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Are People Finally Giving Up The Hunt for the PlayStation 5?
It's fair to say that the launch of the PlayStation 5 wasn't exactly a textbook transition from the previous hardware. For starters, Sony made the bold promise of building enough consoles to go around pre-launch — which, of course, turned out to be a total lie. And then there's the endless warfare between the money-grabbing scalpers and the genuine gamers eager for some next-level tech. As a result of that losing battle, PlayStation fans have been left to scour the web for a single unit that isn't quadruple the official price tag. And that's bad — especially for Sony's image.
It's been five months since Sony globalized the PlayStation 5, and people are still very much at war with the scalper bots. Units are still in short supply, and any serious player will tell you that you'll have better luck finding a needle in a haystack than picking up a PS5. That, of course, has left millions of players disappointed and left scraping the barrel to pay off the ludicrous prices on third-party storefronts. Take eBay, for example. Did you know there are some copies of the digital edition that are being shipped for $1,100? Yes — that is $700 higher than Sony's official marker. Go figure.
People are starting to think that the PS5 is a myth, wouldn't you believe?
Bad news, everyone else…
While Sony continues to dish up a spool of apologies over the lack of available units, it doesn't quite make up for the five months of frustration twitching at the back of many necks. Plus, with Sony removing a few of the previous links over the coming months, the PS5 will be in even higher demand than before. Come September this year, the PS3, Vita and PSP will be torn from the PlayStation family tree entirely. So, unless you're one of the few who have actually managed to acquire a PS5 — then chances are you'll soon be left to face Sony's backside as they pursue the future of the next-gen console. Joy.
We're just shy of the six-month milestone for the PS5, and it's fair to say that many people are losing interest in the platform altogether. Of course, if money isn't an issue for some, and buying out scalpers doesn't boil the blood ever so slightly, then there really isn't a problem. Only, for most — the constant sellouts and false promises have started to take their toll in the worst possible way. In fact, with how things are progressing (or failing to), it's unlikely that the PlayStation 5 will be well-stocked until 2022. But you know — it is what it is.
Like a needle in a haystack…
If you're lucky, you'll be able to snag a PS5 for $499 from most online retailers. Anything higher than that and you're only lining the pockets of a con artist. But we'll let you decide whether or not the PS5 is worth the scam. Can't say we'd part ways with that sort of money, to be fair. But perhaps you sit on the other side of the spectrum. Either way, unless you take the plunge, you're going to be in for a rather exhausting journey before shaking hands with Astro Bot and friends.
So, what about you? Are you calling it a day and wiping the console from your Christmas list? Or are you just gearing up for the next wave of stock? Whatever the case, we hope you have a better 2021 than what Sony has given us these past five months. Here's hoping the PS5 will land in your palms sooner rather than later. Fingers crossed, eh?
The PlayStation 5 released on November 12th 2020. You can pick up the disk version for $499 (£450) and the digital-only edition for $399 (£350). That is, you know — if you can actually find one.
