The PlayStation 5 console is still proving difficult to buy despite the official launch of the console taking place in the UK more than a year ago. Sony released the PlayStation 5 in the UK on November 12, 2020, and it has sold more than 10 million times worldwide, making it the biggest console launch in US history.
Over the past two years the console has been plagued with supply issues following a global shortage of computer chips. It's meant fewer PS5's have been produced, which in turn has affected supply to retailers and products to customers. Whenever a console does go in stock it seems that it's quickly listed as sold out because of demand, and in some situations scalpers, a person who resells at large or quickly, bulk order the items as they're available to sell on for a profit.
The government have previously said they are speaking to trade associations to ensure consumers are being protected from bulk purchasing, similarly to the ban on automated purchases for ticketed events, however this still does take place in the gaming industry.
Around 3.9 million PS5 consoles were shipped over Christmas by Sony, meaning roughly 17.3 million units had been sold in total, but many are still missing out on the company's latest gaming hardware because of supply issues and bulk buying.
The PlayStation 5 comes in two forms, the PS5 console: £449.99 and the PS5 Digital Edition console: £359.99. The only difference between the PS5 console and the PS5 Digital Edition console is the inclusion of an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive in the PS5 console. The PS5 Digital Edition console does not feature a disc drive.
Retailers including Amazon, BT, Very, AO and more feature an online drop of the PlayStation 5 every couple of months, meaning if you're keeping up with the trends you can probably predict when a new drop is going to take place.
With this in mind, we've compiled a list of predicted restock dates at popular gaming retailers below, along with when their last sale was of the console, so you can hopefully follow the trend for yourself.
Amazon
Experts who have been following trends of the PlayStation 5, like Talha Sonmez who set up a popular business which tracks sales of the console, has said Amazon is one of the best retailers to sell the PS5. Amazon is rated to be the best due to their next-day delivery service.
Although their sales have been for Amazon Prime members only, users have been able to take part still by signing up to a free 14 day trial, that way they can also bag next day delivery on all products they order.
Amazon's last restock of the console came on March 23. They had the Disc edition available to buy for Prime members only. The online retail giant usually drops a console drop every month so it's worth checking back later on in April for updates. Bookmark the products here and here for easy access.
AO
AO have not been a site that many gamers love. Nevertheless they do sell the PlayStation 5 consoles and bundles on occasion. The online retailer hasn't gone live with a drop for four weeks, their last restock drop came on March 8, and are known for their spontaneous releases.
AO usually drops PS5 consoles on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays based on their previous drops, around 8am-11am. Their previous sales have mainly focused on PS5 bundles rather than standalone consoles.
Save their landing page here for updates.
Argos
Argos are a popular retailer to buy the PlayStation 5 from among consumers due to their flexible buying options. However, shoppers have reported problems before with the website's stock checker locator, with some stating that stock ran out too quickly or didn't even exist in their local stores.
Their last online drop came on March 11, and the site offered the PS5 Disc edition to gamers. A glitch was encountered though shortly after they went live and many had to following certain criteria's to get their hands on one. If you want to keep up to date with their next possible restock drop then it's best to save their PS5 landing page here.
Asda
Believe it or not the supermarket Asda also makes the PlayStation 5 available on occasion. However their restocks are very rare and it's not often they go live with a drop. Their last one came on March 24 and offered shoppers a PlayStation 5 Console Bundle with Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7 for £579.99. Stock went very quickly.
It's not known when another online drop may be due but here's Asda's landing page on the PS5 if you want to keep an eye on future sales.
BT
BT are another company that have been reviewed well when it comes to the PlayStation 5. Talha Sonmez who runs the PS5StockUK Twitter account has said the telecoms company are a good second place in terms of the best retailers for selling the console.
He said: "BT would tie in second place for invite-only drops as they both also have strong servers, and a seamless queue/shopping experience, with both standalone and good bundles."
