The PlayStation 5 has been out for over a year, but it's ludicrously hard to track one of the blighters down.
Scalpers, supply chain issues, and that gosh-darn pandemic have all worked together in ensuring Sony's new-gen console remains frustratingly elusive. That's why it's particularly disheartening to see retailers leverage this scarcity to bait customers into joining their premium services.
Over the last few months both Best Buy and Walmart have locked PS5 restocks behind pricey membership schemes that cost hundreds of dollars, effectively pricing many out of being able to get a console. It's not much better than what the scalpers are doing, frankly.
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Unfortunately, it looks as if Amazon is getting in on the action too. If you head over to the PlayStation 5's Amazon store page right now, you'll see it's out of stock. You'll also see a message at the bottom that confirms Amazon Prime customers will get "priority access" to the new-gen console. The same is true of the Xbox Series X.
This is apparently a temporary measure that will only last until December 31, but it definitely feels like it's been designed to squeeze out a few more Prime memberships from desperate Christmas shoppers in the run up to the big day. To be fair, on the long list of awful things Amazon has done, this ranks somewhere near the bottom.
It's not yet clear when exactly Amazon's pre-Christmas restock will take place, but if you do want to be in with a chance of securing a PS5, you might have to consider signing up for Prime. Unlike Best Buy's premium membership, Prime does at least give you the option of paying a monthly fee £7.99. Just be aware that paying for the Prime subscription is not a guarantee you'll get a PS5 - it just means you have more of a chance than the people who aren't Prime.
Featured Image Credit: SonyTopics: PlayStation, Sony