Exclusive: PS5 restock at GameStop stores this weekend
The next PS5 restock in the US has been confirmed, and it'll include Madden bundled with the console at GameStop stores this weekend.
The next PS5 restock date is this weekend at GameStop stores, with both the PS5 Disc and PS5 Digital console in stock on Friday, August 19, and also Saturday, August 20 (if consoles are left over). The maximum you’ll pay is $645, which is actually lower than previous GameStop PS5 bundles. The Disc version of the Sony PlayStation 5 will come bundled with Madden NFL 23. This makes up for the fact that the anticipated Walmart PS5 restock for August hasn’t happened – yet. But it’s coming.
You should also follow my PS5 restock Twitter tracker, as I track all US stores. I also wrote in-depth PS5 restock guides for Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc.
How to turn on live PS5 restock alerts
1️⃣ Follow PS5 restock Twitter tracker Matt Swider on Twitter
🔔 Follow and turn on notifications for immediate alerts
2️⃣ Sign up for The Shortcut newsletter below
✅ Paid subscribers get early PS5 bundle info, prices and inventory numbers
✅ There’s a full guide that took me hours (days, actually) to write
✅ You can always ask me tech questions 1:1
3️⃣ Check stores in the US
Amazon PS5 Disc – you can get Amazon PS5 restock invitations
Amazon PS5 Disc Horizon bundle – also get a PS5 invite here
Walmart PS5 Disc: the Walmart PS5 restock may happen early August
Target PS5 restock – daily at a few local stores (but must order it online)
Best Buy: last in stock during a Best Buy PS5 restock last week
GameStop PS5 bundles: still in stock at some stores in the US
Sony Direct PS5 queue – how to sign up for the invite email
Ethics disclosure: The Shortcut is supported by you. When you purchase through some of the links, I may earn a small affiliate commission.
The PlayStation 5 console won’t be out of stock forever in the US, or at least that’s what Sony has promised when it said shipments of the PS5 are improving in the latter half of 2022. It’s needed for both consumers and Sony’s bottom line.
The lack of next-gen consoles on store shelves is part of the reason that video game sales slumped. And, we’ve heard this PS5 restock news about more stores getting inventory and it, and yet both Sony and US retailers haven’t been able to deliver. We’ll see if the company is able to deliver enough PlayStation 5 consoles for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
⛔ Which PS5 stores in the US can’t be trusted?
🐦 Twitter: never buy PS5 from Twitter ‘sellers’. They are ALL scams
🤓 Silicon Nerd: I’ve helped 222,000. Never seen anyone get it here
😒 Shady online storefronts: many went up overnight at launch, especially ones that only accept PayPal, cash or non-traceable forms of payment
🤨 Clones of me: Whether it’s me or a celebrity, beware of impersonators. I’ll never sell you any console.
📦 Amazon PS5 restock via invitation only
🔮 Next PS5 restock: Invitations went out to select customers in August 2022
🧠 What to do: Sign up for Amazon PS5 invite emails
🆕 Amazon switches to an invite system
The last two Amazon PS5 restock events happened the day after Amazon Prime Day deals wrapped up and on August 1, both via invitations sent to customers by email. The number of people mentioning that they got the PlayStation 5 console through Amazon is low, so it seems as if it’s drip-feeding PS5 restock invites rather slowly.
🗺️ Basics for PS5 at Amazon
You’ll need Amazon Prime to buy PlayStation 5, but even with one, Amazon remains the hardest retailer to purchase from. Like Walmart, it’s very popular. Unlike Walmart Plus, tons of people have a Prime membership. Amazon also remains a favorite target of resellers’ bots, even after going behind a paywall.
🤫 Secret tip 1: Click “See all buying options” instead of add-to-cart
Whenever I see PS5 in stock at Amazon (outside of the new invite method), it never has the normal add-to-cart button. The price is displayed in small text alongside the words “See All buying options” or if that’s not there “New & Used”. Click that button and a pop-out menu will show all of the options, which should include the PS5 at MSRP (if not, refresh until it shows up).
🤫 Secret tip 2: Add-to-cart trick (see the pic above)
When it’s in stock, you can skip the add-to-cart button altogether and select the “Add to List” button. A pop-up will ask you if you want to “View List” and selecting that will whisk you to a different page (that’s a good thing). From your wish list page, you can add it to your cart. The theory here is this page isn’t getting hammered with traffic and it’s easier to get it in your cart this way.
