Did Xbox Just Guarantee a Black Friday 2015 Victory?

There's a holiday season tradition. When it comes to consoles and handhelds, companies have to go out of their way to make their systems seem more appealing with season bundles. These are usually limited affairs with less than limited games, but end up being warm and welcoming ways to let people into the fold. And when it comes to 2015, Microsoft has already won. This week was huge for the company. It announced five Xbox One bundles that will be released between now and Christmas. In the next two months, that means multiple options for people to get in on the Xbox One with at least one desirable, new game for practically the price of the system alone. It's way too appealing and feels like a guaranteed way to get people over on Microsoft's side.

Especially since each of the bundles seems to appeal to different audiences. The Fallout 4 and Xbox One 1TB Holiday Bundles feel like the ones for general audiences. Each one is giving you a 1TB system, the biggest you can get, for $399. In the one case, you get Fallout 4, probably the biggest game of the year, as well as Fallout 3 and a headset. In the other, you're getting other Xbox One heavy hitters like Rare Replay, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. Both of these are groupings that anyone with an interest in gaming would love. But then, there are the more specific bundles too. That Xbox One Rise of the Tomb Raider bundle, with 1TB system and both the new and old Lara Croft games for the system, is wonderful for potential adventurers. The Walmart-exclusive Gears of War: Ultimate Edition bundle is just as striking, especially since it means beta access to Gears of War 4 too. Both feel like targeted strikes to certain sorts of gamers, and ones that are sure to hit hard once released.