Where and How to Buy the PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5 price and release date
(Image credit: Sony)

Following the Xbox Series X release, the Playstation 5 is finally available to the public, marking the official start to Sony’s next generation of gaming. Pre-orders were a bit of a debacle for this console, so it’s possible you weren’t able to reserve one before launch. That’s a shame- the PS5 is much faster than the PS4 and the adaptive triggers on the Dualsense controller are a unique experience you can’t get elsewhere. The launch library’s thin enough that there is a strong argument to be made for waiting to buy one, but Spider-Man: Miles Morales at 60 fps and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart are tempting.

There’s two versions of the Playstation 5 out now, but they’re identical aside from the presence or lack of a disc drive. 

Online stock for both is still infrequent, usually launching in occasional small batches via various retailers or direct from Playstation. We'll link to all the stores where you'll have the best luck of finding one below, but for regular updates on online restocks, follow our Techradar colleague Matt Swider over on Twitter.

As for in-person stock, there hasn't been any at major retailers (outside of club stores) for 2021 yet. However, Best Buy recently confirmed that it will be holding an in-store console purchase event on September 23rd.
 

 Playstation 5 

PlayStation 5

(Image credit: Sony)

US PS5 retailers at a glance: Amazon | Best Buy | Gamestop | Target | Newegg | Walmart | Playstation Direct

US PS5 resellers at a glance: eBay | stockX  

The Playstation 5 is Sony’s aptly named successor to the PS4, and has a custom 8-core Zen 2 cpu and custom 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU. On paper, that leaves it a little less powerful than the Xbox Series X, but optimization and specific games will probably make performance more of a case-by-case issue. This version comes with a 4K Blu-ray disc drive as well, which might be important to you if you like to own your games and movies physically.

We expect supply for the PS5 to be largely sold out for a while, but occasional online stock batches do drop now and then, so it’s not a bad idea to check major retailers on occasion. 

Of course, there's also more underground options available. While we don't necessarily condone resellers, keeping track of markup can be a helpful way to figure the current state of demand. The current PS5 markup on eBay seems to be between $100 - 200 depending on your listing. There’s also stockX, which has similarly priced listings.

 Playstation 5 All-Digital Edition 

PS5 all-digital edition

(Image credit: PlayStation)

US PS5 retailers at a glance: Amazon | Best Buy | Gamestop | Target | Walmart | Playstation Direct

US PS5 resellers at a glance: eBay | stockX  

The Playstation 5 release also marks the first time Sony is releasing a discless version of one of its consoles. This isn’t like the Xbox Series S- the PS5 Digital Edition is the same machine as the regular PS5, just without a disc drive. Still, that concession will save you $100 if you can manage to find one new.

It also gives you another avenue to find a Playstation 5 that’s in stock.

The current markup for the PS5 All-Digital Edition seems to be about $100 on eBay. Listings on stockX are more expensive, being priced similarly to versions of the console with the disc drive.

Michelle Ehrhardt

Michelle Ehrhardt is an editor at Tom's Hardware. She's been following tech since her family got a Gateway running Windows 95, and is now on her third custom-built system. Her work has been published in publications like Paste, The Atlantic, and Kill Screen, just to name a few. She also holds a master's degree in game design from NYU.

  • thepersonwithaface45
    Had a digital and a disc version in my walmart cart about 30 seconds after 11:00AM
    Loading webpages and refreshes, get to check out and bam, out of stock.
    Trying again all day at each drop but man, they WERE IN MY CART AHHHHHHHHHH
    Reply
  • Gravage
    Admin said:
    Stores seem to have learned from the Xbox Series X launch, with Best Buy and Walmart in particular seeming to do something new this time around.

    Where and How to Buy the Playstation 5 : Read more

    They haven't learned anything because nothing has changed. No bot protection. Website still locks up during checkout and then the item goes "out of stock" while you're trying to finish checking out. It's a joke.

    No one is getting these except the scalpers and Walmart is doing nothing to mitigate that.
    Reply
  • thepersonwithaface45
    ROUND 2: SAME THING HAPPENED
    Had both secured in my cart, check out button, error, out of stock. I'm going to use the 'save for later' option to see if I can keep them in my cart for 5pm.
    This is so frustrating.

    Now they limit one per household, but that's with 2 of the same version. If I want a digital edition and a disc one (my dad's bday is coming up), surely they would tell me if I couldn't do that?
    Reply
  • vern72
    I think I'm gonna wait for the slim edition for this one. It's too bloody big compared to the PS4!
    Reply
  • Tech0000
    It is ridiculous that almost a year after launch we have the same situation (if not worse) with scalpers and bots.
    Truth is Walmart, Amazon and Bestbuy do not care who buys. As long as the move the goods and get paid, they do not care who buys. it's actually better for them this way.
    They will only start caring if you boycott them on all other goods that they cannot move as easily.
    Never buy TVs, games, anything at Bestbuy, Walmart, Amazon etc until the start caring and implement a functioning proper anti bot and anti scalper solution. Teh consumer also need to let them know that this is your position. and don't say it is not possible. of course it is, they just don't think they need spend the money to implement a system to verify buyers.
    The consumer need to make it clear to them (Bestbuy, Walmart, Amazon etc) that there is an opportunity $ cost with their decision.
    Reply