Walmart PS5 restock August 2022
🌟 Walmart PS5 (last PS5 restock was on June 2, 2022)
🚨 You needed Walmart Plus (paid version, not the free trial)
How?: To buy it next time, scroll down to the “early access” to reveal the “Starts paid membership button.”
Each Walmart PS5 restock takes place about five to ten weeks after the prior restock, so you should expect the next one to take place this month, in August 2022. The most popular day of the week is Thursday and the most popular times are 12pm ET or 3pm ET. The biggest constant is that each Walmart PS5 restock in 2022 has required the paid version of Walmart Plus, which you can get below.
Before it happens again, you should read up on the full Walmart PS5 restock to get step-by-step directions (written for June’s restock that has already happened, but still highly relevant for August).
PlayStation 5 restock live stream
I always do a Walmart PS5 restock live stream showing exactly how to buy the PS5 from Walmart. It really helps because you can ask questions in the chat and you’ll see how I check out. Here’s the last previously live video on YouTube for June 2022:
🌟 Walmart PS5 restock: next date and time
🔮 Next PS5 restock: August 2022 with Walmart Plus
🧠 What to do: Follow me on Twitter and watch my PS5 restock live stream where I illustrate how to check out from Walmart and get Walmart+
The last few Walmart PS5 restock events required a paid Walmart+ (the free trial wouldn’t work). There are two things people who aren’t The Shortcut subscribers in the know keep asking me: “Do I need Walmart+?” Yes. “Do I need to have the paid version instead of the free trial?” Yes. Access to hard-to-buy items like the PlayStation 5 won’t work on the Walmart+ free trial.
🔢 Steps to buying PS5 at Walmart next time
Get a Walmart+ membership for $12.95/mo or $98 (if you’re going to use it, the annual plan is a better value). Scroll down to reveal the free trial.
Get my help: follow me on Twitter – I’ll count down to the Walmart PS5 restock with siren-filled Twitter alerts and I’ll provide links through these notifications
Don’t go for PS5 Digital if it’s even in stock. Through my links, I helped 14,000 get a console per week in December. 14x as many PS5 Discs sell compared to either PS5 Digital or Xbox Series X. Think about that.
Refresh the Walmart PS5 links I provide at 2:58am EST steadily for one minute until you drop into a queue (the page will change with a center-aligned box telling you your time)
At that moment, move on to a different device or browser (so that the cookie files aren’t shared – otherwise Walmart will just reflect your queue spot you just secured in Step 4). You have less of a shot here, so feel free to try PS5 Digital, Xbox Series X or use this as a way to increase your chances for PS5 Disc.
🗺️ The basics
Walmart PS5 restocks are always online, and recently have been locked behind the Walmart+ membership for $12.95/mo to prevent scripted bots from scooping up all of the consoles. It doesn’t completely stop all of the bots, but it certainly helps.
You won’t find PS5 in Walmart stores – except random stores in Texas where rebel employees don’t seem to follow the rules of headquarters every once in a while.
Why is Walmart a challenge? Popularity. I see more activity on my tweets for Walmart than any other retailer (122,000+ click through the links in one tweet). Also, web traffic for ‘PS5 restock’ spikes when it’s Walmart restocking the console. They tend to announce their PS5 restocks ahead of time, which certainly hypes up their PS5 sale.
⏲️ Timing of restocks
Online-only: It’s usually one of three times: 12pm ET, 3pm ET, or rarely 9pm ET.
I usually know about a Walmart PS5 restock anywhere from two days in advance to 90 minutes in advance.
Besides Walmart, I have a Sony Direct PS5 queue guide and Target PS5 stock info, but recent changes to Target have made the Sony console harder to come by.
The PS5 restock is caused by the global ship shortage that has yet to be solved. Sony also keeps launching new games, including Gran Turismo 7 and Horizon: Forbidden West in 2022, and new hardware, key among the announcements will be the PSVR 2 pre-order date. In June, Sony relaunched its online service with the top-tier PlayStation Plus Premium plan, so the PlayStation Plus discount code remains a must-have PS5 accessory for new console buyers for even more PS Plus free games.
