A data analyst calculated how much profit is generated from the resales of the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles on eBay. The total amounts to nearly $30 million.

What was calculated? While the next-gen consoles are currently sold out at all retailers, there are plenty of offers on eBay. Unfortunately, prices for the PS5 and Xbox Series X are soaring there.

The data engineer Michael Driscoll wrote a program that collected all next-gen consoles listed as “sold” on the US eBay site and analyzed the results.

The result characterizes the resale on eBay as an extremely lucrative business. Since the start of pre-orders, the “bots” have, according to Driscoll, managed to sell approximately

• 33,000 PS5 consoles
• 30,000 Xbox Series X and S

The profit figures amount to double-digit millions collectively.

$30 million in profit on eBay

This is the status for the Xbox Series X/S: For Microsoft’s consoles, the Series X is the more popular version and sold more than three times the amount of consoles on eBay compared to the weaker Series S. Driscoll’s analysis revealed the following for the new Xbox:

• Xbox Series X generated approximately $8,609,715 in profit on eBay
• Xbox Series S amounted to $1,481,654

So over $10 million in total. The consoles were sold on average for about 30% to 50% higher prices than typical retailers.

This is the status for the PS5: The PS5 was significantly more lucrative than the Xbox consoles. And no wonder: even Amazon crashes under the rush of buyers when the PS5 becomes available there.

On eBay, the profit figures look like this:

• The regular PS5 version generated a total of $14,742,432 in profit on eBay
• The digital edition of the PS5 was at “only” $4,294,061

Combined, that’s almost $20 million. The digital version only differs from the regular one by the absence of the BluRay drive. Nevertheless, it was sold much less on eBay.

The selling prices of PS5 consoles were at times 300% higher than typical retailers for the disc version and 200% higher than for the digital version.

The “dark figure” is even higher

This is the estimate of the data analyst: Since Driscoll only ran his analysis tool through eBay’s website, he estimates that the actual number of sold consoles is much higher. Accordingly, the profits that scalpers could achieve through resale are also much higher.

Because eBay’s fees are relatively high, Driscoll assumes that even more consoles were sold on platforms like FB Marketplace, Craigslist, or other forums. These were not included in the analysis. Driscoll estimates generously that the actual profit figure should be around two to five times higher, if not even more.

This is also interesting: The analysis also shows that the demand for consoles is significantly higher than for other new tech items.

Driscoll also analyzed the sales of new graphics cards and GPUs from AMD and NVIDIA on eBay. This included:

• The Zen 3 CPUs from AMD (5600X, 5800X, etc.)
• Big Navi GPUs from AMD (RX 6800 and 6800XT)
• RTX 30 Series from NVIDIA (RTX 3060, 3070, etc.)

The graphics cards of the “RTX 3000” series, which are also offered on eBay, turned out to be the most profitable with about $9 million profit for the resellers. However, they still lagged behind the coveted next-gen consoles.

What is the current situation regarding the consoles? The consoles are still sold out in Germany. Occasionally, individual retailers receive smaller quantities, but they are quickly sold out again.

However, there is still hope. For the PS5, you should keep an eye on certain retailers if you want to order a console in 2020.

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In the US, the first vaccinations against COVID-19 began on December 14. A member of the US task force against the virus spoke about the topic and explained why people should trust the vaccines using the Xbox as an example.

What happened? Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams is a specialist in anesthesiology (responsible for anesthesia during surgeries) and Vice Admiral of the Army. Since 2017, he has held the position of Surgeon General of the United States. In an interview with Fox News, he discussed the COVID-19 vaccinations and drew a comparison to games on the Xbox.

Some citizens view the vaccines with skepticism and wonder why they are available so quickly and whether it is possible to know that they do not have long-term effects. The host at Fox News also asks Adams how the rapid deployment came about.

Adams responds that the vaccines did not come “out of nowhere,” but are based on a platform that has existed for more than a decade. This is similar to new games for the Xbox:

The Xbox is the new big Christmas gift, and what we did is utilize what’s called platform technology. When you get a new Xbox and want to change your game, you don’t throw away the whole Xbox and buy a new one; you just get a new game.

What we did with this vaccine was use such a platform that has existed for over a decade. So we know the vaccine is safe, we know it is effective, we changed the cartridge to adapt it to COVID-19. That is what allowed us to reach this point scientifically in record time.

This vaccine is safe, and I will get it as soon as they tell me I can.

Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams speaking to Fox News.

Another aspect of the rapid deployment is the reduction of administrative hurdles, as Adams emphasized in the discussion.

*Note on the word cartridge: In English, a wordplay is used with “Cartridge” – cartridge in medicine or cassette as known from old GameBoy or NES times.

How is this comparison received by gamers? Below the article on Kotaku, various reactions are accumulating to this comparison. Many find it appropriate because the basic methodology behind it is similar and the example is illustrative.

The user Oldotheebastard wrote, for example:

It seems to me a good metaphor. Many people do not understand vaccine platform research, especially now. Using this metaphor is a nice, simple way to explain it to people.

