The newest generation of console gaming has proved to be rather exciting as it reaches its first full year. Graphics are reaching impressive new levels of detail, load times are becoming nearly nonexistent, and games are getting more sophisticated than they have ever been before. With all of those developments, however, there is still one thing holding back the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S: The consoles are still incredibly difficult to get a hold of.

The entire gaming community has unfortunately become familiar with console shortages over the past year. After so much time agonizing over production and shipping issues, however, PlayStation fans in particular might have some reason for a bit of optimism. While it still isn't easy to get a PS5, it is getting somewhat less painful, as more avenues for acquiring the console have been opening up over the past few months. Conditions are hardly how they were with last generation, but PlayStation fans could be seeing an evolution towards previous standards.

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Increased PS5 Availability Online

3d render of the ps5

Ever since the initial launch of the PS5, one of the only reliable places to acquire the console has been through online marketplaces. Due to the ongoing pandemic and occasionally frantic demand, many large retailers such as Walmart and Target haven't had the console in stores. And while most online restocks through GameStop or Amazon have sold out quicker than they were available, they are becoming more and more frequent. PlayStation Direct has been especially helpful for many fans, as the exclusive email invitations have gotten somewhat frequent for some, while actively deterring scalpers through the barriers to entry.

Increased PS5 Availability In Stores

PS5 Disc and Digital Editions

Perhaps the biggest indication that the PS5 console shortage is improving is the fact that some retailers have had in-store restocks over the last few months. Back in September, Best Buy had one of the largest in-store restocks ever since the PS5 released, with consoles available throughout many of its stores in the United States. Meanwhile, GameStop has had two notable in-store restocks, with both of them taking place in a handful of U.S. states around their biggest cities. These PS5s may still sell out quickly, but the fact that these companies are able to reserve so many for large scale restocks has to be a good sign for how console production is progressing.

Tempering PS5 Availability Expectations

Girlfriend Makes Their Partner A Plushy PS5 Controller For Their Birthday

After so much time fighting with scalpers and general stock issues, these PS5 developments are cause for some optimism. At the same time, however, the next couple of months are probably going to make it much more difficult to find a PS5 anywhere. The holiday season is always a busy time for the gaming industry, and if it wasn't already hard to get a PS5 last holiday, it will probably get more difficult since more gamers see that getting a PS5 is becoming easier. On top of the influx of new shoppers, scalpers will likely be even more aggressive as families desperately try to add the PS5 to their homes.

The constant demand for the PS5 over the past year can hardly be overstated, so it's encouraging to see how many retailers have had access to the console. And with in-store restocks beginning to become more frequent, PlayStation fans are getting more options than ever before. While conditions still aren't perfect, and the holiday season will likely make things more difficult, the increasing prevalence of PS5 restocks should at the very least be seen as an optimistic sign for the console in 2022.

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