The hottest commodity this holiday/Black Friday season will no doubt be the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Even a year after launch, they can be quite difficult to snag, and that’s one reason they make such a great gift. Their scarcity, combined with the quality of games on each system, makes them incredibly valuable. Of course, PS5 and Xbox Series X games should accompany these as well, but it’s a lot easier to grab a few games and/or a subscription on PS Plus/Game Pass than it is to find one of these consoles.
As such, those doing their holiday shopping should be as prepared as possible for November 22, the day of Walmart’s Black Friday sale launch and restock of PS5/Xbox Series X consoles. While it’s not likely to be the only date this holiday season, it’s early enough that it may very well be in for the holidays. Their scarcity, at the same time, means would-be shoppers should be seizing every opportunity they get, so with that in mind, here’s what fans need to do.
Walmart’s November 22 PS5 and Xbox Series X Restock
First things first, shoppers should always keep the start date and time in mind. There’s a strong chance, an almost certainty, that these sell out in minutes if not seconds. But that’s a bit tricky. Officially, Walmart’s Black Friday sale starts on November 22 at 4 PM PT/ 5 PM MT/6 PM CT/7 PM ET. HOWEVER, it should be noted that Walmart Plus Members get early access to these Black Friday deals, beginning at 12 PM PT/ 1 PM MT/ 2 PM CT/ 3 PM ET.
It should be noted that the wording around this membership is very unclear, and there are a few catches. First off, the free trial of Walmart Plus doesn’t give access to these deals, so shoppers would need to already have one or purchase it at 12.95/month. Now, that may be helpful in having an early chance to snag a restock, but at the same time, there’s no absolute guarantee. So, it becomes a bit of a gamble if someone tries to buy the subscription now in hopes to get a console, but there are other steps too.
Beyond being vigilant about when the sale launches, it’s recommended to use both an online and mobile account to try to snag them. Beyond just refreshing them, having two accounts is two chances to snag one before they sell out. Each account, especially if someone doesn’t use a mobile account often, should have all relevant pieces of information already submitted into it: personal, payment, and shipping information.
The faster a shopper is able to get through the check-out process, the better chances they have. Of course, it’s going to go quickly, but preparing now should hopefully pay off in the long run. There’s no doubt that shopping for gaming holiday gifts is stressful, but there’s nothing quite like a new console for one’s self or for a loved one.