Gold dust might as well be sand when compared to the PS5. We’re three months on from the launch of Microsoft and Sony’s next-gen consoles yet hunting for a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S still feels like chasing a golden ticket in the midst of a gale-force hurricane. Still, as storefronts finally shut down scalpers, all hope is not lost. If you want to get a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S in the coming months, the tips below will help you increase your chances of securing that order and finally seeing the next generation of gaming in your home.
How to improve your odds of getting a PS5 or Xbox next-gen console
© Microsoft
The early chaos of unexpected releases and mass bot scalping meant securing a pre-order for a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S was down to luck more than anything else. Even if you did get one locked in, there was no guarantee that your console would arrive on launch. Thankfully, times have changed. Both consoles are still extremely quick to fly off the shelves, but you absolutely shouldn't spend ridiculous amounts on scalped consoles. if you prepare using the methods below, you can drastically increase your odds of grabbing one at the standard price.
Set up watchlists and alerts
It might seem obvious, but if you haven’t done it already then you’ll want to set up watchlists at all the major suppliers for the new consoles. Visit the store page for the console you’re after and look for any options for a watchlist or stock alert. It may be listed as something like “let me know when this item comes back in stock.” This will mean you’re sent an email as soon as the item becomes available to order once more.
The big players in the US are:
And for the UK:
Depending on the stock they’re expecting, not all the big stores will allow you to add a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S to your watchlist, but the sooner you set your alerts, the more likely you are to have luck with buying one. Most watchlists and alerts will only let you know shortly after stock is available, however. If you want to get advance warning of incoming stock or the fastest options, there’s an even better option.
Follow the right people
PS5 on Amazon USA, ships to UKhttps://t.co/lI29V4E2Zr
— Digital Foundry Deals (@DealsFoundry) February 16, 2021
Website lists are, unfortunately, updated a bit too slowly for how quickly stock is running out. The best place to keep track of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S availability is on social media. It might seem odd place but there are plenty of accounts on Twitter created specifically to track and highlight available stock. Follow these on your own account or create one specifically to check deals if you’d rather not flood your personal feed with offers.
The prime stock shortage has been for the PS5, and as such there are a wealth of places keeping track of supply. PS5 In Stock Alerts (@PS5StockAlerts) is a good option for straight up alerts when things go live, while PS5 Stock Updates (@PS5StockUpdates) and Spiel Times (@SpielTimes) offer a bit of extra information each day about what you’re likely to expect in the coming day/week.
For more general gaming deals including both consoles, Wario64 (@Wario64) is one of the biggest and fastest accounts to update with stock and offers on games. Jelly Deals (@jelly_deals) and Digital Foundry Deals USA (@dealsfoundryusa) both also share updates on Xbox and PS5 stock updates when available.
For those in the UK and Europe, Digital Foundry Deals (@DealsFoundry) has been posting updates on when new stock is expected and live for both the Xbox Series X/S and the PS5. You can also check out the smaller PS5 & Xbox Stock Notifier UK (@StockNotifierUk) who has been providing updates on the new consoles while they’re in short supply.
If you’re wondering what these folks get out of it, the links you click typically come with an affiliate code at the ending, which means Amazon or the other major suppliers will pay them a small commission each time. In short, it’s a win for both of you if the deal goes through.
© Sony
Be prepared to get up early
Check the history of when stock updates have come through in the past and you might be in for a rude awakening. US online stock updates for Amazon and other websites regularly go live around midnight or the early hours of the day. Don’t ruin your sleep cycle entirely, but if stock is expected during a certain week, setting an alarm or two five minutes before the offers go live isn’t a bad idea.
If all else fails, invent a time machine
Just kidding. At the end of the day it’s important to remember that having a games console or not really isn’t worth getting too worked up over. Be patient, and remember to treat both yourself and everyone else in the same situation with a bit of kindness.
With that advice out of the way, all we can do is wish you the best of luck in getting a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S in the months ahead. Eventually, stock supplies will get back under control and make it possible for everyone to get their hands on the gear they’re after. Until then, keep checking those alerts!
