What It Takes to Snag a New Gaming Console GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO News > Gaming

What It Takes to Snag a New Gaming Console

Get creative and have lots of cash

By Sascha Brodsky Sascha Brodsky Senior Tech Reporter Macalester College Columbia University Sascha Brodsky is a freelance journalist based in New York City. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times and many other publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 5, 2021 01:01PM EST Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Gaming Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming

Key Takeaways

The continuing shortage of the latest gaming consoles means users have to get creative to get their hands on one.Users are traveling long distances and turning to Twitter feeds, scalpers, and auction sites to find items in stock.If you’re desperate to get your hands on a console immediately, you might have to pay a markup. Microsoft Buying a next-generation gaming console takes more than cash these days. Shortages of Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Sony’s Playstation 5 means gamers must go to extreme lengths to get their hands on the latest devices. Users are traveling long distances and turning to Twitter feeds, scalpers, and auction sites to find items in stock. "Because scalpers are using bots to buy up all the stock in seconds, regular people are paying double, and sometimes even triple, the cost of a PS5 just to get their hands on one," Rex Freiberger, CEO of Gadget Review, said in an email interview. "Right now, you can sign up for every notification, put one into your cart as soon as you get the alert, and have it disappear by the time you complete checkout."

Long-Distance Travel to Nab a Console

Josh Chambers, an editor for the site HowToGame, has heard of people travelling cross-country to get their hands on a new console, as well as paying a premium. "It seems like those who want a new console on launch are willing to pay double or even triple the retail price of the consoles, especially true with the still scarce PS5," he said in an email interview. Chambers got his own Xbox Series X on launch thanks to having a game plan, but he says it’s only because he was prepared. "I had browser tabs open on various retailers such as Amazon, and refreshed these constantly when launch times came into effect." Consoles are hard to get due to a mix of under-production and scalpers, Freiberger said. "Resellers are using bots to buy up tens of thousands of dollars worth of units to sell for a markup," he added. Christopher J. Ferguson, a psychology professor at Stetson University, knows first-hand how hard it is to get a new console. He’s been trying to get a PS5 for his research lab. "Normally, we send a requisition through and the university will order one," he said in an email interview. "That's not possible right now. So we're having to figure out if the university [is] ok with ordering a pricey one via eBay, or reimbursing me if I stand outside a Target at 5 a.m. one morning to get one the second it hits the shelves. I didn't order one right away, figuring there'd be some backlog, but it's amazing how long this shortage has lasted."

Tips to Score a Console

You’ll need a mix of luck, strategy, and persistence to buy a console, experts say. "Right now, you basically just have to turn on notifications, have everything ready to check out (so keep a payment profile and shipping info saved), and hope you can click the button fast enough," Freiberger said. It seems like those who want a new console on launch are willing to pay double or even triple the retail price of the consoles. If you’re desperate to get your hands on a console as soon as possible, you might have to pay a markup. Devin Pickell, a gaming writer and long-time Xbox owner, recommends the resale site StockX. "That's how I got mine at only $100 more than resale value," he said in an email interview. "It is dubbed the ‘stock market of things.’ There, you can negotiate pricing for your new console and monitor pricing charts to see when an item is hot versus cold. StockX verifies each purchase and handles the process with ease. I recommend this over eBay or other sites where the person selling you the console has minimal liability." Ferguson said he hasn’t been able to find a "magic answer" to getting a console. "The two easy solutions are to suck up the higher prices on an auction site where the higher prices will push down demand," he said. "Or get to know someone who works at a Target, GameStop or Best Buy, who can tell you when to wait outside a store in the morning to be the first one to pluck one off the shelves." Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Xbox All Access: What It Is and How to Use It How to Get a Great Deal on the iPod touch PlayStation 6: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Which Console Is Right for You? How to Live Stream on Twitch How to Sell Your iPad (Get the Right Price, Etc.) The 8 Best Current Gaming Consoles of 2022 by Lifewire Xbox Series X Review: One Power-Packed 4K Console Xbox Series S Review: Impressive Hardware, Tiny Package 10 Best Online Auction Websites for Good Deals The 7 Best Online Car Auction Sites of 2022 The 9 Best Liquidation Auction Sites of 2022 How to Speed Up Xbox Series X or S Downloads Best Online Real Estate Auction Sites Sony PlayStation 5 Review: More Than Just More Powerful How to Use a PS5 Controller on Xbox Series X or S Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies