PS5 Launch in Selected Countries; Availability Issues and Crazy Prices
PlayStation 5 has debuted in selected countries. However, it is currently impossible to purchase the console unless on auction sites where vendors set outrageously high prices.
This is it - after years of waiting and over a year of reporting, PlayStation 5 made its market debut. At least in some territories (i.e. North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singpaura and South Korea), because the rest of the world will have to wait another week. But even our colleagues from the Pacific rim will have to be patient. Enough to look at threads dedicated to PS5 launch on Reddit, which is drowning in information about problems with buying the device. The platform is virtually unavailable in the U.S.; GameStop reports outright that it has received very limited amounts of Sony's device. Many players who have placed an order for their fifth PlayStation have still not received information about the expected delivery date.
The obvious reason for these difficulties is the incredible demand for the PS5, but also the coronavirus pandemic and related problems with component production and sales restrictions. It is not possible to enter a store and just uy the thing - those willing to do so have to place an order via websites. However, as you can see from the situation in Australia, the huge demand for Sony's console has also done its part. JB Hi Fi online store informed on Facebook that the entire PS5 stock was sold out in no time, as every minute players placed thousands of orders for the console. It was also noted that there was little chance of additional deliveries, despite the company's best efforts to secure a supply of the fifth PlayStation for its customers.
As usual, the shortage was quickly exploited by various scalpers. If we look at the Australian branch of eBay we will see a lot of offers on PlayStation 5 with physical drive. The problem is that these vendors are expecting at least $950 Australian dollars (around 675 USD) for the console, and there is no shortage of people tho price the PS5 at no less than $1,500 Australian dollars (around 1,000 USD), and in extreme cases even $3,000 Australian dollars (2,100 USD)! For comparison: the same model costs 749,95 Australian dollars in official distribution, i.e. slightly less than 530 USD. Similar "special offers" can be seen on American eBay, with offers starting at around 800 dollars compared to the suggested price of 499 dollars.
The problems with acquiring a PlayStation 5 do not bode well for the launch of the console in the rest of the world, although they do not come as a surprise. In Japan, entire pre-order stock of PS5 was sold out some time ago. It was no different in the rest of the world, which Sony boasted of in October. We can only count on the fact that the later debut of the console may enable us to avoid difficulties with the supply in our region, although it is probably a false hope. PlayStation 5 will launch for the rest of the world on November 19.
