As each Christmasalmost the most popular gift for Santa Claus or the Three Wise Men (if the economy allows it) usually focuses on technology and, of course, game consoles are the most popular giftsand one more year they will succeed again on these dates.
However, if you want to crown yourself as the perfect person who gives away either a new PS5an Xbox or a nintendoswitchthere are some preparations to be made before wrapping up your new consoles, games or peripherals.
And it is that, for example, it must be taken into account that problems with the server or slow Internet could take away the Christmas joy from the person to whom you give a gift, so configure the console beforehand, among other tips and warnings that we are going to give you it will reduce the startup time of that new console.
As you already know, consoles are more similar to computers today than ever before. You can’t take them out of the box and start playing immediately. But, without further ado, we leave you with Some tips to keep in mind if you want to give away any of the aforementioned consoles.
1. Choose the right console for the right person
This is something basic. One thing you have to do before even buying a console is make sure you are buying the right one. The last thing you want is to give them the wrong one. And it is that, this is actually something quite simple, since most usually have a favorite, especially if we talk about the PS5, Xbox or Nintendo Switch.
Also, you have to make sure you choose the right generation. The latest consoles available from the three major manufacturers are the PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch.
If you want to give one playstation 5 this Christmas, you can choose between two options. The standard PlayStation 5 allows you to play both physical and digital games. but youThere’s also a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition without a disc drive that costs a bit less.
The Xbox Series X|S is essentially the same. The Xbox Series X has a disc drive, while the Xbox Series S does not. Yes indeed, the X-Series also has somewhat improved specs, but it costs more than the S-Series.
Nintendo Switch has three options to choose from. The intermediate option is the classic one, portable and with a Nintendo dock (place the console itself standing up). If you only want the portable version, you can save yourself some money and buy the Nintendo Switch Litecheaper.
Lastly, there’s the OLED model of the Nintendo Switch. This version offers an improved screen, more storage space and other improvements over the original model. But of course it will cost you a little more.
2. Make sure it is updated and configured
Of course, this is already to get registration with your gift, because if you are one of those who delivers the gift on Christmas Eve, the truth is that you do that person a favor if you update it and they do not have to spend the night waiting.
As with any other electronic device, You should be careful when setting up a new console for the first time, although the process is relatively easy and straightforward.
To do this, give it a try and follow all the instructions to update. We recommend using an Ethernet cable for this step, as it allows for faster download speeds.
You can also take advantage of this moment to enter the WiFi data if you know it or if it is going to be a device that is in your house. This will save time when the recipient opens the console. When you have finished updating the console and installing the games, you can carefully put it back in its box.
3. What to do with the games
if the console comes with digital downloads, you’ll need that person’s account details to download them and maybe lose some excitement (this is your free choice).
We recommend you that you buy the games in disc version, so they can return it if it’s not a game they’re going to play. Put them in the drive, let it transfer the data to the hard drive, and initiate game updates over the Internet. This can take hours, so leave the console plugged in and connected to the Internet.
As a responsible gift giver that you want to be, it pays to pre-install and check for updates. Those updates might include major bug fixes or added content, thus saving you some time.
In the case of the Xbox, first of all, you have to sign in with an Xbox account. Create one just for this process, then log in. Open the package carefully and slide the disc into the slot. Install it as prompted and get ready to update everything. Wait for them to finish updating and you can delete the temporary account you created.
physical games for nintendoswitch they come in the form of small cartridges. They should work right out of the box.
4. Includes an extra controller
Another good idea is give away one or two more controllers. Thus, the person to whom you give the console may not play alone or have some extra just in case. PlayStation and Xbox consoles usually come with only one controller, unless a special bundle is purchased.
For PlayStation 5, the last control available is the DualSense Wireless starting at 65 euros. Microsoft has also improved its controller for the Xbox Series X | S, available from 60 euros.
The Nintendo Switch comes with detachable controllers that can be split and used by two people. However, you can get an extra pair to play in a group with up to four people in one.
5. A Critical Moment: Wrap It Up
If you want to know how to wrap a Xbox or PS5 (or any other console), the best way to do it is in the box. Otherwise, the wrapping job is likely to be disastrous. Here you can simply use the wrapping paper, although surely the person you are giving to will quickly realize what it is.
Our recommendation is that, to increase the surprise of giving away a PS5, Xbox or Nintendo Switch this Christmas, search YouTube any tutorial to wrap it in a way that you can not imagine what is inside. You can even add other gifts or anything you find around the box to make the shape very abstract.