The criticism in the comments is only directed at the comparison with a cassette, as only Blu-ray discs are used with the Xbox and most people download their games from the internet.

Corona and Gaming: COVID-19 dominated the year 2020 worldwide. This led to more people turning to video games:

• Last week, the platform Steam set a new user record
• An old MMORPG has, thanks to Corona, more players than ever before
• Especially shooters saw a significant increase in player numbers in the first months of the year.

However, the virus also led to numerous delays in the gaming industry, as was the case with Halo Infinite.

Additionally, there have been some moving stories surrounding Corona and gaming. The MMORPG EVE Online, for example, developed a mini-game through which players can help collect data about the virus. This supported scientists in a playful way:

MMORPG EVE Online helps scientists research the coronavirus

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Do you remember the MMORPG Flyff? The classic is being relaunched, and with a bit of luck, you can even play it in beta today.

What kind of game is it? Flyff was released in 2004 and was for many of you the first MMORPG. It immerses you in a colorful anime fantasy world where flying plays an important role. Flyff stands for “Fly for Fun”.

Essentially, Flyff is a fairly classic MMORPG. You explore the world, fight monsters, and improve your character. However, there are places that you can only reach by flying. You use brooms and other flying devices, such as flying skateboards, which quickly transport you from point A to point B.

It is even possible to fight monsters while flying, where you have to utilize your character’s skills. If you defeat a flying monster, you increase your flying level. This is independent of your regular player level and affects your flying abilities and aerial combat.

Flyff in a new guise for PC and mobile devices

What does the new version offer? Under Flyff Project M, a new version of the MMORPG is launching. It differs in the following ways from the regular version:

• You can play not only on PC but also on mobile devices.
• On PC, it is no longer necessary to install a client. You play the new Flyff like a browser game.
• The graphics have been slightly revised. The grass is denser, and you can see further into the distance.
• There are new flying monsters and additional playable areas.
• Older features like Power Dices, Kebaras Prison, and more are making a return.
• The UI has been overhauled, particularly regarding flying controls.
• There will now be regular events and updates.

When does it start? You can sign up for the closed beta on the Flyff website. If you are selected, you can start playing as early as today, December 15th. The developers state that there is currently no set date for when the beta will end. The test is expected to last as long as necessary.

Accordingly, there is currently no official launch date for Flyff Project M.

What will happen to the old version of Flyff? This version will continue to run. In the future, you will have the choice of which version you want to play.

Do you like the anime style in an MMORPG? Then check out the MeinMMO list of the 7 best anime MMORPGs of 2020.

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By the end of 2020, Sony announced another supply for the PlayStation 5, and there will be another wave of orders. Rumor has it that this 4th wave could start as early as this week. We will show you which retailers you should keep an eye on if you want to buy a PS5 this year.

The current situation regarding PS5 availability: The PlayStation 5 could be pre-ordered in 3 waves so far and was sold out quickly each time. On December 3rd, there was also another sales event, which is referred to as an interim wave or wave 3.5, where some retailers accepted a very limited number of new orders.

Since then, the PS5 has been completely sold out again and is not available from regular retailers. Only via a mobile contract with O2 can you still secure a digital version. In retail, you don’t need to look – there has been and will be no console available for the foreseeable future. 

In short: If you don’t have a PS5 yet and absolutely want to have one now, but don’t want to sign a mobile contract, your only chance at the moment is: outrageous resellers selling the new PlayStation at exorbitant prices. However, this could change again.

Order or buy PS5 – What we know about the 4th wave

Will there still be consoles this year? It looks that way. The sales event in early December was apparently not the announced 4th wave. Because not all retailers who had already confirmed their participation in the 4th wave were present on December 3rd.

The chances are quite good that you will have another opportunity to buy a PS5, more precisely to order one, in 2020 – even if the delivery will most likely not happen until the new year 2021.

When will the 4th wave come? As of December 17th: No official date from Sony or a specific date from one of the retailers has been announced yet. However, according to the website Gameswirtschaft, it could start very soon.

As reported there, the 4th wave is rumored to start this week – at least at Amazon. And so far the site has mostly been right with such predictions.

Additionally, the large chain Best Buy announced supply for December 15th in the USA and sold out there. So there is a fair chance that it could also start here this week.

We will keep an eye on everything daily for you and inform you about new developments.

Keep an eye on these retailers: The event on December 3rd probably caught many off guard. Because not all participating retailers announced their participation, and no specific times were provided.

Therefore, it is advisable to keep an eye on the retailers already confirmed for the 4th wave. Because it is assumed that the 4th wave could start before Christmas, and there isn’t much time left – only this week and parts of next week.

The following retailers had already confirmed their participation in the 4th wave upon explicit inquiry by Gameswirtschaft:

• Expert
• GameStop
• Medimax
• Otto

However, it is also said that more retailers like Amazon are likely to join.

You should therefore regularly check the availability via the following links:

If there are new developments or additional retailers become known, we will update this article as quickly as possible.

How about you? Do you already have a PS5 and are quietly laughing to yourself? Are you still waiting for delivery? Are you still hoping to at least order a PlayStation 5 in 2020? Or have you given up for the time being?

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