But if you’re trying to buy a PlayStation 5 Digital or Disc edition on the day it launches, then we’re here to help. Here’s the best information we have on where to look for a PS5 (hint: not in a store anywhere — this one’s only available online).
Similar to the Xbox Series X / S launch on Tuesday, GameStop has promised “limited” quantities of bundles this evening, but did not specify when they would be available. (Likely around midnight ET.)
Your best shot at procuring a PS5 on launch day may be via Walmart, which has promised to make consoles available in several rounds throughout the day. Check in at 12PM, 3PM, 6PM and 9PM (all times ET) to try your luck if you think you can beat the bots to a PlayStation 5.
Best Buy is also an option, and it will have consoles available at some point through its website and app, with the possibility of securing a box to pick up at your local store. There’s no word on what time they’ll go on sale though.
A wait for UK fans
Those in the UK wanting to get the console will have a slightly longer and frustrating wait until 19 November.
But Jim says with each generation of console, the wait between the UK and rest of the world is reducing.
“In a completely ideal world, we would like to launch everywhere in the world on the same day.”
“We just needed an extra few days to get everything in order to be able to have a proper, professional, seamless PlayStation-style launch,” he adds.
Amazon is a long shot, with sales already spoken for via pre-order, but if you want to keep an eye out for shipments from there too it certainly can’t hurt. They’re also a good spot to find accessories (controllers are currently in stock — limit two per person) even if you already have a system on the way or snag it somewhere else.
The PS5 will cost about £450 and gamers will be getting a completely different experience in the console’s look and feel compared to the current generation.
“It has more horsepower and runs faster with better graphics. But the difference goes way beyond that,” Jim says.
New controllers will change the game too, PlayStation hopes.
“You’ve got to get one of these controllers in your hands to really feel the action of pulling a bow or letting an arrow go or shooting a gun.”
“It’s something people have been doing for years. But this is taking something that had become rather mundane, and adding a whole new layer of meaning and experience to it,” he adds.
The games
Sony is following a similar strategy to the one that worked in 2013, selling discs and downloads for premium prices.
But there’s questions over the lack of big exclusive blockbuster games on release day – with big-hitting titles being seen as one of the reasons for the success of the PS4 over its competition.
It’s not a worry for Jim who says there’ll be “something for everyone”.
Sony has said that dozens of popular PS4 games, including the 100 most played, will work on the PS5.
As for future game releases?
Fans don’t need to look beyond the “not too distant future” for when new games will come out, he says.
The pandemic challenge
The launch of a console in the midst of a global pandemic has been “a rollercoaster” he says.
“The most extraordinary thing is all of this has taken place in 2020. The one thing I’ve learned is I’ll never do this again in a pandemic”.
The company’s been “astonished” by the level of pre-orders.
“We’re making more PS5’s in this difficult environment then we made PS4s in that launch. If people are unable to find one at launch, we’re very sorry and apologetic about that.”
“They can rest assured we’re working really hard to get significant supplies into the market before and after Christmas.”
“This is going to be a bigger launch [than the PS4]. And I think given the circumstances we’re in, that’s something that we can be quietly proud of.”