GameStop PS5 bundle (prior restock)
Here are the leaked GameStop PS5 bundles from the past two weekends; two PS5 Disc and one PS5 Digital (although inventory for PS5 Digital remains extremely rare, it may be more possible to snag since the included game bumps up the price a bit).
it may still be in stock at some GameStop locations in the United States. I recommend calling your local GameStop before heading to the store.
GameStop PS5 bundle #1 – $705 to $720
PS5 Disc – $499
PS5 DualSense controller (your choice) – $69.99 to $74.99
Elden Ring or Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart $59.99 or $69.99
$75 GameStop gift card – obviously $70
GameStop PS5 bundle #3 – $710 to $715
PS5 Disc Horizon: Forbidden West bundle – $549.99
PS5 DualSense controller (your choice) – $69.99 to $74.99
Far Cry 6 – $20
$75 GameStop gift card – obviously $75
This PS5 bundle adds Horizon: Forbidden West and there’s no PS Plus membership required like in the PS5 Digital Horizon bundle below (which is a good thing as there’s always a PlayStation Plus discount code for a better value).
And then there’s one rare PS5 Digital console bundle:
GameStop PS5 Digital bundle #1 – $610 – $615
PS5 Digital Edition Horizon Forbidden West bundle – $449.99
PS5 DualSense controller (Galaxy Purple or White) – $74.99
$30 PlayStation Gift Card – $30
PlayStation Plus 12-month subscription $60
What to buy with a PS5 restock
Upgrade to the best SSD for PS5 (avoid the new WD Black SN850 SSD)
Pick six PS5 controller colors – now six official colors
Comparison time: PS5 Disc vs Digital – choose wisely
VR pre-orders soon: PSVR 2 – eventually
Buy the best PS5 games ranked
Next PS5 restock time
There have been four PS5 restock Twitter tracker alerts in the last seven days, with GameStop, Sony Direct and Antonline having the Sony console nationwide in the US. Target has been supplying the PS5 Disc locally at only a few stores. it’s harder to send alerts about these, but you can narrow down the time to the early morning if you read up on our Target PS5 restock guide.
The GameStop PS5 restock time is always 9am local time on weekends in the US – and it happens at least once a month (note: some store locations open as late as 11am or 12pm). A few sell out on day one, but many locations (like in the outer boroughs of NYC) still have a few bundles if you’re willing to shell out more than $700.
If your local GameStop store says the PS5 is out of stock, just wait for my Twitter tracker alert for the next round of PS5 consoles.
Be like this person who follows my PS5 restock Twitter tracker:
🛑 GameStop PS5 restock
🔮 Next GameStop PS5 restock: PS5 sold out at some GameStop stores, but not others
🧠 What to do: Call your local GameStop store location to see if they have any Sony consoles leftover, especially PS5 Disc
🆕 What’s new
The GameStop PS5 restock happened twice in the last month, as stores are now getting the console in smaller batches. The first restock at GameStop happened two weeks ago and we see more stores have it again this past weekend. Xbox will be in stock at some GameStop stores, too, but as our PS5 vs Xbox Series X comparison shows, there’s a gulf between how readily available these two consoles are today (and it’s hurting Sony’s PS5 sales).
⏲️ But what time if it happens online again?
GameStop usually often had online restocks on Tuesdays at 11am EST/8am PST. Last time it was at 11am ET, so it’s important to get that Twitter alert 🚨, especially I can usually send out a PS5 restock Twitter tracker alert 90 minutes before the actual GameStop PS5 restock.
🏆 Why it’s your best shot in 2022
GameStop is your best bet to get a console. Why? It deters resellers by only selling game-and-accessory-included PS5 bundles ($650 for PS5 Digital, $750 for PS5 Disc) and requiring a low barrier to entry; a $15 PowerUp Pro annual membership.
It’s actually a really good thing. It goes to real gamers who intended to buy games anyway.
GameStop PS5 restock: what to do
While I suggested that it’s best to wait in line one to two hours in advance (and that was a good idea in some parts of the United States), not all GameStop stores sold out of Sony PS5 consoles on days one and two. This is due to the fact that GameStop forces its customers to purchase a bundle, a long-held tradition that has prevented resellers from buying up all of the PlayStation 5 consoles.
Does my GameStop sell PS5?
