GameStop is selling PS5 consoles on Friday for Pro members and on Saturday for everyone
Retailer confirms its latest PS5 in-store sale event
GameStop will be selling PlayStation 5 consoles in stores this Friday and Saturday.
“Pro Members get early access to PS5 Bundles on 8.19,” it said. “Quantities will be limited and bundles become available for everyone on 8.20.”
The fact that GameStop is opening up sales to everyone on Saturday suggests it has a relatively large amount of stock available, as the retailer’s PS5 sales events are usually reserved exclusively for Pro members.
Starting at $14.99 per year, a PowerUp Rewards Pro membership includes loyalty rewards, extra trade in credit, a Game Informer subscription, plus access to exclusive offers and events.
During a PlayStation business briefing in May, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan claimed the company was experiencing “unprecedented demand” for PS5.
According to Sony, three US retailer events saw PS5s being sold at a rate of nearly 1,000 units per minute.
“The one area where we’ve fallen short of expectation is in our ability to supply the market with consoles,” Ryan said. “Covid-19 took its toll on our supply chain in 2021. The situation is starting to improve, although Covid-related uncertainties persist, specifically in the impact that ongoing lockdowns in Shanghai and Beijing might have, but things are definitely improving.
“Right now, we’re planning on a significant ramp up in PS5 production this year, allowing us to close the gap versus PS4 in its own third year, then to overtake PS4’s year four installed base within FY 2023 [the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2024].
“Beyond that, we’re planning for heavy further increases in console production, taking us to production levels that we’ve never achieved before.”
Sony is currently taking registrations for the chance to buy PS5 consoles directly from the company.
Registration is now open for players based in the US, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.