PS5 restock tracker: How to buy a PlayStation 5 from Target, Amazon and more

Walmart restocked the PS5 on Thursday afternoon and, as usual, the consoles sold out quickly. Those still waiting to get a PS5 might be relieved that Sony says

having obtained enough chips to meet its PS5 production target of 14.8 million consoles

for exercise.

It's not easy to find a PS5. When new ones arrive, the stock of consoles quickly runs out without fail. The best way to get one now is to figure out which place is likely to have them next and be ready to buy right away. Need help? We've put together this guide to try and make getting a PS5 a little easier.

Why is it so hard to find a PS5?

Sony's latest console is still hard to find, months after launch. Contributing to the difficulty is the fact that

scalpers use bots

-- and the

global chip shortage

keep on going. Sony says it's aware of the problem and working on a solution, but at the moment it's still incredibly difficult.

"We are working as hard as we can to improve this situation."

p>Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan told Wired

in May. “We see production increasing over the summer and certainly in the second half of the year, and we hope to see some sort of return to normal in terms of the balance between supply and demand during this period."

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

How do I get a PS5 on PlayStation Direct from Sony?

The store with the most frequent PS5 restocks is still

PlayStation Direct

, where the drops often take place in the afternoon and force people to line up for a chance to buy a console. If you don't get one then, it's still worth joining the queue, as some patient and lucky customers may receive a priority access email directly from Sony. The company hasn't provided full details of these PS Direct emails, but you need to sign up for marketing emails from Sony and have a PS Plus subscription - and you need to be signed into your PSN account. If luck is on your side, there's a chance that Sony will send you an invitation to buy a PS5.

When you're in a queue, one thing to know is how long it says you have before you get to the front row. The shorter the better, but this is not a guarantee. To increase your chances, once you are in a queue, share the link with your other devices like your phone. Make sure each device uses a different IP address (for example, having your phone on its mobile plan while your computer uses your home Wi-Fi). This may improve your chances, as your other device may be placed in a different, faster-moving queue. Even if you don't get a PS5, as mentioned earlier, you can still get a pass to buy one on the next tour.

What are some useful tips for finding a PS5?

Although major retailers like Walmart, GameStop, Amazon, Target, and Best Buy don't usually give much notice before a restock, your best chance of scoring a PS5 is to tune in as soon as inventory drops. Even then, nothing is guaranteed, but there are ways to improve your odds.

First tip: don't wait to see an alert indicating a PS5 inventory drop. Check links at major retailers for stock updates daily or even multiple times a day. (We've lined them all up below.) If you're experiencing some PS5 availability, go for as many browsers and devices as possible. On a desktop computer, for example, open the retailer's page in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Then do the same on your phone and tablet. The more devices and browsers, the better. It's like with the

lottery tickets

: the more you have, the better your chances of winning.

Tip Two: Create Accounts at the Different Retailers and Earn Make sure you're already logged in if you're trying to get a PS5. Make sure all of your shipping, billing, and payment information is up to date on any device you can shop on, whether it's a laptop, desktop or a telephone. This makes verification much faster, which is crucial as retailer sites bog down quickly, causing people to lose their chance of getting a PS5.

Where can I buy a PS5 if I want to pay extra?

If you're starting to crave and are considering buying a PS5 right now (and we know it with the number of

big ps5 games

about to drop over the next few months, the pressure is on) you can, but at the cost of a steep markup on sites like

eBay

and p>

StockX

. On eBay, for example, we've seen PS5 units priced over $1,000. We think it's worth the wait and getting the PS5 at the sticker price.

PS5 Restock Possibilities

Amazon

You can check out Amazon's page for the $400 Digital Edition via the button below, or, if you prefer, queue for the

PS5 with Blu-ray for $500

.

See on Amazon

Target

Target offers the

PS5 with Blu-ray for $500

in addition to the PS5 Digital Edition, which you can find by clicking the button below.

View at Target

walmart

You can check inventory for the $400 Digital Edition at Walmart by clicking the button below, or you can try to grab the most expensive

PS5 with Blu-ray for $500

.

See at Walmart

GameStop

GameStop has pages for the $400 Digital Edition (click the button below) as well as the more expensive

PS5 with Blu-ray for $500

. You can also buy a full range of PS5 accessories from GameStop like the

Pulse 3D wireless headphones for $100

.

View on GameStop

Best Buy offers the

PS5 with Blu-ray for $500

as well as the $400 Digital Edition (which you can find by clicking the button below). The retailer also offers a host of accessories on its

ps5 landing page

.

See at Best Buy

Newegg p>

Newegg's PS5 page has several bundles that include additional controllers and games with the console. You can see the different options by clicking the button below.

View on Newegg

eBay

If you've decided you just can't wait another moment for Sony to pull itself together and flood the market with inventory, eBay is a shortcut to getting your very own PS5 right now. That said, let me reiterate our advice: no PS5 is worth spending hundreds of dollars on list price, and that's exactly what you'll need to do if you're buying from an eBay reseller. The average PS5 price on eBay is around $850.

View on eBay

StockX

OK, you've exhausted all online and physical tools. mortar retailers, and you've decided you're willing to pay over $300 to get that puppy soon. As friends, we have to tell you:

Don't

. But if you don't want to listen to us, you might want to check out

StockX

, an eBay alternative that has made a name for itself in the secondary market for designer sneakers and apparel. . Last time we checked, PS5 prices were hovering around $700.

View on StockX

More PlayStation 5 coverage

Why You Should Save $100 and Get the All-Digital PS5 Version

5 Fix PS5 PS5 Still Needs

PS5 games are $10 more. Is it right?

Now Playing:

Look at this:

PS5 review: Full breakdown of all the new features

17:44

CNET Cheapskate

Get all the latest offers delivered to your inbox. It's free!

This story is regularly updated with the latest PS5 stock market news.

CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and more. For the latest offers and updates, follow him

on Facebook

and

Twitter

. You can also

sign up to receive SMS offers

directly on your phone. Find other great buys on the

CNET Deals page

and see our

CNET Coupons Page

for the latest

Walmart Discount Codes

,

ebay coupons

,

Samsung Promo Codes

and even more

hundreds of other online stores

. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Answers live on our

FAQ page

.