When the PlayStation 5 goes on sale next week in North America, you actually won’t be able to buy it at physical retail stores.
Instead, Sony plans on selling the PS5 exclusively online. “In the interest of keeping our gamers, retailers, and staff safe amidst COVID-19, today we are confirming that all day-of launch sales will be conducted through the online stores of our retail partners,” Sony wrote in a blog post.
The only customers who should be visiting a retail store on launch day are those who successfully pre-ordered a PS5 from a retailer, and plan to pick up their unit. Everyone else should stay at home, and place their first day orders online, the company said.
“Please don’t plan on camping out or lining up at your local retailer on launch day in hopes of finding a PS5 console for purchase,” Sony added.
The company left unclear when the PS5 will be available in store at retailers. But we expect the console to sell out online, and then remain out of stock, when launch day sales begin next Thursday, Nov. 12.
Currently, pre-orders for the console have been maxed out at all the major retailers. And according to Reuters, Sony pre-sold as many PS5 consoles in the first 12 hours in the US as the company did in the first 12 weeks when the PS4 was launched.
“It may well be that not everybody who wants to buy a PS5 on launch day will be able to find one,” Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, told the publication last month.
If you fail to score one on launch day, Best Buy plans on selling the PS5 in limited quantities during its Black Friday sales event, which starts on Nov. 22.