MP bill takes aim at PlayStation 5 price scalping Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. MP bill takes aim at PlayStation 5 price scalping Green benchmarks. News by Emma Kent Contributor Updated on 9 Feb 2021 55 comments Following the creation of an Early Day Motion to discuss console scalping in the UK, it seems MPs are now beginning to draft legislation to tackle the issue - although I wouldn't get your hopes up for anything to become law in the near future. Named the Gaming Hardware (Automated Purchase and Resale) Bill 2019-21, the bill has been introduced to the House of Commons by Scottish National Party MP Douglas Chapman, who hopes to tackle console scalping in a similar manner to ticket touting. The bill was presented to Parliament on 3rd February, and is currently being prepared for publication (no date has yet been set for the second reading and debate in the Commons). Watch on YouTube Eurogamer Next-Gen News Cast - Will PlayStation Studios publish more games on Xbox? The bill is what's known as a Private Member's bill, meaning the MP introducing it is not a cabinet member, and as such it stands a lower chance of passing than government-backed Public bills. Still, Private Members' bills can help draw attention to an issue, and lead to legislation more indirectly. You can keep track of the bill's progress over here. Chapman told Sky News he hoped the bill would encourage the government to "take responsibility" on the issue. "We've proposed that a similar legislative process [to laws tackling ticket touting] be brought forward to ensure that consumers can purchase gaming consoles and computer components at no more than the manufacturers' recommended price, and that resale of goods purchased by automated bots be made illegal," Chapman said. In response to the Early Day Motion which has now been signed by a total of 32 members, minister of state for digital and culture Caroline Dinenage said officials are "discussing this issue with the trade association for the video games industry. "We know that bulk purchasing through automated bots is a concern for some of their members who we understand are currently looking at any further actions they can take to prevent these behaviours and are working with their retailers to improve experiences for customers." The scalping of both consoles and graphics cards has hit the headlines over the past few months, and with console shortages set to continue long into 2021, the issue shows no sign of slowing down. At the end of last month Argos found a group of scalpers had managed to scoop up its PlayStation 5 stock before it was even officially placed on sale, while GAME played down a scalping group's claim it had picked up 2000 PlayStation 5 consoles in one day. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 4 Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 7 Lady Dimitrescu will be a tad smaller in Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries DLC Level the playing field. 1 Overwatch 2 suffers another DDoS attack and character roster bugs Mei Mei. 13 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090: a new level in graphics performance The Digital Foundry video review - and how the new GPU champion delivers for 4K 120fps gaming. Feature Evercore Heroes wants to wind people up the right way "There's less rage at them, because they didn't end your fun." Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 4 Genshin Impact Path of Gleaming Jade dates, login event rewards Including other anniversary rewards and how to claim them. Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store