Sony Is Letting People Register to Buy a PS5 Directly in November

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Another way to bypass scalpers.

Sony press material showcasing the PS5 Digital Edition and PS5 side by side.
(Image credit: Sony)

To combat the ongoing shortage of PlayStation 5 consoles this upcoming holiday season, Sony is giving people a chance to buy them directly.

Interested potential customers will have to register directly on the PlayStation site, where a "limited amount of PS5 Consoles" will be available for U.S.-based customers.  Registering puts you in the running to receive an invite to order directly from Sony, with selection based on "previous interests and PlayStation activities."

 We don't know what that exactly means, but we assume this is how Sony will ensure PlayStation 5 owners don't get a duplicate console, and players with active, existing accounts on PS4 may have a higher chance of being qualified.

Each invitation will be open for a limited time, allowing you to purchase the following products:

  • 1 PS5 console or 1 PS5 Digital Edition
  • 2 DualSense wireless controllers (Bundles , Cosmic Red or Midnight Black)
  • 3 DualSense wireless controllers (White)
  • 1 PS5 Media Remote
  • 1 PULSE 3D wireless headset

You don't have to purchase everything, you can order as few or as many products as you want from the list. However, Sony ensures that only one PS5 console will be available for purchase per PSN ID.

Just remember, there is a limited time window for buying a PS5 if you are qualified. Sony will send you an email detailing expiration times before you get kicked out. Even getting the invite might not be enough, as Sony's FAQ still warns you may see messages that the console is sold out.

Unfortunately, Sony has said nothing more specific on the value of supply, so we have no idea how many customers will get a PlayStation 5. With the state of the CPU and GPU shortage right now, we can only estimate that number won't be significant, considering how many gamers want a PlayStation 5 in the United States alone.

Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • 2Be_or_Not2Be
    PC Mag has an article on a group who are buying up stock from both online resellers and from other scalpers. They are successful enough to have multiple warehouses of thousands of consoles, across a number of states in the US. It is saddening to see the vast amount of scalpers and those who enable the scalpers by buying the products from them.

    Equally sad is that it seems Sony is basically saying there is going to be a shortage for a lot longer. They should have came up with this system many, many months ago.
    Reply
  • adamboy64
    The opportunity to have a chance to buy a system..
    This is what it's come to.

    2Be_or_Not2Be said:
    PC Mag has an article on a group who are buying up stock from both online resellers and from other scalpers.

    Thanks for the article. That's an incredible read.
    Reply
  • Giroro
    Before the PS5 launched, I signed up for a very similar list to get a link to preorder directly from Sony. I'm still waiting for that link, so I guess I'm not a big enough or Sony-focused-enough influencer to be allowed to buy their product at full retail price. Considering my Sony activity dropped to exactly zero after this gen forced me to be PC exclusive, I'm probably even less eligible than before.
    The big players are multimillionaires who can easily afford a PS5 at any price, and I can't imagine anybody who is still stuck on PS4 are having luck finding an audience.
    There probably isn't very many people with a big following who have $500 but not $1000... But, there probably isn't very many PS5's either.

    At least Razer had the common courtesy to send me an email and let me know that I'm worthess consumer scum whom isn't worthy of buying their dorky RGB mask.

    At the end of the day, I don't need Sony, I no longer want Sony, and Sony doesn't want me either. I saw a PS5 on display for the first time last week and it was the size of my adult torso. If anything, I dodged a bullet because that lump looks way worse in person than it does online.
    Reply
  • epobirs
    Sony has been doing this for a while. I got my PS5 in early September after receiving an email with a link that would be valid the following day at noon and no sooner. I followed the directions and after some shipping delay I was the owner of a PS5.
    Reply
  • 2Be_or_Not2Be
    epobirs said:
    Sony has been doing this for a while. I got my PS5 in early September after receiving an email with a link that would be valid the following day at noon and no sooner. I followed the directions and after some shipping delay I was the owner of a PS5.

    Yeah, I believe you had to subscribe to the PSN newsletter, and then you might be randomly chosen to buy a PS5 by Sony. This is a bit different in that they are now giving you a "direct" way to register & queue up to buy direct from Sony - no newsletter needed. Months late, though, if you ask me.
    Reply
  • epobirs
    2Be_or_Not2Be said:
    Yeah, I believe you had to subscribe to the PSN newsletter, and then you might be randomly chosen to buy a PS5 by Sony. This is a bit different in that they are now giving you a "direct" way to register & queue up to buy direct from Sony - no newsletter needed. Months late, though, if you ask me.
    50% or more of production allocated to a region should have been reserved for direct sale to PSN account holders who met a minimum activity level. With weighting toward PS+ subscribers. This would have stymied scalpers and targeted the most loyal segment of the market.

    Figuring out how best to sell hardware that tries to limit or completely eliminate software sales at the retail level is very much a transition in progress. Companies are terrified of alienating the retail channel but also know things have to change.
    Reply