Sony announced today that it will not be offering the PlayStation 5 for sale at retail store locations on its November 12 launch day. Instead, interested customers will need to order the new console online.

“In the interest of keeping our gamers, retailers, and staff safe amidst COVID-19, today we are confirming that all day-of launch sales will be conducted through the online stores of our retail partners,” Sony’s Sid Shuman writes in the announcement post. “No units will be available in-store for purchase on launch day (November 12 or November 19, depending on your region) [so] please don’t plan on camping out or lining up at your local retailer on launch day in hopes of finding a PS5 console for purchase. Be safe, stay home, and place your order online.”

Yikes.

I guess that’s understandable, but I also suspect this has as much to do with supply as it does with public safety. After all, each retailer handles the social distancing requirements themselves, and this is not something Sony should have to even think about.

And on that note, Mr. Shuman does note that gamers who pre-ordered the PS5 for pick-up at a retailer “should still be able to do so at their designated appointment time, under the retailer’s safety protocols.”

Tagged with PlayStation 5