PlayStation fans are celebrating that a PlayStation 5 was found in stock and for sale at someone's local Walmart. A console being sold at Walmart isn't necessarily something to get excited about, but a PS5 found unclaimed and freely purchasable is an entirely different set of circumstances. Does it mean that PS5s are going to begin to be regularly found at Walmarts and other retails across the USA? Probably not, but it's enough evidence for fans without a console to start getting excited.
The PlayStation 5 launched on November 12, 2020, just under two years ago. It arrived as the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was peaking, as international shipping issues culminated, and as hardware component shortages grew increasingly punishing. Console launches by nature have limited availability, but the PS5 launch was especially cursed. Nearly two years later and PS5s remain in incredibly high demand, selling out very quickly.
Reddit user Apprehensive_City_32 offered PlayStation fans hunting for their own PS5 a glimmer of hope on Thursday. They shared a post titled "My first time ever seeing it in store!" alongside a photograph of a PS5 Horizon Forbidden West Bundle available for purchase. While Apprehensive_City_32 didn't specify the location of the store, they did respond to someone saying that they're in Texas. As for whether they ended up buying the PS5, they mention they still have "too many games on PS4" they haven't played yet.
One funny detail worth noting is that the security case, the window covering the shelf where the PS5 is sitting, has a label. The label reads "See an associate for more details around PlayStation 5 availability," making clear that the default state of this shelf is not having a PS5 at all. Even Walmart is seemingly surprised that it has a PS5 in stock.
The PlayStation community isn't going crazy over the discovery of a PS5 on store shelves. It's not unheard of, after all, but it is a rare event. To say that PS5s are typically sold out before they reach store shelves is entirely accurate. Fans are sharing memes like "Nature is healing!" and "It's a trap!" Others are sharing how they've yet to see a PS5, but are continuing the search.
Again, this one shopper's photograph doesn't mean that PS5s are going to begin showing up on shelves across the country. But it is inevitable that PS5 stock will eventually meet demand, first in random Walmarts in Texas and then everywhere. Sony has said PS5 shortages will likely continue going into 2024, though. Odds are this PS5 won't stay on that shelf long.