In case you might not have noticed, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are a little hard to come by. Neither Sony nor Microsoft were prepared for the onslaught of pre-orders that the systems generated, as they’ve both proven to be big hits during the holiday season. But now that we’re in a new year, they should be easier to come by… right?
Well, kinda. While Sony and Microsoft should have more systems ready sometime this year, they didn’t specifically say when just yet. However, with a slew of new games coming from both camps, it’s likely to be sooner rather than later.
But if you’re the impatient type or you just need the best advice when it comes to getting your hands on one of these next-gen systems, don’t worry too much. We’ve got a few tips that will help you get your hands on one sooner rather than later. Maybe.
Keep An Eye On Resellers
Though the resales of these systems were sky high over the past couple of months, we have noticed that they’ve calmed down a little bit on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. With that, you can probably score an Xbox Series X for around $700 or maybe even $600 with the right seller; while the PlayStation 5 would likely go for a little higher, maybe around $800. That’s a small price to pay compared to the $1200 people were asking at launch, though still somewhat higher than the retail price. Still, if you can’t wait…
Check Out Sales Alerts
There are a number of retail-based sites that offer alerts anytime that they get a new piece of hardware in stock. Though a lot of people sign up for these, it could give you a better idea as to when the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X will be in stock again. Best Buy, Amazon, GameStop and others have these available, so it never hurts to sign up. However, don’t bother people in the stores. They go through enough as it is lately and don’t need the hassle. (Also, it’s safer to shop at home with COVID-19 and all.)
eBay?
There’s a good chance you can find a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X on eBay, as they’re consistently offered by a number of resellers. However, it might be a “last ditch option” for you, for a couple of reasons.
Number one, some of the listings are a bit tricky, like selling just the box for the Xbox Series X instead of the system itself. We know a few folks that managed to let that slip past them and (almost) got screwed out of their purchase.
And number two, availability. It could take a while for your system to ship, especially with the U.S. Postal Service being as slow as it is. Some have expedited shipping, so if that’s your bag and you don’t mind paying extra, go for it.
Just Wait It Out
Finally, there’s one more option, but it requires a bit of patience. You could just wait until the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 become more steadily available. Granted, that could be tricky around the holiday season. However, around summer, don’t be surprised if both systems get a steadier supply of units that can be sold. Again, you can sign up for the alerts above and see how stock goes for each one.
In the meantime, those of you going, “Well, how can I play the newest games?” While the PS5 does have a few exclusives, most of its library is playable on PS4. These include the new Sackboy game, as well as Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the forthcoming Horizon Zero Dawn sequel.
And Xbox Series X doesn’t really have any exclusives to call its own, though some games perform better on the new hardware. Still, if you have an Xbox One X, you should be fine. And if you don’t you can get one of those for pretty cheap.
Good luck, and enjoy your new systems if you can get them! Or, hey, visit this page for a chance to win one on the house!
