Today marked the second round of pre-orders for the PlayStation 5. However, those who hoped it would go better than the chaotic first time were likely disappointed. The demand was enormous once again, and the situation almost resembles that around toilet paper at the beginning of the Corona pandemic.
Wait, toilet paper and PS5? Do you remember when the Corona pandemic was really starting to flare up? How supermarkets and pharmacies were emptied? How people stood in front of empty toilet paper shelves or argued at the checkout?
The pre-orders for the PlayStation 5, where the second wave started and quickly ended today, strongly resemble that. Because here too, just like months ago, there is fighting over supplies, rationing, and despite everything, people are hoarding and selling at exorbitant prices on eBay.
It had already become clear that it could be tight and the PS5 could sell out. But that it would happen so quickly? And who would have thought that Sony’s new next-gen console would become the new toilet paper?
By the way, while many are just glad to be able to pre-order a PS5, a US rapper might have better luck: PS5: Players speculate – Does a US rapper already have one at home?
2nd Pre-order Wave: All dressed up, but it didn’t help
This is how the second wave of PS5 pre-orders went: While the second wave was initiated in a slightly more orderly fashion compared to the first, it quickly turned into chaos just likethe first one did.
Sony announced days ago that supplies could be expected. Yesterday, some retailers like MediaMarkt and Otto had already announced via Twitter that the second wave would start this morning. Players and interested parties had more time than the first time when the new pre-orders were announced.
However, the process of the second wave ultimately did not really differ from the first time. At Otto, pre-orders were announced between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM but started earlier. At Amazon, it went so fast that many didn’t even notice the start and that it was all over again – within minutes. Activated notifications were essentially useless for many and did not reach everyone.
Additionally, there were technical problems again. Whether at MediaMarkt, Saturn, or Otto – the pages were quickly overloaded or even inaccessible. Orders were mass canceled in the shopping cart or during the payment process. Some managed to place an order, but no charge was made, and no confirmation email arrived. Then the PS5 was quickly sold out there too, and only a few interested parties managed to secure a console.
In short: Although the earlier announcement initially made today go slightly more orderly, many interested parties still ended up empty-handed (bringing us back to toilet paper). Either the technology failed, or the PS5 was sold out so quickly that despite (far) ahead of time updating of retailer websites, people didn’t even notice it had started again.
I pre-ordered a PS5 – Is it secure? Even though you can of course rejoice: It depends. You should definitely check your account, your order status with the retailer, and also your emails – and keep an eye on it in the coming days.
Because even with the second pre-order wave, there were massive technical problems. And these already led to numerous preorders being canceled by some retailers after a seemingly successful pre-order during the first round: PS5: Pre-order chaos continues – Now hundreds of pre-orders are being canceled
I couldn’t pre-order the PS5. Will there be more stock soon? It’s hard to say right now. Because aside from the second wave that just occurred, Sony has also promised more consoles for the end of the year, likely for the immediate Christmas business.
However, when exactly and in what amounts these will be available again is currently unknown. In addition, there are recurring rumors that both Sony with the PS5 and Microsoft with the Xbox Series X and the Series S could have supply issues until spring 2021.
How it will actually look at the end of the year remains to be seen.
What about the release? That is also currently unknown. Many are nervous because they are still without a PS5 even after the second wave, and now fear that the release could look similar both online and in local markets.
Others, however, are taking it easy and remember how they sometimes walked into MediaMarkt a day before the official release of the PS4 and were able to buy one of the many stacked consoles there – by the way, also days after the release. They assume that it could go the same way with the PS5.
Who is ultimately right remains truly uncertain. But the demand is still huge even after the second wave, and we can only hope that Sony will provide clarity by the end of the year.
How do you see the whole situation? Were you able to secure a PS5? Did you come up empty? Can you understand all the fuss? Or are you waiting patiently?
By the way: Although the PS5 has been extensively presented, even managed to be pre-ordered in now two waves, and is even sold out, there are still many important questions regarding Sony’s new next-gen console that have not been answered. Our shooter expert Sven Galitzki wants to know a timely answer to these 7 questions. What about you?
