PS5 30th Anniversary Chaos: Scalpers Sweep Up Stock, Leaving Fans Empty-Handed

Fans of Sony Group Corp.‘s SONY PlayStation brand have been eagerly anticipating the release of the 30th Anniversary PlayStation 5 collection.

This limited-edition offering, a blend of nostalgia and modern aesthetics, excited gamers. However, when pre-orders opened on Thursday, many were disappointed and frustrated as they faced chaotic online queues and website glitches that left them empty-handed.

See Also: PlayStation Plus October Lineup Revealed: WWE 2K24, Dead Space, More

Pre-Order Chaos

The excitement surrounding the limited edition PS5 Pro bundle, of which only 12,300 units were produced, quickly turned to despair as pre-orders for the collection went live.

The PS1-style PS5 slim bundle, PS Portal, and DualSense controller also saw their pre-orders vanish almost instantly. This has sparked a recurring question among fans: why does Sony not manufacture enough of these popular items to meet demand?

Reports of panic began circulating overnight from Australia and the UK, where pre-orders became available at 10:00 a.m. local time.

Within moments, the stock was reportedly sold out, with listings on eBay appearing at five to 10 times the suggested retail price, as per Insider Gaming.

As the pre-order time approached in the U.S., many fans attempted to load the PlayStation Direct page, only to find themselves stuck in a virtual queue with wait times exceeding an hour.

Is Sony Planning To Restock The PS5 30th Anniversary Collection?

Once in the waiting room, buyers were assigned random spots in line, and when they finally gained access to the store, most found the shelves nearly bare. Moreover, some customers reported being redirected back to the waiting room even after gaining access to the store, according to testimonies collected by Kotaku.

Even seemingly available items, like the PS1 DualSense controller priced at $80, proved difficult to purchase, as the “add to cart” button remained unresponsive for many users.

Those looking for the controller often had better luck purchasing from major retailers like Amazon.com, Best Buy, and GameStop, which opened pre-orders simultaneously.

Despite the frustrating launch experience, some speculate that Sony may be testing initial demand for its anniversary collection, potentially planning to release more stock in time for the holiday season.

Meanwhile, scalpers are listing the PS5 bundles on eBay for as much as $5,697, far exceeding the original price of $999.99.

Read Next:

• Sony CEO Confirms Consoles Are Still ‘Core’ To PlayStation’s Future

Photo: Shutterstock