It’s been a few months now in 2021 and the PS5’s refueling situation is still unclear. Retailers in general have replenished the PS5 sporadically, sometimes at random and sometimes at pre-announced times. Walmart and Best Buy had the PS5 and PS5 Digital in stock this week, but the two retailers predictably sold out quickly. Being able to buy a PS5 is largely a matter of luck and time, but there are ways to increase your chances of actually securing Sony’s new console.
How to buy a PS5: our best tips
- Follow the replenishment accounts on Twitter and enable notifications: Accounts like Wario64, Spiel Times, PS5 refueling alert, and PS5 stock alerts will tweet when PlayStation Direct and other stores have stock of the PS5, and turning on notifications will ensure that you don’t miss any news (however, note that accounts like Wario64 tweet about non-PS5 related offers and news as well). Of course, we tweet PS5 refueling information on our own, GameSpot Offers, also.
- Stay logged in to major retailers and make sure your information is up to date: You do not want to check out and need to update your address or payment information – during this time, the PS5 may run out. Make sure your shipping and billing information is up to date at all major retailers and, if possible, stay connected.
- Be ready at the exact refueling times when announced in advance: Walmart and GameStop have a history of announcing PS5 refills in advance, from days earlier to an hour earlier. While this is convenient for hopeful buyers, it also gives moneychangers time to prepare, so they can be the most frustrating items to deal with. That said, many people are still lucky with these pre-announced refills, so you’ll want to be ready on your computer at the appointed time with payment information in hand.
- Keep an eye on smaller retailers: Amazon, Walmart, GameStop, Target and Best Buy are not the only retailers that sell the PS5. If you’re a Costco member, we’ve seen the PS5 appear there, and the Exchange store sometimes has consoles available for members of the army. We also saw the PS5 at Kohl’s, Meijer, Newegg and more, so don’t think you’re limited to big stores.
- Find out if you are willing to buy a package: Stores like GameStop and Antonline have been selling the PS5 with an extra controller and other accessories and games at higher prices. While these packages tend to have the exact price of everything that is included, some of them have items that you may not actually want, so you will need to determine if the price is worth it to you. For what it’s worth, we suggest waiting to buy the console on the MSRP if possible, but if you’re willing to buy an expensive package, it might be easier to get the PS5.
- Bookmark the product pages: It helps to know exactly where online retailers are selling the PS5, so bookmark direct listings at Walmart, Best Buy and more. We have included these links later in this article.
When will the PS5’s stock stabilize?
In a recent earnings report, Sony confirmed that it sold 4.5 million PS5 consoles from October to December. The company acknowledged the current shortage of PS5, but promised to “do everything in our power” to make more PS5s available to consumers, adding that it is on track to sell 7.6 million PS5 units during its first fiscal year. However, the stock situation on PS5 is unlikely to improve until this summer, at the very least. Microsoft recently admitted that Xbox Series X inventory will be limited at least until June, so we expect the same to be true for the PS5.
PlayStation boss Jim Ryan recently responded to the PS5 stock situation in an interview with GQ. “I know there were people who wanted a PS5 and couldn’t find one,” he said. “We are very sorry for that and, obviously, we are grateful that the demand has been as strong as it is.” Ryan added that the PlayStation is working to get more PS5 units in stock and that fans can expect the PS5’s inventory to increase each month. “We have been relentless in terms of trying to increase production and I can’t really say more than that.”
Where to buy a PS5: Check availability
We continue to update this guide as PS5 units go on sale – you can check the direct retail listings and the latest replenishment information at leading retailers below. According to the tips above, you should keep in mind whether you are willing to buy an expensive package or pay more than the MSRP for the PS5 itself, as third-party vendors like StockX are also options. However, we recommend waiting to buy the PS5 at the list price (not hundreds above the list price).
PS5 availability on PlayStation Direct
PlayStation Direct regularly opens a queue for buyers to purchase the PS5 (and anything else on the original site), but it usually takes more than an hour to wait and it is unclear whether the PS5 is still available. Still, it is worth checking PS Direct frequently, as it is the only store that still releases the PS5 with some regularity. However, the queues also appear to be somewhat random.
Note that finding a queue on PS Direct does not necessarily mean that the PS5 is in stock; it simply indicates high traffic to the store. It costs nothing to get in and wait if you find the queue and stay at the computer for a while, but be aware that there is no guarantee that it will be in stock when you pass.
PS5 availability on GameStop
There was a massive replenishment of the PS5 at GameStop on February 24, with the PS5 and PS5 Digital available separately and in packs. The packages managed to stay in stock for longer than we have seen before, and marked the biggest PS5 crash we’ve seen on GameStop so far this year. There is no word on when the next PS5 refueling on GameStop will be.
PS5 availability at Walmart
Walmart last had the PS5 and PS5 Digital in stock on March 4. It was the retailer’s first major refueling in about a month.
PS5 availability at Best Buy
Best Buy’s last PS5 refueling was on March 5. Best Buy did not have any stock on store shelves for the entire holiday period, but the retailer stated that consoles will be available in stores in 2021. We suggest checking with your local Best Buy store for availability.
PS5 availability on target
Target’s most recent refueling was on February 25th. Both the PS5 and PS5 Digital were available, but they sold extremely fast. Still, we suggest calling local stores to check availability. This is only the third PS5 refueling we’ve seen at Target since launch.
PS5 availability on Amazon
Amazon has been the least trusted retailer when it comes to PS5 refueling – we’ve barely seen the next-generation console in stock since launch. The most recent replenishment of the Amazon PS5 happened on March 3rd. We only saw the PS5 Digital in stock and it disappeared in a few minutes.
Where to buy PS5 accessories
Although the Pulse 3D wireless headset was difficult to buy for a few months, the stock of the original Sony headset has now stabilized at most retailers. However, there are some fantastic PS5 headsets from third parties that are worth considering as well. Our favorite is the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro wireless headset; other great options include the SteelSeries Arctis 1 and the Astro A50. Any of the existing PS4 headsets should also work.
Other official PS5 accessories, such as the media remote control and the DualSense charging station, are even more difficult to find in stock than the headset, although availability is slowly starting to improve.
See more PS5 recommendations:
Where to buy the biggest PS5 games
Several PS5 games are available now, including release titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls. Remember that many PS4 games come with free, state-of-the-art updates with discounts since launch, which makes them a better deal than buying PS5 versions right away.