THIS week could see more PS5 restocks dropping as Playstation fans predict new stock may even land at Smyths Toys tomorrow.

Yesterday a Playstation drop at GAME sold out in a matter of hours although customers have been warned about a new scam targetting them.

One PS5 tracker account this week wrote: “WARNING. We have reports of people receiving fake GAME emails asking for bank details. DO NOT RESPOND OR GIVE ANY DETAILS TO THEM! It’s a scam!

“The email is Customer.service@gamehelps.co.uk The correct email for GAME is cs@help.game.co.uk.”

The alleged scam has nothing to do with GAME itself and appears to be criminals posing as legitimate employees to steal customers’ cash.

Playstation CEO Jim Ryan reassured fans that Sony are “working as hard as they possibly can” to get more stock and blamed a global shortage in semiconductors for a slow rollout that has caused prolonged misery around the world.

“I know there were people who wanted a PS5 and couldn’t find one. We’re very sorry about that and obviously grateful that demand has been as strong as it is,” he said.

Follow our PS5 live blog below for the very latest news, updates and stock drop rumours…

SCALPERS SELLING PS5 CONSOLES FOR £8,000 ON EBAY

Some eBay sellers are flogging PS5 consoles for well over the retail price.

One seller has one listed for £8,000 – more than 16 times the retail price.

Scalpers buy highly coveted items – like PS5s – in order to sell them on for a large profit.
PLAYSTATION BOSS JIM RYAN ‘VERY SORRY’ ABOUT PS5 CONSOLE SHORTAGE

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan has addressed the lack of stock available for their new console.

He told GQ: “All I can say is we’re working as hard as we possibly can.

“You may have read that we sold 4.5 million PS5s at the end of December – that’s more than we did PS4s in 2013 and that was the high watermark for the PlayStation generation.

“So, with everything in the world throughout last year, we feel like that was fairly decent.

“I know there were people who wanted a PS5 and couldn’t find one. We’re very sorry about that and obviously grateful that demand has been as strong as it is.”

PLAYSTATION GIVE THEMSELVES PAT ON THE BACK

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan praised the company for delivering a “considerable amount” of consoles into the UK market last week.

He told GQ,”We’re doing our best. I was just looking at the supply figures for the UK – we put a considerable amount of product into the UK market last week.

“And that will continue over weeks and months to come.”
PLAYSTATION GIVE THEMSELVES PAT ON THE BACK

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan praised the company for delivering a “considerable amount” of consoles into the UK market last week.

He told GQ,”We’re doing our best. I was just looking at the supply figures for the UK – we put a considerable amount of product into the UK market last week.

“And that will continue over weeks and months to come.”
WHEN WILL UK STORES RESTOCK?

It’s not entirely clear when retailers plan to restock.

Sony has confirmed that stock will ramp up significantly from the middle of the year onwards.

That gives hope for buyers hoping to bag a console before Christmas 2021.

Most retailers have maintained radio silence over when they plan to restock to avoid a mad rush when stock returns.

Below are links and some dates for PS5 restocks in the UK.

Due to high demand and the coronavirus restrictions, most retailers are only selling the consoles through their websites.
THE PS5 SOLD OUT – WHAT HAPPENED?

Sony released two new consoles – the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – in the US on November 12 and in the UK a week later, on November 19.

Stocks at multiple British retailers ran dry shortly after orders opened on the morning of launch day.

Boasting 8K graphics and a powerful processor that almost eliminates loading times, it’s no surprise the consoles flew off the shelves.

Some stores have since released small batches of PS5 stock, but those also went in a flash as word spread across social media.
FORTHCOMING PSS GAMES COMING OUT IN APRIL
- Outriders – April 1
- Guilty Gear: Strive Deluxe And Ultimate Edition Early Access – April 6
- Guilty Gear: Strive – April 9
- Final Fantasy 14 Online: A Realm Reborn Open Beta – April 13
- MLB The Show 21 Collector’s Edition Early Access – April 16
- MLB The Show 21 – April 20
- MotoGP 21 – April 22
- Judgement – April 23
- Returnal – April 30
- Terminator: Resistance Enhanced – April 30
PLAYSTATION PRESIDENT CONFIRMS MORE STOCK IS ON THE WAY

Speaking to the Financial Times, PlayStation president Jim Ryan said more PS5 stock is on the way – with stock levels expected to climb steadily month-on-month.

He added that from July onwards, it will be much easier to get a PS5.

“It will get better every month throughout 2021,” he said. “The pace of the improvement in the supply chain will gather through the course of the year.

“So by the time we get to the second half, you’re going to be seeing really decent numbers indeed.”

‘WE’RE CONTINUING TO INNOVATE’

More on the new virtual reality system for the PS5

The current PSVR headset is compatible with the new PS5, which was released late last year, but Sony said it wants to offer a next-generation VR system to go with its newest console.

“We’re continuing to innovate with our new VR system so that our fans can continue to enjoy the unique experiences that are synonymous with PlayStation,” said spokesman Hideaki Nishino said.
PLAYSTATION GIVE THEMSELVES PAT ON THE BACK

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan praised the company for delivering a “considerable amount” of consoles into the UK market last week.

He told GQ,”We’re doing our best. I was just looking at the supply figures for the UK – we put a considerable amount of product into the UK market last week.

“And that will continue over weeks and months to come.”
SMYTHS SOLD OUT

Smyths shoppers have claimed today’s PS5 drop sold out in seconds.

One disappointed fan wrote on Twitter: “Added mine to basket, typed in all my details and then said sold out.”

Another said: “How does someone manage to get one, from being dropped within 10 seconds and then going through the checkout process?”

While a third joked: “Bet there was only 10 consoles.

“I honestly think I’ll just wait for the PS6 at this point.”
THE PS5 SOLD OUT – WHAT HAPPENED?

