Despite the PlayStation 5 being just a few months shy of turning a year old, it can still be quite hard to get. Most people looking to buy a PS5 still have to do tricks in order to get notified when a store is going to have more in stock. However, there is one company that is working to make it just a little bit easier for its customers to get their hands on a PlayStation 5 if they want. GameStop has gone out of its way to get more stock more often, and is offering that stock to a select group of purchasers.
The GameStop PowerUp Reward Pro service has been around for quite a while. It's always been a program that is geared toward giving customers who sign up some perks that the average shopper doesn't have access to. For the most part, these perks have been discounts on games and hardware. Those who are part of the program usually also get a little extra money or store credit when they are trading things in. Over the years, the GameStop PowerUp Rewards Program has seen changes and tweaks, and one recent tweak offers those who take part in the program an easier time getting a PS5 or an Xbox Series X/S.
Becoming a GameStop PowerUp Rewards Pro Member
It's actually quite easy to sign up for the GameStop PowerUp Rewards Pro program. Once someone is signed up for the service they will have access to discounts and other offers regarding the PS5, Microsoft Xbox Series X/S, and even the Nintendo Switch. The good news is that this isn't the kind of "insider" program one needs to get an invite code for, or a blessing from another member. GameStop offers a free PowerUp Rewards program that anyone can sign up for and earn points when they make a purchase.
However, the GameStop PowerUp Rewards Pro service is one that people will need to pay a bit of money for in order to take part. That service generally costs about $15 to $20 USD a year, and the sign-up fee is all due upfront. This isn't a situation where someone can split up that fee over a monthly or quarterly period. Some users might not feel as though they are shopping at or using GameStop enough to warrant laying out an extra $20, but if they want to have an inside shot at getting their hands on a PS5, it's certainly worth a try. Those interested in joining the program simply need to sign up online, or in a GameStop store, and pay the membership fee.
GameStop Early Access Window
Once someone is a member of the PowerUp Rewards Pro program, they are now among the select group of people that GameStop is going to be offering PS5s to early. This is a relatively new development, as buying the console had been a first-come, first-served situation for most of the life of the device. It appears that GameStop execs figured out they could cash in on those who are willing to pay just a little bit extra for the outside chance buy a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S while they are still scarce.
However, the retailer's approach to even giving first dibs to Rewards Pro members shows just how little stock and just how hard it still is to get the PS5. It's important to note that signing up for this service is not going to guarantee that someone will be able to purchase a PS5 when they are back in stock. Because of shortages that have been prevalent since the console was first made available, there are more PowerUp Rewards Pro members than there are units available with the retailer. However, as the calendar continues to move toward the PlayStation 5 being a year old, GameStop has had a habit of offering more restocks.
When the retailer does have restocks it has promised that those who are members of the paid program will have the first shot at getting the PS5. There is still a few catches when it comes to more units coming to the stores. The first is that a PowerUp Rewards Pro member is sitll going to have almost no chance of walking in off the street and being able to buy either a PS5 or an Xbox Series X/S. Because stock is still in such short supply, people are going to need to keep an eye on their email and GameStop's social media accounts.
The other caveat when it comes to buying the current-generation console through GameStop is that users are going to find that PS5 bundles are far more prevalent than just a single console. The bundle approach is one that the retailer has been offering since the very beginning, though at the start it appears there were more offers of just the console alone.
That's not to say that some of these PS5 bundles aren't worth getting in the door. Some of these PS5 bundles include games that a fan of the PlayStation 5 is going to be purchasing anyway. Spider-Man: Miles Morales has been one of the most popular games on the platform since it launched alongside the new console. Ratchet and Clank is one of the most beloved Sony franchises, and there are bundles where both Miles Morales and Rift Apart are on offer alongside the console. Finding a PS5 that's actually available to purchase is likely going to be in one of these bundles, but the good news is that as long as someone is a member of the GameStop PowerUp Rewards Pro service, they'll have a better chance at getting a PS5.