When Christmas Day hits, a bunch of people are going to open up brand-new Xbox or PlayStation consoles, plug them in, and wait for gigantic system updates to download and install. Depending on how many eager gamers sign on to Microsoft or Sony’s services to grab updates — or play brand-new games — this process might take longer than usual if either company’s servers are feeling strained.

Every month, Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus subscribers get several free games, which they can continue to play as long as they stay subscribed to the services.

You can claim your free games directly from their respective consoles, but to make sure you don’t forget them, it’s easier to grab the freebies as soon as you learn they’re available each month — even if you’re out of the house. Here’s how.

The approaching weekend is a great time to sit back and enjoy some video games. We've gathered up some of the best gaming deals going around right now to help you out.

G'day! Here are some cracking deals for Lifehacker readers today, including big discounts in Click Frenzy junior, cheap airfares and more Galaxy S9 savings!

We've seen some strong deals for the Xbox One S over the last 12 months, but this one takes the cake coming into Christmas. For today only, the 500GB unit, along with a bunch of Minecraft games, can be yours for $250 from Harvey Norman.

With Black Friday fast approaching, the pre-Christmas sales are ramping up. Microsoft have unleashed their Black Friday specials early this year for Xbox Live Gold users.

Don't have Xbox Live Gold? There's a special offer to sign up for only $1 so anyone can take advantage of this sale.

Every generation of consoles has its ‘default’.

Sometimes that default is difficult to define, other times it’s clear as day.

PlayStation 2: default. Obviously.

Super Nintendo? Probably default. A close run race. Plenty had Mega Drives. Blood in the playgrounds that one. A dark time for the empire.

PlayStation 1. Default.

Xbox 360. Default.

Much more powerful, but somehow smaller, than the Xbox One S released last year, the Xbox One X is a marvel of technology and engineering that provides the most technically impressive console gaming experience you can get, especially if you're running a 4K TV.

While computers have been used by the military in creating simulations and training operators in the use of equipment, this is the first time I've seen something from the gaming world make it into production like this. The US Navy is using an Xbox controller to operate the periscope on Virginia-class submarines.

Xbox One X will have a limted "Project Scorpio" edition available when it launches this Spring Microsoft announced today at its pre-Gamescom briefing.

The new consoles have finally been announced, the dust is beginning to settle, and now there are a lot of choices for anyone wanting to make their way back into gaming or starting from scratch. Maybe you don't know one PS4 SKU from another or have any idea who Nathan Drake is -- and that's ok.

Not everyone has the time or the motivation to be a gaming enthusiast, and so this guide is for the rest of you: explaining the consoles, the games, and the technologies you need to know about to hold up a reasonably detailed conversation about video gaming in 2017.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is set to kick off in Los Angeles next week. Here's how to watch all the major announcements live in Australia from Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, EA, Bethesda and the rest. (Warning: This will involve some early mornings!)

Microsoft just announced what we've all been waiting for: the birth of Project Scorpio, its much-teased next-generation console. It's now called the Xbox One X, and it's both the smallest Xbox ever built as well as the most powerful console ever -- built for gaming on 4K TVs, in HDR, at a smooth 60fps.

Microsoft's E3 2017 conference gave us our first in-depth look at the Xbox One Scorpio console along with new hardware. You can re-watch the whole event right here.

If you missed February's stellar deal for the Xbox One S, don't worry, Microsoft is at it again. Right now you can grab the 500GB console for $299, which not only comes with a download for Battlefield 1, Minecraft, FIFA 17 or Forza Horizon 3, but an additional free game of your choice.

We've scoured the web for the best controller shortcuts, media streaming tricks and other tips that will help you get the most out of your machine. Here are 10 tricks to turn you into an Xbox One master.

The Microsoft Store is selling the 500GB Xbox One S bundled with a choice of six popular games for just $299. That's $100 off the usual RRP. The deal also includes the snazzy Gears Of War 4 Special Edition console pictured above. Here are the links to buy online.

Every Thursday we team up OzBargain power poster tightarse to run through some of the best deals that have caught his attention. This week: Up To 50% Off The Iconic, Up To 43% Off Selected Lenovo, 40% Off Jeans West and more!

If you have a new (and probably quite expensive) 4K HDR TV, then 4K video is amazing -- it looks incredible. But to watch a 4K Blu-ray, you need a 4K Blu-ray player, which can set you back quite a few hundred dollars more than regular Blu-ray. If you do want to make that investment, though, the cheapest 4K Blu-ray player actually does a lot more than just play movies. You can buy a 4K-toting Xbox One S for as little as $349, a full $200 cheaper than the least expensive Blu-ray player on sale in Australia today.