**Is the PS5 shortage over in the UK?**
We ([Stock Checker](https://stock-checker.com/)) can finally consider the PS5 stock shortage over in the UK as multiple retailers have plenty of stock on shelves. At the time of writing this article, several retailers are selling the PlayStation Disc Edition console for £479.99 without a bundle, as well as the PlayStation Digital Edition console for £389.99, also without a bundle. The miracle is that these consoles are no longer selling out, and when they do, stock replenishes quickly as demand no longer exceeds supply.
Here's the story of how it started and unfolded:
**What is the global chip shortage, and how did it affect PS5s?**
The global chip shortage is a phenomenon of the demand for microchips and semiconductors, critical components in various electronic devices, including smartphones, computers, automobiles, gaming consoles and more. Supply couldn't keep up with the demand for these chips, which increased further due to the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting global supply chains and leading to delays in production across many industries.
The chip shortage has affected the production and availability of many electronic products, including the PlayStation 5 (PS5), a popular gaming console. Sony, the manufacturer, struggled to produce enough PS5s due to the shortage, which globally led to the limited availability of the console, later declared as high demand. This has also affected the production of other gaming consoles and electronic devices like the [Xbox Series X](https://stock-checker.com/products/xbox-series-x.html), [NVIDIA RTX 30 Series](https://stock-checker.com/products/nvidia-rtx-30-series.html), [AMD RX 6000 Series](https://stock-checker.com/products/amd-rx-6000-series.html), [Nintendo Switch OLED Model](https://stock-checker.com/products/nintendo-switch-oled.html) and much more. Sony announced they expect the PS5 shortage to continue into 2024; however, the availability of the console seemingly ended or is on the verge of ending a year before what was predicted, which is great for consumers.
**How did PlayStation and partnered retailers combat resellers/bots?**
Both PlayStation and their partnered retailers have used a number of methods to combat resellers and bots from buying and reselling PlayStation 5 (PS5) consoles.
Here is a list of impactful measures taken:
• Implementing purchase limits: After the first 3-4 months of launch, multiple retailers set a limit of one PS5 per customer, intending to reduce resellers and bots bulk-buying large quantities of PlayStation 5 consoles.
• Using online waiting rooms/queues: Some retailers have implemented online waiting rooms, virtual queues that customers must enter to purchase a PS5. This would help retailers balance traffic loads and give genuine customers a higher chance of buying a PlayStation 5 console. One method Very used was to have a random access order rather than a first come, first serve basis, so resellers typically at the front of the queue won't necessarily get the opportunity to buy a PS5 first.
• Using CAPTCHAs: As bots got clever, retailers brought in CAPTCHA systems, which are programs that require the completion of a specific task, such as identifying images or text, to prove whether or not the user is a bot or human. This method was intended to stop bots from bulk-buying PS5s.
By implementing these measures, PlayStation and their partnered retailers made it more difficult for resellers and bots to obtain and sell PS5 consoles, giving a higher chance to genuine customers in a fair and equitable manner.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/PlayStation6.png
**Can I expect such a shortage when PS5 Pro or PS6 is released?**
It is possible that there could be a shortage of PlayStation 5 Pro or PlayStation 6 consoles when they're released, especially if Sony face difficulties in production due to global supply chain issues. However, this isn't certain, and predicting such about the future isn't ideal for now.
Manufacturers and retailers do their best to anticipate and prepare measures that need to be taken if a new product's demand could exceed supply. These measures consist of the list mentioned earlier above and increasing production. Unfortunately, no one knows what the future holds, so an unforeseen circumstance could become reality, leading to the ignition of the global chip shortage again or even worse.
It's good to know that most new products are often in high demand when they're first released, making it common for some shortages to exist as companies get a taste of demand from customers to then adjust and ramp up production. If you're interested in purchasing a PS5 Pro or PS6 console, Stock Checker is all you need, as you'll be notified the instant they come into stock at your favourite retailers. Why Stock Checker? Our expertise, experience and premium-rich qualities (for free) have led us to become the leading product availability tracker in the UK, achieved in under two years, with our competitors working to reach our level since 2009.
**Where can I find PS5 Disc and Digital Edition consoles today?**
The availability of the PlayStation (PS5) Disc and Digital Edition consoles may vary depending on your location and the retailers in your area. Some retailers have stock available today (online and/or in-store), whether bundles or the console on its own, typically referred to as standalone. Here's the best place to check which of your favourite retailers have PS5 consoles in stock now:
Track the [PlayStation 5 (PS5) Disc Edition console](https://stock-checker.com/products/playstation-5.html).
Track the [PlayStation 5 (PS5) Digital Edition console](https://stock-checker.com/products/playstation-5-digital.html).
**Are there any deals or discounts available on the PS5?**
There may be deals or discounts available on the PlayStation 5 (PS5) from time to time. However, it is important to remember that the PS5 shortage has recently ended or is on the verge of ending. Therefore we shouldn't expect any deals on the console so soon. The Xbox Series X shortage ended in Q1 2022, and deals on the console began 4-5 months later. Using this metric, we may expect deals on the PS5 console around Q3 2023, though this is not certain.
However, if you're interested in deals related to the PS5, such as discounts on controllers, video games, headsets and other accessories, check out our [deals](https://stock-checker.com/deals) page, offering you the best discounts on PlayStation gaming.
**What gaming and tech products are currently considered high-demand?**
There are a number of products facing difficulties in meeting demand, which surpasses supply in the gaming and tech industries. Here's a list of high-demand products we're currently tracking:
• The [Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone AF400UK Air Fryer](https://stock-checker.com/products/ninja-af400uk.html) is a kitchen appliance that cooks food using hot air circulation. It's popular for its two cooking zones, allowing users to cook two different types of food simultaneously.
• The [NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series Graphics Cards](https://stock-checker.com/products/nvidia-rtx-40-series.html) are a series of graphics processing units (GPUs) developed by NVIDIA, a leading manufacturer of graphics cards. The RTX 40 Series includes a range of GPUs that are designed for use in gaming PCs and other high-performance computing systems. The two models out at the time of writing this article are the RTX 4090 and the RTX 4080.
• The [AMD Radeon RX 7000 Series Graphics Cards](https://stock-checker.com/products/amd-rx-7000-series.html) are a series of graphics processing units (GPUs) developed by AMD, a leading manufacturer of graphics cards. The RX 7000 Series includes a range of GPUs that are designed for use in gaming PCs and other high-performance computing systems. The two models out at the time of writing this article are the RX 7900 XTX and the RX 7900 XT.
**Disclaimers**
[Talha Sonmez](https://twitter.com/Roekaine) is the Founder & CEO of Stock Checker.
Images used in this article belong to PlayStation, respectively.