PS5 restocking updates: where to get a console

Why is the PS5 so hard to find?

There are three big reasons why you still struggle to get a PS5. The first is the most obvious: the system is really popular. Sony claims the PS5 is its best-selling console and has already sold 10 million units since its launch.

The second reason is the current shortage of chips that affects most of the world’s electronic devices. Sony said it got enough chips to meet its goal of 14.8 million consoles for the year.

As for the last reason, it is about bots. Resellers use software to buy large numbers of PS5s at a time, leaving only a few for humans. Retailers have added various robot protections when restocking the PS5, but these restrictions only hamper resellers.

Where has the PS5 been available lately?

Inventory refreshes were slim on the ground earlier this month, although they have picked up speed recently. Here’s a look at the recent history of restocking the PS5:

• Antonline: August. 31
• Walmart: September 16
• PlayStation Direct: Aug 24, Sep 10, 14, 15, 21, 22, 24, 28
• GameStop: September 14, 28, 30
• Amazon: Sep 2, Sep 21, 27
• Target: September 10, October 1
• Best Buy: September 23, October 1 and 4

How can I get a PS5 on PlayStation Direct?

The store with the most frequent PS5 restocking is Sony’s official store, PlayStation Direct. Drops typically take place at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET) in the middle of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). What Sony has done recently is give out a lucky few email invitations for exclusive store access, which typically starts at 12:00 p.m. PT (3:00 p.m. ET).

To get one of these special invitations, you don’t just need luck, you also need a PSN account. You can sign up on the PSN website and it’s free. When signing up, make sure you’ve accepted all promotional emails in your PlayStation account settings. From there, it’s about being patient and having a bit of luck on your side. It appears that priority access emails are sent at random, but you will need to participate in one of the queues on PlayStation Direct to be considered.

PlayStation Direct PS5 restocking works a little differently from other retailers. At the start time, there is a home page with a countdown timer showing when the queue will start. You can stay on this page and when the time is up the website will start putting people in line to buy a PS5. The page will update and say how long you’ll have to wait, but that’s not a guarantee. To increase your chances, once you’re in a queue, share the link with your other devices like your phone. Make sure each device uses a different IP address (for example, having your phone on its mobile plan while your computer is using home Wi-Fi). This may improve your odds, as your other device may be placed in a different row that is moving at a faster rate. Even if you don’t get a PS5, as mentioned before, you can still get a pass to buy one on the next tour.

What are some helpful tips for buying a PS5?

Big retailers like Walmart, GameStop, Amazon, Target, and Best Buy typically don’t give much notice before a restock. Sometimes they will have a restock in the morning, other times in the afternoon and in some cases even in the middle of the night. Here are some tips to help you get the better of the competition.

First tip: don’t wait to see an alert for a PS5 inventory drop. Check out the links at major retailers for stock updates daily or even multiple times a day. (We’ve lined them up below.) If you’re having some PS5 availability, go for as many browsers and devices as possible. On a desktop computer, for example, open the retailer page in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Then do the same on your phone and tablet. The more devices and browsers, the better. It’s like with lottery tickets: the more you have, the better your chances of winning.

Second tip: Create accounts at the various retailers and make sure you’re already signed in if you’re going to try and get a PS5. Make sure all of your shipping, billing, and payment information is up to date on any device you can buy on, whether it’s laptop, desktop or a phone. This makes verification much faster which is crucial as retailer sites get bogged down quickly causing people to lose their chance to get a PS5.

Third tip: keep reading this article and follow CNET and Oscar González on Twitter for updates.

How do I preview a PS5 replenishment?

While most retailers really want you to show up when something is marked in stock, the prolonged difficulty in getting a PS5 has encouraged Best Buy and GameStop to offer early access to sales for its paid members.

Best Buy’s recently expanded Totaltech program offers a ton of perks for its $ 200 per year price tag, but most important to future PS5 owners is early access to “hot stuff during the holiday season,” which means there will be limited access events where you could get a PS5 without having to click Refresh on your browser as you are in a member’s only queue.

If you want to increase your chances of getting a PS5 from GameStop, all you need to do is sign up for the PowerUp Rewards Pro program. This is a subscription program that GameStop has had for years, and it uses this program to offer discounts and promo codes as well as a subscription to Game Informer magazine. This program costs $ 20 a year, and if GameStop keeps its promise, people who are part of this program will be able to get a PS5 before it’s available to everyone on the website.

Where can I buy a PS5 if I’m willing to pay extra?

If you’re starting to crack up and are thinking about buying a PS5 right now (and we know that with the number of big PS5 games on the verge of dropping over the next few months, the pressure is on) you can do it, but at the cost of a lot of markup on sites like eBay or StockX. On eBay, for example, we’ve seen PS5 units priced over $ 1,000, although prices have slowly come down to around $ 700.

You can check out Amazon’s page for the digital edition at $ 400 via the button below or, if you prefer, line up for the PS5 with Blu-ray for $ 500.

See the step-by-step instructions above for more information on how to queue for PS5 availability on Sony’s PlayStation Direct.

Target is offering the PS5 with Blu-ray for $ 500 in addition to the PS5 Digital Edition, which you can find by clicking the button below.

Best Buy is offering the PS5 with Blu-ray for $ 500 as well as the digital edition for $ 400 (which you can find by clicking the button below). The retailer also offers a host of accessories on its PS5 landing page.

Newegg’s PS5 page offers several packs that include additional controllers and games with the console. You can see the different options by clicking on the button below.

If you’ve decided that you just can’t wait another moment for Sony to pull itself together and flood the inventory market, eBay is a shortcut to getting your own PS5 right now. That said, let me reiterate our advice: no PS5 is worth spending hundreds of dollars off the list price, and that’s exactly what you’ll need to do if you’re buying from an eBay reseller. The average price of the PS5 on eBay is around $ 850.

OK, you’ve exhausted all online and physical retailers, and you’ve decided you’re willing to pay over $ 300 to get this puppy soon. As friends, we must tell you: Do not do it. But if you don’t want to listen to us, you might want to check out StockX, an eBay alternative that’s made a name for itself in the aftermarket for branded sneakers and clothing. The last time we checked, the prices of the PS5 were hovering around $ 700.