ThePlayStation 5andXbox Series Xconsoles have been out for over a year now, but they’re still almost as difficult to get now as they were on release day. While more and more gamers are getting their hands on the elusive consoles with each restock, it’s difficult to stay on top of when and where restocks are happening. Because of the consoles' scarcity and aggressive scalpers snatching them up before real fans can, being on top of restocks is essential to scoring a PS5 orXbox Series X this holiday season.
Next-gen consoles being this hard to find a year after launch is truly unprecedented, and comes as a direct result of global supply chain shortages.Semiconductor chips are especially scarce, and there’s nothing that Sony or Microsoft can do to conjure consoles any faster. As the gaming industry is transitioning into the next generation, it’s especially frustrating for players who want to be a part of that transition but aren’t able to get their hands on the consoles. Unfortunately, getting a console for the holidays isn’t going to be easy. However, Walmart has a tool in place that might bring more consoles within reach for gamers.
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Walmart+ Explained
Walmart+ is a subscription service that launched last year, aiming to help customers save time and streamline the shopping process. For loyal Walmart customers, it’s not a bad deal. The entire system is somewhat comparable to Amazon Prime, but has some very unique and useful benefits. For those hoping to snag a PS5 or Xbox Series X,Walmart+might be the best way to go.
A subscription to Walmart+ costs $98 annually or $12.95 monthly. It allows customers to take advantage of free shipping with no minimum purchase requirement, provides free delivery from local Walmart stores, helps save on gas at Walmart and Sam’s Club stations, and gives shoppers access to a Scan & Go feature through the Walmart app. With Scan & Go, customers can pay for their items by scanning a barcode with their phone, completely skipping the traditional checkout process. All of the benefits are pretty nice and well worth it for frequent Walmart shoppers, but there’s one new feature that may be a game-changer for hard-to-find items.
Using Walmart+ Early Access Benefit for PS5 and Xbox Series X
Walmart+ recently added a new Early Access feature that allows members to browse and purchase special deals four hours ahead of regular customers. For now,PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles are Early Accessitems. When restocks happen, Walmart+ members can shop the next-gen consoles four hours before the inventory is released to the general public. These consoles sell out in minutes at most, so four hours can make a massive difference.
There is an online restock happening tomorrow, Cyber Monday, for both thePlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, so now is the time to get prepared. The consoles are scheduled to drop at 4pm EST, but Walmart+ members can reserve theirs starting at 12pm EST. This probably won’t be the last restock for this holiday season, though, so players who miss the Cyber Monday restock should keep an eye out for any more announcements.
The advantage tousing Walmart+ to secure a PS5 or Xbox Series Xis obvious, but there is a catch. In order to take advantage of the Early Access benefit, members need to be paying customers. Signing up for the 15-day free trial and canceling the subscription after purchasing won’t work in this case, and it’s understandable why; Walmart doesn’t want customers abusing the Early Access benefit since it’s meant to reward brand loyalty and encourage continued business.
The downside for gamers is that, with the free trial not being an option, it’ll cost at least $12.95 to even have a chance at securing a console. However, it’s not that bad for gamers who shop at Walmart anyway, and $12.95 for a one-month subscription is significantly cheaper than buying from a scalper. Even the $98 annual subscription is a steal compared to scalpers' inflated prices, and customers get a lot more than a console. Walmart+ shouldn’t be viewed as a way to guarantee a console, considering the incredible demand, but it could definitely help.
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Walmart+ Might Hinder Scalpers
A secondary benefit to Walmart+ and the Early Access benefit is that it might hinder scalpers from buying up all the consoles before gamers can click “add to cart.” A lot of companies haven’t been particularly proactive inpreventing scalpers from buying up consoles, which is frustrating for players because there are reasonable measures that could be put in place to slow them down. Thankfully, it’s a little better now than it was at launch.
On launch day at Best Buy, customers had to go through a multi-step verification process to secure a PlayStation 5, which resulted in some gamers actually acquiring a console. GameStop recently pursued the membership strategy for its restocks, opening up PS5 and Xbox Series X inventory to PowerUp Rewards Pro members first.Steam has implemented a queue systemfor Steam Deck pre-orders. All of these are effective ways to prevent scalpers from hoarding lucrative products, and Walmart+ is another great tool.
Stopping or even just slowing down scalpers has been especially difficult in the age of Covid-19, as many retailers have shifted their focus to e-commerce. There aren’t nearly as manyin-store restocks for consoles. When customers line up for a big release and only one purchase is allowed per person, a lot more customers end up with what they want without having to look on the secondary market. Online releases are much more volatile and harder to regulate. They essentially become a playground for scalpers unless preventative measures are put in place.
Some scalpers are probably willing to shell out the small membership fee for Walmart+, and it’s not going to stop the practice entirely. However, it significantly narrows the pool because of the extra effort and investment it requires, just like lining up outside stores did. Walmart+ isn’t a foolproofway to get a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X, but for anyone determined to secure one for the holidays (or while the semiconductor shortage is still ongoing), it might be worth a shot.
PlayStation 5andXbox Series Xconsoles will be restocked at Walmart on November 29.
