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Walmart is your best bet to find a PlayStation 5 this week, with an inventory drop confirmed to take place on Thursday, September 23rd at 12:00 p.m. PST. 
The last time Walmart offered next-gen consoles, it released stock in 10-minute waves, so it may be smart to check back after a few minutes if you initially hit a sellout screen.

Order PS5 at Walmart | Order Digital-Only PS5 at Walmart

Alternatively, Best Buy is also offering in-store-only PS5 and Xbox Series X restocks.
The PlayStation 5 is finally here, although trying to find one at retailers has proven to be a challenge. Between the general popularity of the console, a global semiconductor shortage and rampant bots and resellers, locating a PS5 at stores has been an issue around the world. Thankfully, most shops have been restocking Sony’s next-gen console every few weeks, and that trend looks likely to continue throughout the rest of 2021.
If you’re having trouble finding a PS5, here are the places you’ll want to keep your eyes on. While most of them are currently out of stock, it’s become common practice to announce new deliveries just hours before they become available.

Where to Buy the PS5

PS5 with accessories

Credit: Sony


PS5 is available in two different formats. There’s the traditional PS5 — which costs $499.99 — and the Digital Edition — which lacks an optical drive. If you want to make the next-gen jump but don’t want to break the bank, opting for the Digital Edition can save you $100. Besides the lack of an optical drive, everything else under the hood is the same.
Unfortunately, neither of these models is currently in stock at any retailer. Still, if you’re hoping to pick up the new system, these are the places to watch.

StockX Offers

When something is as hard to find as the PlayStation 5 and you simply must have it, just being able to purchase the item may be a deal in itself, even if it means paying above retail price.
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StockX — “the current culture marketplace” — consistently has the PlayStation 5 and its accessories available. You can buy now, place a bid or just watch for the fluctuations in price (like the real stock market!). All sold items are sent to StockX first for authentication before being shipped to you, so you can shop with confidence. If you’re itching to go hands-on with PS5, this might be the fastest way to find one — although you can save a bundle of money if you’re willing to wait for an official restock.

Shop PlayStation 5 at StockX

GameStop PS5 Offers

While the gaming giant doesn’t have anything available right now, it’s one of the more popular locations for restocks. In fact, it’s known to surprise customers with new inventory just hours before it becomes available. We’d recommend following the official GameStop Twitter account to get frequent updates on its inventory. When a restock is announced, move fast — units typically sell out within a few minutes of going live.
If you’re a PowerUp Rewards Pro Member, you’ll gain early access to the new inventory — and should also receive an email prior to any restock.

Antonline PS5 Offers

Although it may not be as well known as others on this list, Antonline has quickly become a great place to find a PS5 in stock. There doesn’t seem to be a set pattern for resupplies (one happened on a Friday, the other on a Tuesday), so you’ll need to stay vigilant if you’re hoping to find one here. But with multiple PS5 drops over the past few weeks, we’d highly recommend adding this retailer to your list.

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Sony Direct PS5 Offers

Although Sony ran a restock on July 16th, it was limited to random members who received an email prior to the inventory refresh. It doesn’t look like another is happening this week – but make sure to keep an eye on your email in case of a surprise drop.

Walmart PS5 Offers

Walmart did a great job of bringing in loads of PS5s in late 2020, and restocks have been consistent through the early months of 2021. The retail giant has been sticking to a fairly reliable pattern, dropping new inventory every other Thursday of a given month, before taking a monthlong break. However, despite being a prime location for PlayStation 5 restocks over the past few months, Walmart has been surprisingly quiet lately. It’s been multiple weeks since the last PS5 drop, but we’re hopeful the retailer will refresh its inventory soon. For now, it’s worth keeping an eye on its website.

Best Buy PS5 Offers

All standalone consoles are sold out, and Best Buy hadn’t been a reliable restocker in the early months of 2021. However, with a recent restock on July 14th, Best Buy might be returning to its old PS5-carrying ways. We’re not sure if the trend will continue through the rest of July and into August, but it’s one of the few places to see restocks this month. If nothing arrives by Friday, make sure to be vigilant next week.

