Perhaps nothing has been more stressful for the PlayStation faithful as being unable to preorder the inbound PS5. The next-gen console launches this Thursday, November 12, and it's safe to say the demand more than outmatches supply.
PlayStation sent out emails to users months ago offering the opportunity to indicate their intention to preorder the PS5 and then went on to select individuals to preorder in September, with hopefuls being placed on a virtual line to have their turn to make their orders.
Unfortunately, not everyone was handed the opportunity, and preorders are already sold out. The console will not be available in stores on launch day and can only be bought online due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Persons who successfully preordered can pick up their systems in-store, however, as long as they undertake the retailer's safety protocols.
Sony's online preordering queue system didn't work out as smoothly as planned either. Folks who registered and were selected were given 30 minutes to lock their orders in but that turned out to be a nightmare for some and there were reports of would-be buyers seeing the console disappear from their carts right before inputting their card information, having refreshed their pages for the better part of the allotted thirty minutes.
Major retailers will have the PS5 in stock this Thursday in spite of the scarcity - they aren't major retailers for nothing, after all. They should also have the console available at various points during the holiday season, especially as Black Friday is also on the horizon.
Walmart has announced it will be selling PS5s in three-hour intervals starting at 9 am PT on Thursday, while GameStop will have both the PS5 and Xbox X Series in store for Black Friday.
Collider's Tom Reimann has also put together a very short list of online stores you could possibly get yourself a PS5.
Amazon PS5 / PS5 Digital
Best Buy PS5 / PS5 Digital
Gamestop PS5 / PS5 Digital
Target PS5 / PS5 Digital
Walmart PS5 / PS5 Digital
Of course, there's no certainty of getting a console from the above sites considering the high demand yet they're certainly worth checking out.
Also, a number of brand-new video game titles will be available at launch day including the likes of Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Godfall, and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.
Source: Collider