Want to get your hands on the PS5? Well, you’re in the right place.
Sony’s PS5 has been the fastest-selling PlayStation of all time, reaching 10 million units sold faster than its predecessors. And it’s not difficult to see why the next-gen console has flown off the shelves.
It’s a whopping eight times more powerful than the PS4, has an 825GB SSD, and can play 4K video at 120 frames per second.
However, while there’s no question that the PS5 is a massive success for Sony (and a breath of fresh air for gamers), it’s not always been easy to get one. Sony has struggled to meet consumer demand, with consoles often snapped up as soon as they become available. The result? Frustrated gamers and tons of internet memes.
For example, the Avengers: Endgame meme shown above did the rounds on Reddit. The scene shows Kronan warrior Korg playing Fornite on his PS4 even though the scene is set in 2025. The joke is that gamers still can’t get a PS5 in 2025!
Luckily, the picture is looking much more favorable for 2022. The last weeks of 2021 saw a sharp rise in PS5 restocks, and while Sony said to expect some shortages this year, it’s looking like getting a PS5 in 2022 will be much less of a struggle.
In other words, 2022 could be your best opportunity to get the console to date; you just need to look in the right places. So, if you don’t want to hand your money to the scalpers or be stuck playing the PS4 like Korg, these are the Sony PlayStation 5 stores you need to check for the latest PS5 drops. Let’s get into it.
Sony Playstation 5 Stores
1. Amazon
2. Walmart
3. Best Buy
4. GameStop
5. Sony Direct
6. Target
7. Costco
Where Can I Buy a Playstation 5? Top Stores to Check
Amazon
The ecommerce giant is one of the best places to get a PS5 due to its regular restocks and a neat little trick you can do to increase your chances of success. The last PS5 restock on Amazon was on February 25, with rumors of another restock around March 9. Of course, stock of the PlayStation 5 digital edition and disc edition sold out within mere minutes during the last restock, so acting quickly is essential.
Luckily, you can do a couple of things to boost your chances of getting the PS5. The first thing you want to do is get an Amazon Prime membership. Why? Because Amazon announced that Prime customers would be given priority access to the PlayStation 5 throughout March. If you’re only after the PS5 and have no other use for Prime membership, then you can just sign up for the 30-day free trial and cancel before your first payment. And crucially, you can sign up for an Amazon Prime membership even if you’ve had one in the past, provided it was more than 12 months ago.
The second thing you want to do is utilize the Amazon wish list. If you add the PS5 to your wish list (which you can do even when it’s sold out), you can add the console to your basket directly when the restock hits. Additionally, you’ll be given a notification when the PS5 becomes available so you can act quickly. This workaround is a better option than trying to access the PS5 product pages during the restock because the high demand means these pages get slammed with traffic and can sometimes be glitchy.
Walmart
If you’ve had no luck with Amazon and are still wondering, “where can I buy a PS5?” you’re in luck—there are plenty of other options, like Walmart.
Walmart is an excellent place to look because they’ve been pretty consistent with their PS5 drops. They also often list their next date for new stock, which gives you time to prepare and is something many other retailers don’t do.
However, there is a catch to bagging the PS5 at Walmart—you’ll need to be a Walmart Plus member. Becoming a Walmart+ member will set you back $12.95 a month or $98 a year and will snag you benefits like free delivery from your local store, early access to specific products, free select prescriptions, and more. If those benefits don’t appeal to you and you just want to get your hands on the PS5, you can opt for the 30-day free trial.
It’s critical to note that when Walmart itself doesn’t have the PS5 in stock, the top listings you’ll see are from third-party sellers. And that means inflated prices, typically over $800. When Walmart does have PS5 stock, it’ll always be listed at the standard price of $499.99 for the disc edition and $399.99 for the digital edition.
Best Buy
In the past, Best Buy would notify customers on PS5 restocks on a Thursday or Friday, but lately, they’ve been dropping the console listings randomly. So, while it is a little trickier to predict when Best Buy will have PS5 stock, as long as you’re keeping a close eye on the situation, you have a good chance of securing the console.
So what do you need to know about getting the PS5 at Best Buy? Firstly, you’ll be relieved to learn that customers no longer need the pricey Totaltech membership. With the membership costing a whopping $200 annually, this was a significant stumbling block for people looking to snag the elusive PS5.
With the stock now open to the general public, the process is much more straightforward, but there are still a few things to do to increase your chances. Your first priority should be setting up your Best Buy account ahead of time. This means that all of your payment details and address information are ready to go and will save you valuable time at checkout. In addition, the site will “verify your account” and check for inventory during the checkout process, so it’s worth being signed in. Then, when the stock becomes available, you’ll be placed in a queue and, hopefully, score the PS5!
GameStop
New PS5 stock can land anytime at GameStop, and the retailer has had consistent drops over the last few months, so they’re an excellent one to keep on your radar. Crucially, GameStop has been restocking the PS5 more regularly than many other retailers recently, with drops happening every week.
GameStop gives first dibs to its Pro Members, but it’s worth noting that these members only get early access to online console sales. This shouldn’t be a problem for most buyers, but it’s worth knowing, so you don’t waste your time traveling to a store only to find you’re not eligible.
So, what will the GameStop membership cost you? At $14.99 a year, the subscription is cheaper than the others on this list, but there’s no free trial.
Another tip to maximize your success is to opt for one of the PS5 bundles, as these typically sell out at a slower rate than the standalone consoles.
Sony Direct
Where to buy a PlayStation 5? Perhaps the most logical answer is the Sony store itself. Sony’s official store will naturally see console restocks as soon as they are available. Additionally, scalpers are non-existent here, so you won’t get your hopes up seeing a console is in stock only to realize it’s double the price it should be.
There are two ways to bag a PS5 via Sony’s PlayStation Direct store. The first option is to join Sony’s exclusive invitation program. You essentially register “for an opportunity to buy a PS5 console” using the email address associated with your PlayStation Network ID. This option can help you avoid the mad rush, but the selection process is random, so there’s really no way to guarantee you’ll secure the console.
The second option is to join the mad rush when queues open up! Regular members must pay a delivery fee, but PS Plus subscription members can opt for free delivery.
Target
While Target has been somewhat disorganized with its PS5 restocks, with new consoles coming in randomly, they’re still one of the more reliable places to scout for PS5s. Typically, new drops go live at 6 am Eastern Time, so it’s worth setting an alarm if you’re hungry for the console.
You can also get 2-day free shipping at Target for online sales or use the Zip-code feature to find if a store near you has the PS5 in stock.
Costco
Costco had their last PS5 drop on January 24, 2022, so we could be coming up for another one soon. While Costco does allow non-members to purchase some items provided they pay an additional fee, unfortunately, the PlayStation 5 doesn’t fall into this category. That means you’ll need a paid Costco membership to place an order. Memberships start at $60 and give you access to their online shop and warehouses. You also get an additional card for someone else in your household.
If you plan to get your PS5 at Costco, you should add your billing and shipping address to your account beforehand to save precious time at checkout.
And that’s a wrap! You now know the best places to buy a PS5 right now. Happy hunting!