Target PS5 Offers

Target has been known to restock its online inventory late at night, with many customers staying up into the early hours of the morning waiting for that “Add to Cart” button to become active. It usually announces restocks on Twitter but doesn’t provide a specific time. That means you’ll be riding your keyboard with a cup of coffee nearby, waiting for the inventory to get pushed live.
The retailer saw a restock on July 9th but has gone quiet in recent weeks. Keep it on the reserve list, but don’t make Target your go-to location for the rest of July.

PS5 and PS5 box

Credit: Sony

Amazon PS5 Offers

We haven’t heard too much about Amazon restocks over the past few weeks, but that doesn’t mean one won’t happen in the future. Walmart, Target and GameStop seem to be your best bets, but Amazon is a good wild card to have in your back pocket. Unfortunately, the Amazon page for PlayStation 5 currently indicates no new inventory is on the horizon. Things change fast in the world of PS5 restocks, however, so we wouldn’t be surprised if Amazon announced inventory just a few hours before it becomes available.

Costco and Sam’s Club PS5 Offers

Both Costco and Sam’s Club offered PS5s for pre-order, but there hasn’t been much noise on either front since launch day. However, it’s worth noting that Costco offered a deal on a bundle that included an extra controller, the new Spider-Man game and a one-month PlayStation Now subscription for $639.99. While that deal sold out incredibly quick, it might be worth checking back to see if it returns, especially if you’re already a Costco member.

Shop PS5 at Costco

What’s New with the PlayStation 5?

PS5

Credit: Sony

PS5 Specs

  • Optical drive: 4K UHD Blu-ray drive
  • Internal storage: Custom 825GB SSD
  • Expandable storage: NVMe SSD slot
  • CPU: AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)
  • GPU: 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency)
  • Memory bandwidth: 448GB/s
  • External storage: USB HDD support (only works with PS4 games)

The PS5 Design is Unique (and Large)

First, we need to address the elephant in the room. The PS5 looks a lot funkier than its predecessors with a slim, curved design that almost resembles a modern sculpture. It’s also quite large, coming in at 15.4″ tall, 10.2″ deep and 4.1″ wide. The Digital Edition is a bit slimmer thanks to the lack of an optical drive, but that only shaves about 12 millimeters off its width. However, the PS5 is definitely slimmer than the Series X, and gamers will be able to choose whether they want to set the system up horizontally or vertically.

Sony Launched Two Versions Simultaneously

Whether you love the convenience of digital gaming or prefer having a hard copy of every game you play, Sony has got your back. Two different versions of PS5 are available, one that includes a disc drive and one that does not.
If you don’t mind the lack of a disc drive, you can save yourself $100 — the Digital Edition retails for $399 while the traditional console is going for $499. It’s also worth noting that, unlike the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the two PlayStation 5 consoles share the exact same internal specs. That means games will look the same regardless of which version they are running on — the only difference is that you won’t be able to play any physical games on the Digital Edition.

Launch Titles Worth Your Time and Money

Sony has released over 25 new titles for the PS5, including sequels and spinoffs to some of their most popular franchises. Launch titles included Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, NBA 2K21, Godfall and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales was one of the biggest launch titles, described as a stand-alone game that’s somewhere between a sequel and an expansion to Marvel’s Spider-Man. Other exciting titles coming in 2021 and beyond include Horizon: Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, Oddworld: Soulstorm, Resident Evil 8: Village and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. PlayStation Plus has also been revamped, giving PS5 players access to hit PS4 titles such as God of War and Uncharted 4.

spiderman game for PS5

Credit: Sony


Here’s a full breakdown of launch window games announced for PS5:

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Horizon: Forbidden West
  • Gran Turismo 7
  • Resident Evil 8: Village
  • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
  • Oddworld: Soulstorm
  • Sackboy: A Big Adventure
  • NBA 2K21
  • HITMAN 3
  • Tribes of Midgard
  • Godfall 
  • Bugsnax
  • Ghostwire: Tokyo
  • Demon’s Souls
  • Solar Ash
  • Astro’s Playroom
  • Little Devil Inside
  • Project Athia
  • Destruction AllStars
  • JETT: The Far Shore
  • DEATHLOOP
  • The Pathless
  • Goodbye Volcano High
  • Kena: Bridge of the Spirits
  • Pragmata
  • Returnal
  • Stray

