What you need to know
8BitDo, known for their vintage-inspired gaming accessories, is about to captivate Xbox enthusiasts with their latest announcement, prompting us to momentarily divert from our Black Friday coverage. Fans of the original Xbox and its striking green crystal design would be thrilled by this exquisite tribute: a keyboard and mouse set mirroring the 2004 console’s appearance. The keyboard, dubbed the 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition, is officially licensed by Xbox and priced at $119.99, while the companion device, the 8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse, will be available for $59.99. You can preorder them now to receive them when they launch on January 16, 2025.
Everything we know about the 8BitDo Xbox range
Although this particular Xbox keyboard won’t work with Xbox consoles, according to its listing, it certainly doesn’t mean it lacks appeal. Celebrating the iconic 2004 Xbox console, it features an integrated Xbox home button, identical to that on an Xbox controller, which activates the Xbox Game Bar. This keyboard showcases RGB lighting, tactile Kailh Jellyfish X switches, and a customizable PCB, with arrow keys echoing the classic ABXY colors. Undoubtedly, it’s a mesmerizing piece.
As for the matching 8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse, priced at $69.99 and anticipated soon on Amazon, you can reserve yours directly from 8Bitdo in the meantime. This mouse offers connectivity via Bluetooth, 2.4G wireless, or a wired USB-C, including a charging dock for convenience. Depending on your polling rate choice, you can achieve up to 100 hours of use with Bluetooth and between 25 to 105 hours with 2.4GHz. Built with Kailh Sword GM X micro switches, this mouse is engineered to endure up to 100 million clicks, and, most importantly, it looks fantastic.
Just recently, when PlayStation unveiled its 30th-anniversary edition of the PS5 Pro console, I found myself urging Xbox to bring out a new version of their original console. While that might still be some time away, for now, I’m content with having this stylish option.
🔥The hottest Black Friday deals🔥
🍁More great Black Friday deals🦃
– Best Buy: Big savings on video games, accessories, and more
– Walmart: Early savings on practically everything
– Target: Live deals on a huge range of products
– Dell: Top deals on laptops, gaming PCs, accessories, and more
– HP: Save big on laptops, desktops, accessories, and more
– Lenovo: Doorbuster deals on all Lenovo PCs, monitors, accessories, and more
– Newegg: Save on PC gaming accessories, components, and more
– Razer: Take advantage of free shipping for a limited time
– Samsung: Holiday deals on laptops, TVs, phones, and more are live
– Amazon: Constantly rotating sales on everything you can imagine
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday is set for November 29, 2024, but it’s no longer surprising to see bargains kicking off well in advance. Retailers eager to capture consumer interest tend to roll out discounts earlier each year, which means you can start seeing early Black Friday deals as far back as October. It can be overwhelming on the actual day, given potential stock limitations, so taking advantage of early offers is often wise.
When is Cyber Monday?
This year, Cyber Monday will occur on December 2, 2024. Originally the online counterpart to Black Friday, it’s becoming increasingly common for these sales events to merge. If Black Friday deals slip through your grasp, Cyber Monday might just give you a second shot. Even better, though, is planning ahead and handling your holiday shopping weeks prior.
