Bagging a PS5 at any point over the last year has rarely been straightforward.
Unprecedented demand, combined with frustrating supply issues fuelled by the pandemic meant the rollout was anything but smooth. Despite the ongoing hiccups, Sony confirmed in July that the console had become its fastest-selling of all-time, passing the 10 million unit mark in just 249 days. That milestone was enough to take it past the business’ previous record, held by the PS4 which had taken 271 days to reach the same number.
Below, we’ll run through some of the most common questions surrounding the PlayStation 5, along with advice on how best to currently get your hands on one.
Where can I buy a PS5?
As has been the case since PS5 pre-orders first launched last year, UK restocks remain few and far between. StockX, however, remains one of the few places where the PS5 is consistently in stock.
So far, thanks to our global network of sellers, more than 200,000 consoles have been purchased through StockX. As always, all transactions undergo an in-depth authentication process, meaning any PS5s bought through the site are completely verified and protected.
At the time of writing, it’s the same old story for traditional retailers, with the PS5 out of stock right across the board.
How much does the PS5 cost?
| UK Retail Price | StockX Last Sale Price* | |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 Digital Edition | £349.99 | £490 |
| PlayStation 5 Blu-ray Disc Edition | £449.99 | £545 |
| PlayStation 5 Ratchet & Clank Console Bundle | £509.99 | £647 |
* based on last sale price at the time of writing.
The PlayStation 5 disc version, which comes fitted with 4K Blu-ray capabilities, retails at £449.99 in the UK.
The digital edition of the PS5 is significantly cheaper, and can be picked up for £349.99—when in stock.
For anyone wanting to purchase the console today, both the disc and digital versions are currently available on the StockX. Purchases made by UK customers can also be spread over a 60-day period using Klarna.
Digital or Blu-ray PS5?
There’s an argument to be had for both iterations of the console. Disc games are generally cheaper to pick up thanks to retailers competing on the price front, and can also be sold on or traded in once completed.
However, Sony’s online multiplayer service PlayStation Plus boasts an impressive back catalogue of games, and frequently holds sales on both new and classic titles which can be downloaded instantly.
Aesthetically, the digital version is a little more compact due to the absence of a disc drive. However, in terms of internal tech, there are no notable differences between the consoles. Both boast an 825 GB solid-state drive (SSD), ridding gamers of lengthy loading screens and both facilitate ray tracing, which better manipulates lighting and shadows to significantly improve graphics.
One area in which the disc version has a clear upper hand is the ability to take advantage of free PS4 to PS5 upgrades, a process that requires the drive to transfer older games to the next-gen console.
How much do controllers and accessories cost?
Sony’s latest wave of console accessories has been extremely well-received. The groundbreaking DualSense controller in particular has earned widespread plaudits.
The DualSense controller has an RRP of £59.99, though can currently be found on StockX for as low as £29, plus shipping.
The Pulse 3D headset has also proved to be a hit among gamers. The headset retails for £89.99, though like the DualSense, is available for less on StockX.
When will the PS5 be back in stock?
Amazon, Currys and Argos all had small restocks earlier in August, but those were unsurprisingly snapped up instantly.
Game is rumoured to be next in line to have PS5’s for sale, with that drop looking likely to be on, or around, August 27th. Initially, August 17th had been touted for the restock, though a shipment delay appears to be behind that date being pushed back.
The IGN Deals Twitter account is a useful—and often accurate—source of restock predictions, as is the PS5StockAlertUK account. Stock Informer’s alert tool, which constantly scours the web for inventory updates can come in extremely handy too.
How many consoles have been sold?
As of June 2021, Sony reported that sales of the PlayStation 5 had reached around 10.1 million units.
No doubt that figure would be considerably higher had the manufacturer not encountered those well-documented supply issues. Due to the pandemic, a chip shortage limited Sony’s production, though, with some sense of normality returning, the tech giant looks set for a huge end to 2021.
During a recent earnings report, Hiroki Totoki, Sony’s Chief Financial Officer, said enough chips had now been secured to meet the brand’s yearly production goal of 14.8 million consoles. That news should, to some extent, spell the end of the ongoing supply struggles just in time for the inevitable Christmas rush.
In comparison, rivals Microsoft, which also encountered inventory problems, remained a little more coy when it came to sales numbers of the Xbox Series X and Series S. Analysts placed their figures as of June somewhere around 6.5 million, though the company hasn’t disclosed concrete figures for some time now.
Despite somewhat overcoming the odds to become Sony’s fastest-selling console to date, the PS5 still has some way to go to compete with the overall numbers of its predecessors. The PS4, released in 2013, sold an impressive 116.4 million units, while the PS2 remains the overall best-selling console of all-time, edging out Nintendo’s DS family at the 155 million mark.
