The PlayStation 5 from Sony - as rare as a unicorn

A few people got their hands on the PS5 shortly after it was released, but most gamers who had been looking forward to it were left out in the cold. Even now, almost two years and two lockdowns later, the PlayStation 5 is still in short supply. However, demand is still huge, even though the PS5 costs between €600 and €900, depending on the provider and version (disc or digital version). Even second-hand, the console is anything but a bargain. Here, too, prices are sometimes horrendous. But why is it that the PlayStation 5 is as rare as a unicorn?

Chip shortage and corona crisis

The fact that the PlayStation 5 is virtually unavailable is due to the enormous demand and the corona crisis, or rather the chip shortage. The demand for semiconductors has increased, and not just in the games console sector. Semiconductors are also used in cars and modern TV sets, for example. At the same time, the industry cannot keep up with production as many factories have been closed due to the pandemic. The problem is that semiconductors cannot be produced "on stock", they have an expiration date after production. There are also bottlenecks with raw material suppliers.

Forecast: It remains difficult with the PS5

Even in 2022, it is unlikely to change much that the console will sell out quickly once it has been dropped somewhere and it will be difficult to make additional deliveries. This is because the chip crisis is not expected to end until 2023. The supply chains continue to function sluggishly and the demand for semiconductors is rising and rising. Unfortunately, new factories cannot be built so quickly either, as chip production is a highly complex matter.

Where can I get a PlayStation 5?

The fact is that the PS5 is still not widely available and this situation is unlikely to change any time soon. So where do you get your PlayStation 5?

First of all, you should keep an eye on the relevant online stores, i.e. those beginning with A, E or M. There are always drops there, both for the disc version and the All Digital version. If you do a bit of googling, you'll quickly find pages where these drops are announced. Incidentally, Sony is also offering the console via PlayStation Direct. To get your hands on a PS5 there, however, you have to be a member and, above all, fast. For example, after the store announced in February that the consoles were available there, they were all gone within 20 minutes. The advantage, however, is that PlayStation Direct informs you in advance by email.

However, if you want to buy your PlayStation locally, you will have to be patient. At the moment, there are signs of a larger drop, but we cannot verify at this point whether these are much more than rumors.

The electricity provider E wie einfach is currently offering a bundle with a PlayStation 5. However, you must be able to change your electricity provider for this.

Ebay and Ebay classifieds

Another option is the Ebay and Ebay classifieds portals. However, this is the so-called "gray market". If you want to buy a PS5 via Ebay classifieds, we recommend that you buy it locally and try it out. This is because they are usually private sales and come without a warranty. On Ebay, you should pay attention to the seriousness of the dealer, i.e. the ratings. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of scalpers on there. These are bots that buy consoles as soon as they are available and then resell them at a higher price. This is morally questionable - but not illegal.

Of course, you should also pay attention to the delivery date, the warranty and the origin of the goods.