If you're among the hopefuls who want to get a PlayStation 5 (PS5), then you're in luck. The wait might be about to end.
Sony's latest gaming console has been rumored to be available on store shelves in select retailers in the US and the U.K from February 21 to 27.
PS5 Restock Update in the US
According to Jake Randall's tweet, Walmart sent emails to Walmart+ members informing them that it is bringing in PS5 restocks on February 24. However, you would need a Walmart+ membership to grab one of these gaming consoles for yourself.
Meanwhile, it is rumored that GameStop will also be restocking their shelves with PS5 this week, per a Gaming Intel report. While the arrival date of the new stock is still uncertain, FastAlerts.io tweeted that the company behind the January 2021 stock craze would have a fresh drop on February 21 at 11 am ET. However, a PowerUP Rewards Pro membership might be required to get a hold on a console.
The store previously had a restock of Xbox Ones on February 18 but was sold out in a few days, as reported by Tom's Guide.
Target could also be expecting a PS5 restock soon. Jake Randall tweeted on February 18 that the store could soon be expecting new PS5s to sell, adding a picture that seems to indicate Target's inventory for this week.
You may remember that Target previously had a fresh restock of PS5s on January 6, per Push Square's article.
PS5 Restock Update in the UK
Across the big pond, British hopefuls could have a PS5 for themselves from Amazon. According to PS5 Stock UK's tweet, the online retail would be restocking PS5s either on February 22 or 23 around 8 am - 9:30 am local time.
Unfortunately, Amazon could limit PS5 purchases to Prime members only like what GameStop and Walmart did.
GAME was reported to have new stocks for PS5s on February 18, per The Sun, but it has since been sold out as shown on GAME's official website.
Why Are PS5 Consoles Hard to Find?
PS5s, like all gaming consoles, need semiconductors to function. Unfortunately, semiconductors are in short supply due to the current shortage.
The shortage occurred during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Back then, there was an abnormally high demand for electronics such as tablets, laptops and other devices to make working or studying from home possible. Semiconductor supply was also affected by the shortage of workers in foundries, the trade war between the U.S. and China, and top semiconductor companies outsourcing the fabrication of their chips to Asian companies like Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, according to a CNBC news article tackling the topic.
The shortage forced Sony to continue selling its last-gen gaming console, the PlayStation 4 (PS4), to reduce the strain from the production and shipping of PS5 units, per a Bloomberg report. The Japanese electronics company added that continuing the production of PS4s also maintains its relationship with production partners.
The PS4's production should have ended in 2021, but it continued either way due to it being more cost-efficient and its use of less advanced chips.
