Where to pre-order the Astro Bot Joyful DualSense controller

Spot the difference:

Hello there! My name is Duncan, and I'm the hardware editor here at GamesRadar+ in charge of all things controllers. To get our live coverage underway, here's the question that will likely be on everyone's minds.

Is this a new controller? Is this a long-awaited restock of the Astro Bot DualSense controller from last year? What's the "twist" Sony mentioned in their social media announcement?

Well, if you take a look at the image above, you'll see the "joyful" edition that launches for pre-order tomorrow morning. If you look at the image below, you can play a game of spot the difference with the original version that launched last year.

You have a good look, compare, and take some notes. I'll be back in 10 minutes or so to give you the answers.

No copying one another, now...

Did you catch it? Eyes really are the window to the soul

That's right, the eyes on this new "joyful" variant are slightly different from the original Astro Bot DualSense, in that they show the character smiling.

If you're thinking, that's odd, why didn't they just restock the original model if they weren't going to change much? I'd be inclined to agree with you. Then again, this is a clever marketing tactic of making it feel more exclusive and more like a collector's item.

Does this hint at other Astro Bot DualSense colorways coming in the future? Very possibly, although keep in mind that this Joyful version took a year to come out, so I wouldn't count on that possibility.

If this is a controller you want to add to your collection, or you missed out on the previous version, I'm here to help.

Who am I?

...But just who am I to help you capitalize on some DualSense pre-orders? Well, it's been my job to cover all the latest Limited Edition DualSense launches in recent times.

I've been standing guard for the Helldivers 2, TLOU, Death Stranding 2, and not to mention, original Astro Bot DualSense pre-order launches. By this stage, I know what the process is, where to look for stock, which retailers are the reliable ones, and where best to direct you.

I've also been covering all sorts of controllers for years, reviewing them, watching their prices, and otherwise keeping an eye on any news about them. Long before that, I was an avid collector of DualShock 4 controllers in the PS4 days, so I know exactly the feeling of needing that new colorway to add to my collection.

I also know the pain of that collection hitting my bank balance.

All that said, I'm confident I can help you secure your Astro Bot Joyful DualSense pre-order tomorrow, so stay tuned for more updates.

PlayStation Direct

Weird thing to take note of for tomorrow's pre-orders:

PlayStation always announces that when a new Limited Edition DualSense controller is going up for pre-order, that it'll arrive at PlayStation Direct first. That's been true for a few hardware launches since the brand opened its own online retailer, but more recently, the participating retailers have had stock of Limited Edition DualSenses first.

It's hard to say whether this time, it'll be worth checking PlayStation Direct or not first. Either way, there are other reliable retailers I've had a lot of success with when it comes to PS5 controller stock. In the US, you're talking about Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon, with Best Buy being the most consistent of the three.

In the UK, you're looking at Argos, sometimes Amazon, and sometimes Very. GAME has also chipped in with a few models of the DualSense, but its not the first place I'd look to.

Either way, I'll be on tomorrow morning to help UK shoppers first. That will likely give us a signal about which US retailers to check first.

Astro Bot Dualsense pre-orders: Who are the main players and who was reliable last time?

Lucky for you, I've saved some info about all the biggest retailers who were supplying stock of the previous Astro Bot DualSense controller. Starting with UK shops, here's a little rundown of how they all performed this time last year:

Currys |

Not only did Currys have stock of the original Astro Bot controller last year, but it was £10 less than other retailers. Surprising nobody, its stock flew off the shelves, so definitely keep an eye out here.

Very |

Very was one of the most reliable suppliers of the original Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense last year, although stock did eventually run out after the morning buzz.

View Deal

Amazon |

Amazon was slower to release its stock last time, but it did allow you to pre-order the Astro Bot DualSense. Maybe keep an eye on Amazon if you're a Prime member, but it's likely that it'll release stock slower than the other retailers listed here.

GAME |

GAME did have some units available of the last Astro Bot DualSense, with a stern warning that this product was "one per customer". Evidently, even that couldn't save the retailer from running out, but that could be a sign that it'll stock the new Joyful model too.