DualSense Controller Cosmetic Updates

Like the towering Xbox Series X console design, the PS5 controller’s new look is polarizing. Some people think it looks futuristic, while others feel it resembles a poorly made Stormtrooper toy. Wherever you land on the spectrum, there’s no denying Sony is breaking away from tradition with this update.
This is the first radical cosmetic redesign for PlayStation controllers since the PS1 hit store shelves. DualSense wireless controllers are now black and white instead of one solid color (although Sony has released a few other color options), and the grips and trigger shapes have been adjusted for increased comfort. In our opinion, the new design seems to more closely resemble an Xbox controller, which will likely prove a comfort to players with larger hands. However, it’s nice to see Sony stick to its guns with classic PlayStation design choices like symmetrical thumbsticks and disconnected D-pad buttons.
Sony’s new controller also features adaptive triggers. This allows developers to customize the sensitivity of the L2/R2 trigger buttons to better emulate the weapon you are meant to be using. For example, you will encounter more resistance when using the trigger to draw a bow taut than you will when firing a pistol. Sony hopes these features will make gameplay more immersive, and early examples of the technology show a lot of potential.

ps5 controller side view

Credit: Sony


DualSense Controller Feature Updates
The first major change in these new controllers is the inclusion of haptic feedback. This replaced the traditional “rumble pack” sensation that many controllers feature and allows for a greater range of feedback. Basically, you can feel the difference in your controller when firing a machine gun in the game versus crashing a motorcycle into a wall. There is also 3D audio, which enhances the immersive feeling when playing VR games as well as traditional gaming formats.
For those who like to get creative with their games, the new controller has replaced the “share” button with a “create” button, letting you quickly take screenshots or videos and share them with the world.
One last update: You won’t be needing a headset to chat online. The new DualSense controller features a built-in microphone that lets you quickly and easily chat with friends and other players, although a headset is still recommended for longer gaming sessions.

Backward Compatibility and Physical Media


Whenever a new system is announced, backward compatibility is always a major concern. Thankfully, designer Mark Cerny confirmed the PS5 is fully compatible with all current PS4 games.
On top of that, Sony has confirmed it will continue to offer games as physical discs, as opposed to the streaming-only option other developers are considering. That’s huge news for gamers who count on the resale value of older titles to buy new games. Physical discs for the PS5 have 100 GB of storage, and the console fully supports Blu-ray discs as well.

The New Console Will Have Better Audio

All this new hardware led to massive improvements on in-game audio, especially in comparison to the PS4. The AMD chip allows for more immersive sounds and scores that let the player pinpoint noise sources in any direction while playing. The new system is even capable of full 3D audio, so get ready to hear grenades explode directly above your head.
While the feature works with your average home speakers, Cerny admits headphones are the “gold standard” when it comes to appreciating the enhanced audio quality.

The Future of PlayStation VR

Sony has been quiet when it comes to its plans for virtual reality, but some information has been revealed. The new system is compatible with the current PSVR system, but it’s unclear if there will be new VR devices available in the coming months.

The PS4 and PS5 Will Exist Simultaneously (at First)


PS4 owners don’t have to worry about their consoles becoming obsolete quite yet.
Cerny confirmed the PS4 will continue to receive new games after the release of the PS5, and some games will even be available on both systems. While there was no official confirmation, Cerny hinted that Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding would be available on both consoles.
Stay tuned to Slickdeals as we keep you updated on the new PlayStation console.
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JB

Jon Bitner

Jon is a freelance writer who primarily focuses on topics related to video games, science, medicine and technology. Before starting his career as a writer he worked in the Biotechnology industry. He has a degree in Biology, and when he isn't writing he can usually be found traveling, playing video games or hunting down the latest deals.