Best Buy had a surprise PS5 restock Thursday afternoon. The retailer had PS5 disc and digital consoles along with PS5 bundles. It didn't take long for Best Buy to completely sold out, but it wasn't gone in minutes like in previous restocks.
Sony's PlayStation Direct sold out of its PS5 consoles Wednesday. Only those who received an email to gain exclusive access to the store were able to purchase the systems. We explain how you can get those emails further below.
Check back often for the latest PS5 restock information and read on for advice.
Why is it tough to find a PS5?
Sony's newest console is still hard to find months after launch. Contributing to the difficulty is the fact that scalpers are using bots -- and the global chip shortage continues. Sony says it's aware of the problem and is figuring out a solution.
"We're working as hard as we can to ameliorate that situation," Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan told Wired in May. "We see production ramping up over the summer and certainly into the second half of the year, and we would hope to see some sort of return to normality in terms of the balance between supply and demand during that period."
This monster machine is a hot item in 2021.
Andrew Hoyle/CNETHere's a list of recent restocks, which may give you an idea of when to expect retailers to get more PS5s:
- Best Buy, June 24: A surprise restock lasted a bit longer and included new bundles.
- PlayStation Direct, June 23: Only those who had emails to gain early access to the store were able to score a PS5.
- Walmart, June 17: Only PS5 Digital consoles were available for this afternoon restock.
- Target, June 16: Target had PS5s at its store for customers who bought consoles online.
- Walmart, June 14: A restock of digital-only PS5s happened at midnight PT, and they flew off the digital shelves.
- GameFly, June 7: A Returnal bundle was available for people who'd been members longer than 30 days.
How do I get a PS5 from Sony's PlayStation Direct?
The store with the most frequent PS5 restocks is still PlayStation Direct, where drops often take place in the afternoon and require people to queue up for a chance to buy a console. If you don't get one at the time, it still helps to join the queue, as some patient and lucky customers may receive a priority access email directly from Sony. The company hasn't provided all the details about these PS Direct emails, but you must sign up for Sony marketing emails and have a PS Plus subscription -- and you must be logged in to your PSN account. If luck is on your side, then there's a chance Sony will send you an invite to buy a PS5.
When you're in a queue, one thing to be aware of is how much time it says you have before you get to the front of the line. The shorter, the better, but it's not a guarantee. To help 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 (such as having your phone on its mobile plan while your computer uses your home Wi-Fi). This can improve your chances, as your other device might be put into a different queue that moves at a faster pace. Even if you don't get a PS5, as mentioned earlier, you still could get a pass to buy one on the next go-round.
What are some helpful tips for securing a PS5?
While major retailers like Walmart, GameStop, Amazon, Target and Best Buy don't usually give much notice ahead of a restock, your best chance of scoring a PS5 is to log on right when inventory drops. Even then, nothing is guaranteed, but there are ways to improve your chances.
First tip: Don't wait until you see an alert for a PS5 inventory drop. Check the links at major retailers for stock updates daily or even multiple times a day. (We've got them all lined up below.) If you do happen upon some PS5 availability, go all-in with as many browsers and devices as possible. On a desktop, for example, open the retailer's 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 different retailers and make sure you're already logged in if you're going to try to get a PS5. Make sure all your shipping, bill and payment info is updated on whatever device you can buy from, whether it's a laptop, desktop or phone. This makes checking out a lot faster, which is crucial as retailers' sites get quickly bogged down, leading to people losing their chance of securing a PS5.
Where else can I buy a PS5 even if I'm willing to pay extra?
If you're starting to crack and considering buying a PS5 right now (and we know that with the number of big PS5 games about to drop over the next few months, the pressure is on), you can do so, but at the cost of a hefty markup on sites like eBay and StockX. On eBay, for example, we've seen PS5 units priced over $1,000. We think it's worth it to wait it out and get the PS5 at sticker price.
PS5 restock possibilities
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.
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.
Target offers the PS5 with Blu-ray for $500 in addition to the PS5 Digital Edition, which you can find by clicking the button below.
Newegg's PS5 page has multiple bundles that include additional controllers and games along with the console. You can see the different options by clicking on the button below.
If you've decided you simply can't wait another moment for Sony to get its act together and flood the market with inventory, eBay is a shortcut to getting your own PS5 right now. That said, let me reiterate our advice: No PS5 is worth spending hundreds over list price, and that's exactly what you'll have to do if you buy from an eBay reseller. The average PS5 price on eBay is about $850.
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 just above $700.
More PlayStation 5 coverage
Watch this: PS5 review: full breakdown of all the new features
17:44
This story is 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 him on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up for deal texts delivered right to your phone. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest Walmart discount codes, eBay coupons, Samsung promo codes and even more from hundreds of other online stores. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Answers live on our FAQ page.
PS5 restock update: How to buy PlayStation 5 from Best Buy, Walmart and other major retailers - CNET
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