As predicted on Twitter, the PS5 appeared at both Walmart and GameStop today — but as you might imagine, all the inventory sold out within minutes, causing much anger and frustration that spilled over onto social media. And so, once again, the console is sold out pretty much everywhere — at least at the list price. Right now the only consoles you can buy are marked up to obscene levels at reseller sites like eBay and StockX, often at multiple times their retail value of $400 or $500 (depending upon which model you want). The reason? Ordinary people have had to compete with bots and resellers.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
One bit of good news: Recently at CES, Sony confirmed that a number of games, such as Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Little Devil Inside, and Solar Ash, are all on track for the scheduled release dates in the first half of the year. So if you already have a PS5 in hand, good times lie ahead. But for the rest of us, inventory remains virtually nonexistent.
Twitter continues to be a resource to check for restock news, even though we’re seeing fewer large inventory drops; instead, retailers seem to be shifting to a policy of smaller, more frequent drops that sell out rapidly and without much online fanfare. Today’s official tweet from GameStop was a rare recent exception to that new normal.
Either way, it’ll be a while before a PS5 is easy to find. But I’ll be keeping an eye out for restocks nonetheless and will update this article when it looks like you might be able to score a PS5.
The PS5 is available in two versions: There’s a $500 model with Blu-ray and an otherwise identical $400 digital-only version with no disc slot. At this point, people are happy to get their hands on either one, but if you don’t have a library of optical discs — for Blu-ray movies, used games or old PS4 games — CNET recommends you go with the $400 version.
Read more at GameSpot: Latest PS5 news and complete coverage
Remember to check back here for news and updates on new PS5 availability. You can also browse all the major retailers to see what their restock status is: The list below has links to the PS5 product pages at each store.
PS5 restock possibilities
Best Buy is offering the PS5 with Blu-ray for $500 as well as the $400 Digital Edition (which you can find by clicking the button below). The retailer is also offering a slew of accessories on its PS5 landing page.
You can check out Amazon’s page for the $400 Digital Edition via the button below, or, if you’d rather, get in line for the PS5 with Blu-ray for $500.
You can check inventory on the $400 Digital Edition at Walmart by clicking the button below, or you can try to snag the pricier PS5 with Blu-ray for $500.
Target will be offering the PS5 with Blu-ray for $500 in addition to the PS5 Digital Edition, which you can find by clicking the button below.
OK, you’ve exhausted all of the online and brick-and-mortar retailers, and you’ve decided you’re willing to pay upward of a $300 markup to get this puppy soon. As your friends, we have to tell you: Don’t do it. But if you don’t want to listen to us, you might want to check out StockX, an eBay alternative that made its name in the secondary market for sneakers and designer clothing. Last time we checked, prices for the PS5 were hovering around $700.
More PS5 coverage
Watch this:
PS5 review: full breakdown of all the new features
17:44
First published last year. Regularly updated with the latest PS5 stock news.
CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest promo codes from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.