The wait for a new PlayStation 5 console has been long for many Sony fans. Gamers have been watching for information on restocks since the console was released in November 2020, nearly three months ago. This wait has been caused by a mixture of COVID-19 restrictions preventing in-store purchases and a lack of stock for the consoles worldwide. With the holidays now over, many may be wondering if there are plans for PS5 availability before spring.
Currently, the best way to continue monitoring PS5 restocks is to check both Sony and retailer websites and social media accounts. While secondary sites and "watch" accounts can sometimes give tips on where restocks might be anticipated, they are not a primary source and can potentially provide inaccurate data. Because of this, fans may spend time waiting on one website, only to miss a random restock at another store.
Catching a PS5 restock before it's sold out may feel less likely than winning the lottery for those who have been patiently waiting, but there are rumors circulating, according to Newsweek, that Sony is planning a large-scale distribution of PS5 consoles soon. However, there are no official announcements yet to confirm whether this is the case. Without direct information from reliable distributers, gamers will need to continue following primary sources closely so they can catch restocks as they happen.
PS5 Restocks May Still Be A Long Wait In 2021
To help fans keep an eye out for PS5 restocks, below is a list of major retailers and their stock status, as of writing, though these numbers could change at any time. Walmart has been known to receive sudden shipments of PS5 consoles, and GameStop has had past restocks for purchase in-person. Additionally, stores like Best Buy sometimes get open-box returns that can be available at random. Watching these in-person retailers might be of particular interest to those hoping to avoid scalpers.
- Amazon - Currently out of stock.
- Walmart - Currently out of stock but has a history of PS5 restocks.
- Best Buy - Currently out of stock but has a history of PS5 restocks.
- GameStop - Currently out of stock. (Tends to carry consoles in-store during restocks.)
- Sony Direct - Currently out of stock.
- Costco - Currently out of stock. (PS5 bundle restocks are members-only.)
- Target - Currently out of stock.
Partially because most restocks do come from online stores, scalpers have been able to buy many PS5 consoles at once and sell them at inflated prices. While buying from scalpers is an option, it's much safer to go through a legitimate seller in order to avoid being scammed or overpaying. It's likely gamers will have a while more to wait before they can purchase a PlayStation 5 legitimately, but hopefully Sony will soon initiate that rumored large-scale restock and end fans' searching.
Source: Newsweek