UK stores won't receive new shipments of PlayStation 5 stock until 2021, unfortunately, owing to the limited capabilities of the manufacturing industries as a result of the pandemic.
The console secured the most successful launch of any other in the United States, with consumer spending across video game hardware, content and accessories surged to $7 billion which was a massive 35% year-on-year increase. Sony itself is as pleased as punch, having sold somewhere between 2.1 and 2.5 million PlayStation 5s around the world, and SIE CEO Jim Ryan summed it up succinctly: "absolutely everything is sold." Of course, it's a brilliant showing from Sony, but it's had us average Joes tearing our hair out trying to get our mitts on a PS5.
Retailers like Amazon and GAME haven't had any more PlayStation 5s on offer since the console launched one month ago, which isn't ideal. On the other hand, Argos has stated its situation plainly and simply: "Sorry, PlayStation 5 is currently unavailable. We will not have any further stock for the rest of 2020." Asda has also confirmed that it will only have new stock of the console after December 25th, and not before. Finally, if you've placed an order for a PS5 with Smyths Toys, that will be delivered before December 18th, but it expects that no more stock will arrive in 2020.
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This isn't the end of the story, however, if you're still after a PlayStation 5 before the year is out. If you've got the funds, second-hand sites might be your best bet, but be aware that these places are a scammer's stomping ground. One person was stung for £800, after a fraudster convinced them that they had a PlayStation 5 for sale and to send the money through PayPal's Family and Friends service (a common tactic to stop buyers from reclaiming their cash). These stories haven't been swept under the rug, however, and a group of MPs are working on legislation that "prohibit[s] the resale of gaming consoles and computer components at prices greatly above Manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price."
If reading this has led to your blood pressure rising and your palms becoming damp and clammy, CEX has PS5s for resale at the moment. But, once again, these see a hefty price hike to almost £800 for a disc edition of the console. Personally, I reckon holding off until new stocks to roll in is the most favourable option, even though the waiting game utterly sucks. It's not all doom and gloom, though, because we've got this gift guide for PlayStation enthusiasts right here.
Featured Image Credit: SonyTopics: PlayStation 5, News