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Sony
- Sony's PlayStation 5 launched with two models— the $500 standard PS5 and a $400 digital edition.
- The PS5 remains difficult to find, but retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and GameStop restock regularly.
- Though discounts are not expected, some stores may have PS5 stock allocated for Cyber Monday.
The PlayStation 5 is Sony's fastest-selling video game console ever, with more than 10 million systems sold since its launch in November 2020. However, the record demand and an international chip shortage have made the PS5 one of the hardest items to buy in stores or online.
In October, Sony launched a registration program to give shoppers a chance to purchase the PS5 directly from the company during the holiday shopping season. Sony says console supply will remain limited through the end of the year, but a select number of people who register will receive an email to make a direct purchase. You can find more details and register on Sony's site.
We've seen weekly restocks of the PS5 ($500) and PS5 Digital Edition ($400) online at retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, and Sony's own PlayStation Direct store. Nearly all PlayStation 5 sales are handled online, but some GameStop locations have made consoles available for in-store purchase on occasion.
Walmart usually announces PS5 restocks a few hours before consoles are available online. GameStop sends emails to subscribers ahead of PS5 restocks but typically only makes the PS5 available in bundles. Amazon and Newegg have also made PS5 consoles available, though on a less consistent basis. Newegg uses a raffle system to give shoppers a chance to buy rare items like the PS5.
We'll keep this post updated as we get more information about PS5 restocks, but ultimately you'll need to keep checking multiple stores and get a bit lucky with timing to secure the console.
Sony
Several stores, including Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Newegg, have regularly restocked PlayStation 5 consoles since launch, but they typically sell out as soon as they're available online.
Sony's PlayStation Direct store has a registration program that functions like a waitlist for a limited supply of PS5 consoles. If selected, shoppers who sign up will receive an email to purchase a PS5 directly from Sony. Registering does not guarantee you'll get an invite, however, and it's not clear how many people will be selected.
The PlayStation 5 comes in two different models — one that has a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive and a "digital edition" with no disc drive at all. The standard model is priced at $500, and the digital edition is priced at $400.
At popular sites for resellers, like eBay and StockX, you can expect to pay between $700 or $800 for the PlayStation 5.
You can check the links below to see if the PS5 is currently available at each retailer; we'll update this post if a specific store announces a restock.
PlayStation 5 (Standard Edition)
PlayStation 5 (Digital Edition)
YELIM LEE/AFP via Getty Images
Buying the PlayStation 5 has been a struggle since release, but retailers have been making a steady stream of consoles available. If you have a preferred store, you should look into setting stock alerts with their online tools.
Third-party stock-tracking websites like HotStock.io can tell you when a store last had the PlayStation 5 in stock and let you set alerts for multiple retailers. A reseller who made more than $40,000 reselling PS5 consoles last year shared more specific tips on how to find the console online.
If you encounter issues while trying to check out with an online retailer, keep trying to refresh the product page to add the console and make sure the PS5 is available and in your cart. If possible, create an account with your preferred retailer and enter your payment and shipping information in advance to help the checkout process move quickly.
Sony
The PlayStation 5 boasts much more powerful hardware than the PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro. Upgrades include a solid state hard drive and a graphics card capable of ray-tracing technology.
For detailed impressions, check out our full PlayStation 5 review.
Sony
The new PlayStation 5 family of peripherals haven't been nearly as hard to find as the console itself, though they're not of much use without the main course. That said, they do complement the features of the PlayStation 5, so we've taken to the time to explain what they all do.
Sony's $70 DualSense controller is a worthy successor to the PS4's popular DualShock, implementing a built-in microphone, haptic feedback for adjustable trigger tension, and advanced rumble features while also improving the battery life and adopting a USB-C charging cable.
The $100 Pulse 3D headset is a direct successor to the gold and platinum wireless headsets Sony released for the PlayStation 4. The headset has an adjustable band, built-in microphone, and hardware buttons for mute, voice monitoring, and volume. While the Pulse 3D headset is worth the investment, PS5's 3D audio features will also work with any third-party headset that's been licensed for use on PS4.
The $30 PlayStation media remote might look appealing, but for $30 you can find a better or cheaper universal remote to control the console. Several smart TV brands also let you control the PS5 with your standard TV remote too, so it's worth giving that a try before making this investment.
The $30 DualSense charging stand can charge two controllers and makes for a nice stand alongside the PS5, but it doesn't actually charge your controllers any faster than using a regular cable.
The $60 HD camera can be used for streaming in full 1080p and even has a background removal tool, but it cannot be used as a microphone like the PlayStation 4 camera. Luckily, you can just use the DualSense's built-in mic to communicate while playing.
"Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart" / Sony
Sony is committed to creating a full lineup of exclusive games for the PlayStation 5, repeating the same strategy that helped make the PS4 a massive success. Because there are still so many gamers waiting to upgrade to PS5, many of the games released on the new console will also work on PlayStation 4, like "Spider-Man: Miles Morales" and "Sackboy: A Big Adventure."
Keep in mind that new games like "Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War" have been designed to run better on PS5, even if they're available on the PS4. Below, we've listed all the games that require a PlayStation 5 to play, including upcoming titles that don't have release dates yet.
Exclusive PS5 games available now
- "Godfall"
- "Destruction AllStars"
- "Returnal"
- "Astro's Playroom" (pre-installed on PS5)
- "Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart"
- "Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade"
Upcoming PS5 exclusive games
- "Horizon: Forbidden West"
- "God of War: Ragnarok"
- "Gran Turismo 7"
For more PlayStation game recommendations, check out our complete roundup of exclusives that make the PS5 worth buying.
source https://www.businessinsider.com/where-to-buy-ps5