BT's last drop came on March 22. It's worth noting that whenever BT have an online sale for the PlayStation 5 only BT customers are eligible to buy through an invite code. If you'd like to know when the PlayStation 5 consoles are available to purchase via your BT Broadband account, you can register your interest here. You'll need to log into your account on bt.com when you receive your email.
Currys
Currys hasn't received great ratings when it comes to PlayStation 5 drops. They do drop frequently though. Their last restock came on March 16 which included PlayStation bundles. Many gamers blasted the price though, stating £700 was too much for the console and game bundle.
The site currently shows the PlayStation 5 Digital console as in stock but it's worth checking the postcode and stock locator for double confirmation.
Before their most-recent online drop, their previous came on February 18 so there is a pattern of monthly drops. It's worth saving their landing page here, to see if they launch a potential drop over Easter.
EE
Like BT, EE only allow existing customers to purchase a PlayStation 5 with them. Customers can choose to add the console to their existing plan or buy it outright.
Their last online launch of the PlayStation 5 came on March 22 and offered gamers a variation of bundles. You can check to see if the PS5 is in stock by heading to this dedicated section of the EE website. If you're a customer with EE you can by a PS5 with them here or via the MyEE app.
EE said: "PlayStation 5 is currently only available online, and you’ll need to be an EE customer on a pay-as-you-go monthly handset plan to purchase one with us. As long as you’re within the first 17 months of your contract and pass credit checks, you’ll be able to buy a PS5 on EE and be incredibly smug about it to your friends."
Game
The company known as the biggest gaming retailer in the UK, Game, is also due to a drop soon, that's according to tracking experts.
Game has updated their bundles page with a release date of April 14 on both PS5 Disc Edition and PS5 Digital Edition consoles. The release date isn’t when GAME will drop the PS5 consoles, but just a date they promise customers as the last day they’ll dispatch their orders.
Drops by Game usually take place one or two weeks before the release date mentioned on the bundles page, therefore, experts are predicting a drop to could take place soon. Save their landing page here for updates.
John Lewis & Partners
John Lewis & Partners had a major restock of the PlayStation 5 on March 9. They offered shoppers standalone consoles and bundles which included a Disc edition with the Gran Turismo 7 and Horizon game.
Customers were urged to use the mobile app for a better experience. Checking via their app rather than their website may be more useful but this isn't guaranteed. See their PlayStation 5 page here for stock checks.
ShopTo
The online gaming retailer hasn’t restocked PS5 consoles in almost a month, and typically, a month is how long it takes for a retailer to restock PlayStation 5 consoles, according to the PS5 Stock UK Twitter account.
The last time ShopTo dropped PS5 consoles was on March 6. ShopTo has both the PS5 Disc Edition and the PS5 Digital Edition listed up on their website currently.
Smyths Toys
Smyths Toys last had a restock and PS5 sale on March 9. The retailer usually operates via pre-orders for pick up in store. Some buyers have found it easier to secure a console with Smyths via click and collect instead of online.
Studio
Restocks have gone quiet at Studio after it was revealed earlier this year that the company was placed into administration. The Accrington-based Studio Retail Group, known as Findel until 2019, appointed administrators after it failed to secure an urgent £25m loan. However the business was saved when it was bought by Mike Ashley's Frasers Group for £26.8m.
With this in mind, their last restock of the PlayStation 5 came on February 10 before this news was announced. It's unlikely they may have another for a while.
Tesco
Tesco sold the PS5? Yes they did, when the PlayStation 5 first launched and because it's been so long since the supermarket had a restock, trackers have stopped looking for it altogether via Tesco.
However, that doesn't mean Tesco won't ever feature a sale again. Bookmark their PS5 sale site here for future drops.
Very
The retail giant, Very is expected to drop PS5 consoles this month, usually in the morning around 9 am-10:30 am. Very have been known to be very precise with their drops, usually launching a new restock sale every four weeks.
Their last restock came on March 8. It's worth keeping an eye on their PS5 landing page here for updates.
