

There will be separate lines for those with an Xbox One pre-order and those without, so make sure you get in the right line.

Very Long Lines

Expect long lines at Target, Best Buy, GameStop and Walmart, but if you are lucky a pro athlete will join your line and buy everyone an Xbox One.

Best Buy will likely let shoppers into the store around 9:30 and GameStop is holding the event for six hours so gamers can come in and hang out with store staff and other gamers.

If you plan to wait in line for the Xbox One, bring food, friends and dress appropriately for your local weather because some of your time may be outside.

Tons of Xbox One Games

Don't expect Xbox One game shortages.

Don’t expect Xbox One game shortages.

We don’t expect a shortage of Xbox One games at stores on the Xbox One release date. Best Buy and Amazon shipped many pre-ordered games, which arrived earlier this week to many homes. In store many of the games were still pre-orders, but will be available later tonight. There are over 20 Xbox One games available at release on disc or digital, including the following,

  1. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag
  2. Call of Duty Ghosts
  3. FIFA 14
  4. Battlefield 4
  5. Just Dance 2014
  6. Lego Marvel Super Heroes
  7. Madden NFL 25
  8. NBA 2K14
  9. NBA Live 2014
  10. Ryse: Son of Rome
  11. Need For Speed Rivals
  12. Skylanders SWAP Force
  13. Crimson Dragon
  14. Dead Rising 3
  15. Forza 5
  16. Killer Instinct
  17. LocoCycle
  18. Xbox Fitness
  19. Zoo Tycoon
  20. Zumba Fitness Party

Gamers can buy these games in store or directly on the Xbox One as a digital download. If you buy a game digitally you can play it on your Xbox One and on a friend’s when you sign in.

Lack of Xbox One Accessories

There will be a few Xbox One accessories available in stores on the Xbox One release date, but it will be mostly limited to Xbox One controllers, a plug and charge kit and a Nyko charging kit.

Xbox One accessories will be limited on the release date, and through 2013.

Xbox One accessories will be limited on the release date, and through 2013.

There will not be a huge number of third-party Xbox One accessories like there are for the Xbox 360. Many of the fighting sticks, racing wheels and third party Xbox One headsets will not arrive until February 2014.

If you have an existing headset that uses optical out, you can plug this in and use it for game audio, but chat will not work through it.

Get Faster UPS Delivery

Xbox One release date early UPSMany times Amazon UPS deliveries come late in the day, as late as 8 PM for us. That’s a long time to wait for the Xbox One, but you can hold the Xbox One UPS delivery at the local UPS Customer Center to pick it up earlier.

If your UPS deliveries typically arrive late in the day as well you can have it held at the UPS Customer Center near you for pickup on the Xbox One release date. Be sure to check the hours of the Customer Center as they may only allow pickups later in the day, depending on their hours. Also, the closest one may be a little bit of a drive.

Luckily many of these locations re open 8 AM to 8 PM for pickups, so you will be able to pick up your Xbox One as early as 8:30 according to UPS. If you have UPS My Choice you can use the iPhone or Android app to change delivery or use the web. If you need help reach out to @UPSHelp on Twitter.

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Mike

    11/21/2013 at 9:28 am

    Currently first and only person in line at a Little Rock Best Buy. Just abandoned my post for my car due to heavy rain. You’d think they’d let people wait inside considering the abundance of floor space they have.

  2. Thereasa

    11/21/2013 at 9:32 am

    I called my local walmart and nothing available except for the pre-orders.

    • Andrew

      11/21/2013 at 11:02 am

      I ordered through walmart.ca in august and it still has not shipped yet.. what going on :l

      • Luthor

        11/22/2013 at 7:52 am

        I ordered from walmart.ca too I am waiting too it just says in process :(

  3. Amanda

    11/21/2013 at 11:25 am

    Same thing here, Ordered through Gamestop, it has had “Shipment label created” status for two days…. but no forward motion… getting a little worried

  4. Mike

    11/21/2013 at 12:35 pm

    You said “Microsoft assured us that retailers will have extra Xbox One consoles to sell on release day for users who did not pre-order.”

    Which retailers does this apply to and what if a retailer refuses to sell you an Xbox One if you didn’t pre-order?

    I have information that a store won’t be selling to people who did not pre-order and instead will be holding these units until Black Friday.

    Doesn’t this violate Microsofts terms and conditions? Expecting a reply soon. Thank you!

  5. Anthony

    11/21/2013 at 12:51 pm

    Yea, all Walmart are saying they only have enough for pre orders in store. I think that’s bs bc all pre orders are mailed from the Walmart warehouse on the 22nd. That’s why if u ordered from Walmart don’t expect to get yours for another week or so.

  6. MARTY

    11/21/2013 at 7:18 pm

    N WARREN MICHIGAN I HAVE AN EXTRA TICKET FOR MEIJERS. FOR XBOX ONE. CALL ME AT 313-801-3095 IF YOU NEED IT. MIDNIGHT RELEASE….SEE YOU THERE, NO PRE ORDER NEEDED

  7. Ray

    11/21/2013 at 11:33 pm

    Got mine at Best Buy in Atlanta at midnight they only had 22 extra units I was number 20. You might won’t to get there early in the morning if you don’t got one.

  8. Phat

    11/22/2013 at 3:33 am

    My sincere advice is that you buy a Xbox One, not even a PS4. Why? You can see here: https://lovingtheclassicsreviewsite.net/trend/the-5-best-reasons-for-purchasing-the-xbox-one-instead-of-a-ps4/

  9. Darnell

    11/22/2013 at 4:01 am

    I really hope Wal-mart have a XBOXONE in stock next week. I want one very bad now

  10. hhhhhhhhh

    09/09/2014 at 11:59 am

    gta v

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