View Deal

❌ Argos |

Argos didn't stock the last Astro Bot DualSense controller for pre-order, but that's strange since this retailer is a go-to for other Limited Edition DualSense launches. We'll be keeping an eye out here to make sure you don't miss out on an easy pre-order.

Main players in the US

And for US shoppers, here are the retailers I'd recommend for tomorrow...

Best Buy |

Best Buy is a pretty reliable source of Limited Edition DualSense pre-orders. Sometimes, it even puts up a retail page early so you know it'll have stock to offer. Either way, this is one of the main spots we saw packing the first Astro Bot controller.

View Deal

Amazon |

Amazon can sometimes be a little slower on the uptake when it comes to limited edition releases, but it does pack a massive warehouse full of them when it does list one. That means once the stock does land, it will last longer.

Walmart |

Walmart generally filters its new pre-orders onto the shelves a little after Best Buy, but be wary of marketplace sellers. I'd recommend only going with Walmart-sold devices - don't buy from inflated prices and scalpers looking to make a quick buck.

Catch you tomorrow!

I've got to run for now since it's the end of the work day here in the UK. But I'll be on at around 9:30am BST tomorrow for the start of all the pre-order chaos, and I'll remain online updating this page throughout the day for when US retailers kick into gear.

For now, feel free to have a peruse of the info I've already supplied in today's live feed.

Take it easy, and I'll catch you tomorrow!

Good morning, gamers! We have a little under 30 minutes until the stock of the new Astro Bot Joyful controller drops. I'm just getting things moving on this page with some initial updates. I'll be back with more information soon!

PlayStation Direct still doesn't have a listing, but that's normal

If you look at the DualSense listing page at PlayStation Direct, you won't see either Astro Bot colorway as an option. That's pretty normal at this stage, and it'll likely refresh at 10am (or whenever Sony releases its own supply of stock) so that the new Astro Bot version is available.

I'm going to take a quick look through the other retailers and see if there are any early listings that will give us a hint where to look for stock.

Amazon looks like it has the goods!

We have a listing at Amazon which says "currently unavailable". Hopefully, that means that Amazon will be releasing its stock right at 10am, but it might be good to have this link open just in case...

Pre-order the Astro Bot Joyful DualSense controller at Amazon

I'd put my bets on Amazon and PlayStation Direct

Okay, quick check done, and Amazon is the only UK retailer listing the Astro Bot DualSense controller so far. I'd definitely have a tab open ready to pre-order there at 10am, but PlayStation Direct is also a safe bet to refresh when the bell tolls.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense at Amazon

I'll refresh the other retailers at 10am and let you know of any activity!

PlayStation Direct has it, go go go!

After some crazy minutes of refreshes that weren't bringing the controller up, here's the PlayStation Direct listing. Hurry to get yours:

Pre-order the Astro Bot DualSense at PlayStation

Still no other listings, so go to the source...

I've done another round of retailer checks, and there's still nothing besides PlayStation Direct and the listing at Amazon, which says "currently unavailable". My guess is that Amazon, and any other retailers who have stock, will release it strategically throughout the day, but I'll be keeping on top of that.

For now, I'd use the link below to grab your pre-order.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | £74.99 at PlayStation

Smyths has stock, and I have a link for you

Completely out of left field for a DualSense release, but Smyths is bringing the Astro Bot Joyful DualSense to you. It's available for the same price as the listing at PlayStation, and you can grab yours below...

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | £74.99 at Smyths

Sony when...

^^^^ Sony's face when they tell everyone that stock will arrive at 10am and watch people spam the refresh button for 5-minutes straight.

Okay, so he may have arrived late, but Astro Bot's latest DualSense is alive and well in the UK, with stock still appearing to last at both Smyths and PlayStation. If I spot stock at any other retailers you'll be the first to know.

• Pre-order the new Astro Bot Joyful DualSense at PlayStation Direct
• Pre-order the new Astro Bot Joyful DualSense at Smyths

Very has arrived at the Astro Bot launch party!

You can now pre-order the new Astro Bot Joyful DualSense controller at Very, as well as PlayStation and Smyths.

