Good luck discovering a PlayStation 5.
The latest video-game console from Sony Corp., alongside rival Microsoft Corp.’s up to date Xbox, have been arguably the most well liked gadgets this Black Friday as buyers lined up in particular person or swarmed retailers’ web sites hoping to snag one.
GameStop Corp., one of many few retailers to do a brick-and-mortar launch, noticed buyers line up as early as Wednesday — some even arrange tents — at areas from Norfolk, Virginia, to Salinas, California.

“There’s at all times an merchandise, or a number of gadgets, individuals can’t discover. The large scorching merchandise this yr is Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox from Microsoft,” Joseph Feldman, senior managing director and assistant director of analysis at Telsey Advisory Group, mentioned in a Friday morning interview on Bloomberg Surveillance. “These are the 2 new gadgets that I maintain listening to individuals ask for, particularly at Finest Purchase and GameStop, and also you simply can’t discover them proper now.”
A extremely coveted product is simply what retailers want this vacation season. After a brutal yr of financial lockdowns and retail misery, shops are hoping that pent-up demand can rejuvenate the business at the same time as new waves of COVID-19 sweep throughout the nation. Well being issues however, a big-selling merchandise can draw buyers who could find yourself shopping for different items, too, whereas looking in-store or on-line.
To restrict crowds, Finest Purchase selected to solely launch the latest consoles on its web site, a choice that retail analyst Neil Saunders known as “a miss,” given the hovering demand for the merchandise.
“Finest Purchase might have executed one thing inventive with outdoors assortment to handle the crowds,” he mentioned.
Google searches for gaming merchandise have been up once more this week, based on a word from Baird Fairness Analysis. Curiosity for “World of Warcraft” was up 96% after the launch of its newest growth pack, whereas “FIFA Final Staff” was up 43% this week. The time period “gaming headset” additionally noticed a constant enhance in web searches, up 24% week over week.
With all of the curiosity in gaming, the brand new consoles are positive to attract crowds wherever they launch. However there’s one dependable solution to get your palms on them with out lining up — pay resale. The consoles, which retail round $400 to $500 apiece, are promoting for greater than $1,000 on eBay.