How will you know if your GameStop store location has a PS5 restock going on? The night before an official GameStop PS5 restock, your local store closes and, if the store is participating in the resupply, the employees will post a paper sign detailing which bundles they’ll have at their store, how many will be in stock (again, it’s an average of eight per store nationwide but can vary), and how much it’ll cost.
Warning: Some stores have been known to force customers to get a one- or two-year warranty. That’s never part of the official restock information I get, and I think some managers like to make their sales quota off the back of PS5 demand (it’s happened to me before, too when the Xbox Series X price was much higher than it is now). A few stores are even trying to force customers to buy their 4KTV inventory laying around, bringing the PS5 restock price to $900.
Will GameStop sell PS5 online?
No, all but one GameStop PS5 restock in 2022 has been exclusive to local stores; it hasn’t been sold online for months. You can get a PowerUp Rewards Pro membership ahead of time online, although stores do allow you to buy it at the store, too.
Why trust my PS5 restock expertise?
How do I know about the next PS5 restock? I’ve taken my 24 years of tech journalism experience and basically started to ever-so-kindly nag my reliable retail and supply chain sources. Then I tweet what I know and do in-depth guides on The Shortcut.
Why should you trust my PS5 restock tracker updates? I’ve helped 220,000 of my one million Twitter followers get a next-gen gaming console thanks to my tweet alerts and my old-school reporting.
In a single day in March 2022, exactly 8,703 got a next-gen console from my links during a recent Walmart PS5 restock
🏷️ Best Buy PS5 restock
💻 Last PS5 restock: July 12, 2022
🧠 What to do next time: Wait for an alert. Be prepared to splash some cash for Totaltech if you’re willing to part with $199/year. Decide that now.
🗺️ The basics
Every Best Buy PS5 restock is a lot like Target – you purchase online and pick up the console at your local store. But in this case, you pick it up about five days later. That’s because the console you are purchasing isn’t sitting in an individual store, but at a regional warehouse. At the time of purchase, it’s then shipped to your local store (hence the five-day delay).
🏷️ Do you need Best Buy Totaltech for PS5?
Of all the retailers’ paywalls, Totaltech is the hardest to swallow. At $199, you get free GeekSquad IT support (though don’t buy into it think this includes fixing hardware parts), extended warranties, and discounts, but there’s no monthly option. My followers have gotten away with canceling their membership (it’s prorated so they pay for the month), but this isn’t something I can say with authority will always work.
Best Buy’s $199 barrier-to-entry has slowed down the bots – sometimes the PS5 console just sits there with no takers for several minutes – but it’s not a guarantee. I bought Totaltech during the last restock and got no console.
⏲️ Timing for Best Buy PS5 restocks
Best Buy has consistently done PS5 restock events during normal working hours on weekdays, from 9:55am ET to 5:05pm ET, according to my restocking tracking data. No weekends and no nighttime restocks have happened in 2021 or 2022. Only once has it had an in-store restock (back on September 23 of last year).
🎯 Target PS5: restock time
🔮 Next PS5 restock: A few stores almost daily but must be bought online
🏬 Last PS5 in-store restock: Doesn’t do in-store purchases for PS5 (for real)
🧠 What to do: If the Target PS5 restock is ever nationwide again, wait for a Twitter alert from me. It’s always mornings, Wednesday through Friday (though we never know which day) between 7am EST and 8am EST
🗺️ The basics:
Target does online orders with same-day in-store pickups (don’t worry, you have a few days to make the pickup if you can’t make it on day one). It feels great to see my followers smiling with their console-in-hand photos almost immediately after ordering the PlayStation 5 in the morning. You can go from wanting a PS5 for over a year to playing Ratchet & Clank in a matter of hours.
With Target, you’re buying online, but competing with your neighbors as you select a local store. Usually, when enough PlayStation 5 consoles trickle into the back rooms of its individual stores, it does a nationwide online restock (please don’t go to Target stores to pester Target employees, as PS5 is only sold online at Target).
⏲️ Target PS5 restock time
It’s always early, between 7am and 8am EST, and that’s even earlier on the West Coast, but at 4am PST, very few of your neighbors are up, so you have a better shot than anyone else in the United States. In 2021, the day of the week has shifted, but it’s always been a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday for the past 12 months.