Sony released two new consoles – the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – in the US on November 12 and in the UK a week later, on November 19.

Stocks at multiple British retailers ran dry shortly after orders opened on the morning of launch day.

Boasting 8K graphics and a powerful processor that almost eliminates loading times, it’s no surprise the consoles flew off the shelves.

Some stores have since released small batches of PS5 stock, but those also went in a flash as word spread across social media.
WHAT IS STATE OF PLAY?

PlayStation regularly hosts a major event called State of Play.

It’s a chance for Sony to show off new games coming to its platforms.

Importantly, this State of Play will reveal games landing on the new PS5.

Some of the games will be out very soon, and others could be a long way off.

“This Thursday, a State of Play broadcast will serve up new updates and deep dives for 10 games coming to PS4 and PS5.

“Including new game announcements and updates on some of the third-party and indie titles you last saw in June’s PS5 showcase.”
NEW PATENT COULD LET YOU USE POTATO AS CONTROLLER

A new patent has been discovered which will allow you to map buttons onto any inanimate object to turn it into a PS5 controller.

According to the Metro, the patent, which was discovered by GamesIndustry.biz, using technology to turn any non-electronic item can be turned into a game controller by projecting AR buttons onto it.

PS5 DEMAND ‘GREATER THAN ANTICIPATED’

The PS5 has been out for around three months – but they’re fiendishly difficult to get a hold of.

Resellers were peddling the console for thousands of pounds in the days after launch.

And even months later, the PS5 is still in such high demand – with PlayStation president Jim Ryan admitting to the Financial Times it was “greater than anticipated.”

“That, along with the complexities of the supply chain issues, resulted in a slightly lower supply than we initially anticipated.”
A LIST OF FORTHCOMING PS5 GAMES COMING OUT IN APRIL
- Outriders – April 1
- Guilty Gear: Strive Deluxe And Ultimate Edition Early Access – April 6
- Guilty Gear: Strive – April 9
- Final Fantasy 14 Online: A Realm Reborn Open Beta – April 13
- MLB The Show 21 Collector’s Edition Early Access – April 16
- MLB The Show 21 – April 20
- MotoGP 21 – April 22
- Judgement – April 23
- Returnal – April 30
- Terminator: Resistance Enhanced – April 30
PLAYSTATION GIVES ITSELF A PAT ON THE BACK

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan praised the company for delivering a “considerable amount” of consoles into the UK market last week.

He told GQ: “We’re doing our best. I was just looking at the supply figures for the UK – we put a considerable amount of product into the UK market last week.

“And that will continue over weeks and months to come.”
YEARN TO EARN

For some PlayStation fans, hunting down trophies is as much fun as conquering a Dark Souls boss or swinging above the streets of New York as Spiderman.

But not all trophies are created equal. Some are far easier to unlock than others, offering a quick way to boost your virtual collection.

Trophies are awarded for a range of achievements, such as beating games, finding collectibles, or completing certain tasks.

They range in difficulty from gold trophies for hard-to-beat challenges to bronze trophies for assignments that don’t eat up too many hours.
PETITION TO OUTLAW SCALPING NEARS 18,000 SIGNATURES

A petition calling for the Government to crackdown on scalpers has hit 17,573 signatures and counting.

The petition has smashed an initial target of 10,000 – the amount required to gain an official response to the petition. If it reaches 100,000 by its deadline date of June 10, the Government will consider it for debate in Parliament.

Blurb on the petition page reads: This practice is most prevalent in the buying and re-selling of event tickets but also has a significant impact on the sales of trainers/clothes and technology.

“The most recent case in point is the launch of the PlayStation 5 and X Box Series X consoles.

“Both pre-orders and launch day stock were sold out instantaneously and then thousands of listings appeared on eBay at over double the RRP. A reseller group claimed to have been able to secure 3500 of these.”
SOME GAMERS MANAGED TO BUY PS5 CONSOLES AT SMYTHS TODAY

Smyths has seen a lot activity this morning with gamers scrambling to secure a console on the Irish retailer’s website.

One tipster tweeted to say that the Smyths drop wasn’t happening today as previously thought.

But it was definitely a real alert because some managed to get their hands on a console.

I got one from Smyths this morning.

— Matt Read (@mattjread) March 4, 2021

GAME CUSTOMERS WAITED FOR UP TO SIX HOURS TO BAG A PS5

Some GAME customers waited six hours for a PS5 yesterday, only to be met with an error screen, BirminghamLive reports.

One person said: “Waited in queue with game since 09.43. At 15.00 it was down to 30 mins. Then out of stock.

“Immediately on eBay for 675 showing receipt from game in the picture. Cant be arsed anymore.”

Another person added: “I spent 6 hours in the Game queue for a PS5. Finally got through. No PS5s in stock! I’m fuming!!!”
CHILDREN GAME DANGER

Children playing games on Xboxes and PlayStations have been groomed by paedophiles.

They are among more than 1,000 victims to be targeted online in the past two years, according to police force data.

Many grooming cases involve popular sites and apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

But a handful of the 1,009 online grooming cases involved PlayStations and Xboxes.

Read more here.
BOXED GAME SALES SURGE

PS5 boxed games saw a UK sales boost in the week to February 27.

According to Gfk data published by GI.biz, sales were up 64 per cent compared to the previous week.
PRODUCTION ISSUES

The global pandemic has caused a lot of production issues in many industries and that includes those developing video games.

Sony told GQ: “GT7 has been impacted by Covid-related production challenges and therefore will shift from 2021 to 2022.

“With the ongoing pandemic, it’s a dynamic and changing situation and some critical aspects of game production have been slowed over the past several months.

“We’ll share more specifics on GT7’s release date when available.”