Buying a PlayStation 5 no longer has to be an uphill battle. Thanks to the increased availability of Sony’s next-gen console, there are multiple options for bringing home a PS5. While availability is sometimes limited to bundles that come with a game, this is still a great opportunity to bring home a console relatively stress-free. We’ll be watching the internet to see where, when and how you can buy the PS5 (with a disc drive) or the PS5 Digital Edition, as well as bundles whose price hasn’t increased.
The demand for this console is still high, with no guarantees that the stock will be available for a long time. Nevertheless, we’ll do our best to keep this article updated with the latest stock alerts and tell you where to look.
Where can I buy a PS5 right now?
If you want to take home a PS5 today, you best jump for the God of War Ragnarok bundle. The $559.99 bundle includes the disc version of the PlayStation 5 with a digital copy of the excellent God of War Ragnarok. At the moment it is available directly from Sony, walmartand PC Richardsas well as in the shop at select Target and Best Buy locations.
This PlayStation 5 bundle comes with the disc-based version of the PS5 with a digital copy of God of War Ragnaroka title exclusive to Sony’s hardware.
Most major retailers stock consoles and bundles both online and in physical stores intermittently, but availability may fluctuate based on your local store. It’s important to note that some stores won’t ship your console either, so make sure the store you select is within a reasonable distance if you’re planning to pick one up. You also need a verified account with these sellers to checkout.
Restock events can happen at any time. In addition, retailers such as Best Buy combat demand for this console by occasionally restricting access to Totaltech members. There’s a similar program for Walmart Plus members, where premium members get a first shot at fresh inventory. If you’re trying to get a console through Amazon, you’ll need to sign up for an invitation first, but you don’t have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to take advantage of that process. Being a member doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a console, although it may improve your chances.
Opt for a bundle with games such as God of War Ragnarok or Horizon Forbidden West is a perfectly viable option for getting a console without paying a premium. While the Horizon Forbidden West bundles are currently hard to find, the God of War Ragnarok bundle is still relatively easy to pick up from a variety of retailers. Bundles will be made available through the PlayStation Direct store and other retailers, while new bundles will become available alongside the release of new PlayStation exclusives. Whether it’s because of their higher price point or because they come packaged with a game someone might not want, bundles tend to sell out less quickly than standalone consoles.
Below we’ve rounded up the PS5 landing pages for various retailers if you’d like to check stock availability for standalone consoles or bundles.
What accessories should I buy for the PS5?
The PlayStation 5 includes all the basics you need to get started (minus the games, of course). However, you may want to consider purchasing a few extra accessories if you want to get the most out of your new console.
First, there’s the controller. Every PS5 includes one DualSense wireless controller, but owning at least one extra controller has some advantages, such as if you plan to play local co-op games with a friend or family member. Or, if you’re like us and want to keep playing your game but don’t want to be tethered to the charging cable, you can keep playing with a second controller while the other charges.
The controller designed for the PS5, with adaptive triggers, a built-in microphone and haptic feedback technologies.
Since PlayStation’s DualSense Edge Controller doesn’t launch until late January, the Scuf reflex is still the best option if you’re looking for a “professional” controller for your PS5. Yes, you can buy three regular DualSense wireless controllers for less than the price of a single Scuf Reflex, but Sony’s base model doesn’t offer the same level of customization as Scuf. In addition to the comfortable grips and paddles on the back, almost every part of the controller can be treated with a wide variety of colors and designs, making it a truly unique piece. Read our review.
The Scuf Reflex is a pricey, customizable controller that’s compatible with PlayStation 5 and PC.
Sony’s official gaming headphones are a great way to experience the spatial audio of the PlayStation 5. The Pulse 3D has a clean, minimalist aesthetic and is still one of our favorite gaming headsets thanks to its comfortable fit and solid sound quality.
Sony’s own wireless gaming headset was created to showcase the PS5’s 3D audio effect and will also work on the PS4.
The PS5 HD camera is a useful accessory for those interested in using their PS5 to live stream video games or broadcast their gameplay with friends. It includes dual 1080p lenses and allows you to remove the background from your camera’s feed and replace it with something else.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 HD camera records and streams 1080p and has a built-in stand for mounting above or below your TV. The PS5’s software also lets you crop or remove your background for picture-in-picture streams.
We highly recommend subscribing to PlayStation Plus if you haven’t already; Besides taking advantage of some online gaming functionalities, PlayStation Plus offers a bunch of extra incentives, PS5 owners in particular can access the PlayStation Plus Collection, a digital library of some of the most impressive titles to be released on the PS4. The service has changed significantly since its launch and now offers tiered memberships with different prices.
An annual membership to PlayStation Plus Essential, the lowest tier, costs $59.99 and gives you free games every month, exclusive discounts, cloud storage for saved games, and access to the PlayStation Plus Collection on the PS5. A year of PlayStation Plus Extra, on the other hand, costs $99.99 and gives you all the essential benefits, along with even more free games via the PlayStation Game Catalog.
At the top we have PlayStation Plus Premium, which costs $119.99 for an annual subscription. It offers the same benefits as lower tiers, but includes access to the PlayStation Classics catalog, in addition to the ability to stream games to your PC and mobile devices. Premium subscribers also get the benefit of game trials for eligible titles, giving them free access to games over time.
With a PlayStation Plus membership, PlayStation 4 and PS5 owners can play games online, download free titles every month and take advantage of discounts in the PS Store.
The PS5 looks pretty sharp on its own, but if white isn’t your color, Dbrand and Sony both make custom covers to personalize your console. Console covers from Sony come in the same six shades as the DualSense controllers and the like Dbrands Darkplates, clip on either side of your console. Dbrand’s alternatives aren’t available in as many colors as Sony’s apt-titled console covers, but can be combined with Dbrand vinyl skins, which can be applied to the center of your PS5 to create something more unique.
Sony’s official PlayStation 5 console covers are available in a number of colors and easily attach to the top and bottom of the console.
Dbrand’s Darkplates allow you to customize the outer shell of your PlayStation 5, in addition to the lightstrips and the middle section.
The PS5 comes with 825GB of storage as standard, but is compatible with a variety of M.2 SSDs if you need more space. There is no shortage of M.2 SSDs on the market, but they can vary wildly in terms of performance. Also, not all M.2 SSDs come with a heatsink, which is necessary if you plan to use this drive with your PS5. Here are a few options we can recommend based on their performance and price.
Samsung’s 980 Pro is a fast PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD capable of sequential read speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 5,000 MB/s. These specs make it an excellent choice for a modern PC with PCIe 4.0 or for a PS5.
The WD Black SN850 is one of the fastest M.2 drives available, with sequential read speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 4,100 MB/s. It may perform best on a PC with a PCIe 4.0 motherboard or on a PS5.
Update December 19, 6:02 PM ET: Article updated with new availability and pricing information, as well as additional accessory recommendations.