🤫 Secret tip: Pay with PayPal or Apple Pay to bypass the Target servers
Pay with PayPal or Apple Pay at Target. Target’s normal credit card processing fields are what everyone else goes for as it’s right there on that page, but that page is always getting hammered with traffic during a PS5 restock. Being whisked out to PayPal’s stronger servers (an option fewer people try) is the way to go.
🤫 Secret tip 2: don’t buy PS5 Digital (14x less inventory than PS5 Disc)
See our PS5 Disc vs Digital comparison. The biggest mistake people make during a Target PS5 restock is waiting for the PS5 Digital version (which almost always comes second) and letting the PS5 Disc console pass them by. It’s $100 cheaper for PS5 Digital, but inventory just isn’t there at any of the retailers. I’ve checked their inventory (thanks to Target sources) – it’s sometimes 40:1 at Target stores with PS5 Disc more available.
💿 Sony Direct PS5 queue
🔮 Next Sony Direct PS5 restock: July 20, 2022 at 2pm ET
📥 What to do: Look out for Sony’s email invite in your inbox, but also keep watching my PS5 restock Twitter tracker for public queues, which have been happening more often in June 2022
✉️ Invite email will be from this address: email@email.playstation.com
📚 Link to register for the Sony Direct email invite: sign up right here
🗺️ The basics
Sony Direct is the official store for the PlayStation brand and it gets things right with email invites sent randomly to PSN users – you can register for it today. Unlike other publications, I’ll let you know this truth: this doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the console (you’ll be put in a virtual queue), and only once has Sony Direct done a public queue since changing up its registration system. I’ll alert you if it opens up again.
⏲️ Timing of the Sony Direct restock
The invite-only PS5 restocks at Sony Direct have happened on random weekdays at 2pm EST/11am PST, but you need that coveted email invite. Public queues are rare, but we did see one last month with a few consoles for sale to PSN users.
🧮 I’ve detected the pattern:
Among my followers (lots of data): Email invites go out the late afternoon before a restock, so check your email for sender email@email.playstation.com when I alert you about an invite-only PS5 restock from Sony Direct. Dozens of people have come back to tell me, “I almost missed it. Thanks!”
Check your email for sender email@email.playstation.com. Dozens of people have come back to tell me, “I almost missed it. Thanks!”
I always see some nice wins from people who reply to my alerts. They have said things like it was “smooth sailing⛵” and “Easiest way to get it.”
🤔 “But what can I do to increase my chances?”
There’s nothing you can do to increase your chances of getting an email invite (I get asked this question hundreds of times a week). But please chec
Will they ever restock the PS5?
It seems like the PS5 is always out of stock, especially because, with the exception of a nice two-week inventory splash in June, the Sony console stock has been so light in 2022 compared to last year before Black Friday. There’s no sign that this is going to change in the coming weeks. That’s why my PS5 restock Twitter tracker continues to be a vital source of information for people without a PS5 in hand.
The good news is that while PS5 supply has slowed, demand isn’t as high as it was during 2021. It’s down 33.6%, according to my exclusive data tracking via social media engagement of one million followers (December vs the last 28 days).
Why the PS5 shortage?
While it’s getting easier to successfully find a PS5 restock, it’s still far from perfect. Delays are due to the ongoing global chip shortage affecting all electronics, according to supply chain analysts interviewed by The Shortcut. Lockdowns have affected both chip production and shipping times across the world, though your precious iPhone 14 release date by September 23 seems to be on track (some companies are paying for something called “chip priority”).
It’s not just woes for Sony. US consumers attempting to purchase a PS5 Disc or PS5 Digital Edition console during a restock often get beaten by scripted bots employed by resellers. This has caused PS5 prices and time to get the console to skyrocket.
I have interviewed resellers who use bots to check out rare items and they are able to purchase the PS5 and Xbox before the add-to-cart button is ever shown to normal consumers. Retailers, which don’t make much money on the PlayStation 5, have very few options; remedies they come up with to fortify their websites are often figured out by resellers’ updates to PS5 bots within a matter of hours.
Updated: August 15, 2022
Hello Matthew, for your paid subscription service would it be possible to maybe let us know like 15 minutes before you text your twitter army? I feel those us of who are supporting you should have a small advantage. Just my two cents.
Got mine today thanks to your early warning! Thanks Matt! Kids will be happy this Christmas!!