It's the same price here as the other two retailers, and you can also use VeryPay to pay in 3 months, bringing the cost to £25 per month with no interest.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | £74.99 at Very

Amazon's page is now live (only 40 minutes late)

Aaaand Amazon has finally flipped its page from "currently unavailable" to "Pre-order now".

This might be the best option for Prime members since they'll get to use their free shipping perks, but you'll be glad to know there's no price inflation here; it's the same cost as everywhere else.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | £74.99 at Amazon

Smyths has run out...

Well, it lasted longer than I thought, and it usually isn't a player in limited edition DualSense releases, but Smyths has flipped its page to "out of stock".

You can still pre-order the Astro Bot Joyful DualSense from the other retailers below:

• ✅PlayStation Direct: In stock
• ✅Very: In stock
• ❌Amazon: OOS
• ❌Smyths: OOS

Amazon has run out too...

Well, that didn't last too long! Amazon took 40 minutes to release its stock, and only ~20 for it to run out.

With a retailer as big as Amazon, you never know if it could resupply later in the day, but at least there are other stores to shop at in the UK right now for those hunting down the new Astro Bot controller. I'm slightly surprised that PlayStation Direct's supply hasn't vanished yet, but there's also Very.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | £74.99 at Very

Don't buy at Amazon - that's scalper stock and you don't need to pay more than the regular price

The Amazon listing is back, but its price is massively inflated. I'd really strongly urge you not to buy from Amazon right now, because there's no need to spend more than the price Sony has listed. You can still get a hold of the Astro Bot controller at Very and PlayStation Direct, and you won't need to pay a penny more than £74.99.

In general, just don't give scalpers your money. There's clearly an issue with Amazon's stock listing feeds if it's pulling through that sort of listing without vetting it.

Nothing at Currys or Argos yet, but Currys has the Gold Ghost of Yotei Edition

Neither Argos nor Currys is packing the Astro Bot Joyful model of the DualSense, but if you fancy a different Limited Edition design, I really like the Gold Ghost of Yotei edition, which is also available for pre-order right now. You can get that from Currys for £74.99.

Ghost of Yotei Gold Dualsense | £74.99 at Currys

A quick UK roundup

It's almost time for us to switch focus and look at where US shoppers can secure their pre-orders, so here's a quick summary of where you can still bag an Astro Bot Joyful DualSense controller in the UK.

• ✅PlayStation Direct: In stock
• ✅Very: In stock
• ❌Amazon: OOS
• ❌Smyths: OOS (with some click and collect options)

Don't worry if you're a UK shopper, we'll still be updating this page with retailers and stock updates as the afternoon progresses, but as we get closer to 10am ET (2pm BST), we'll be helping out our US friends too! If my live feed starts to cater more to US readers for a while, use the quick links above to stay up to date.

US Astro Bot controller stock will drop in two hours

We're now two hours away from Astro Bot DualSense stock in the US, and there aren't even any listing pages live at retailers. That includes PS Direct itself, which usually keeps all its different colorways on one landing page - only Astro himself is nowhere to be seen.

Hopefully that changes up pretty quick so that we're not stuck in a mad scramble of refreshes.

Who will list first in the US?

PS Direct was first out the gate when Astro Bot controller pre-orders dropped in the UK earlier today. I would expect the same to be true in the US - after all, Sony owns the little fella.

However, other stores were only about 15 minutes behind Sony in the UK (even if Amazon took its sweet time). Amazon US tends to be a little slower than its counterpart over the seas, so I'd prioritize Best Buy and Walmart in this hunt.

Answer: Probably PS Direct, but keep an eye on Best Buy and Walmart - Amazon may be late to the party.

Smyths Toys is back in action

Looks like pre-order stock has re-emerged at Smyths Toys in the last few minutes. If you want to click and collect on release day rather than waiting for delivery, this is the place to be.

Astro Bot DualSense Controller | £74.99 at Smyths Toys

Are you ready, US readers?

There's roughly 40 minutes until stock drops on the East coast, and after another round of checks, there still doesn't appear to be any listings for the new Astro Bot Joyful DualSense at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, or PlayStation Direct.

This morning in the UK, although the controller was supposed to go live at 10am, it was about 10:05 before it appeared at PlayStation Direct. I'll be here for the rest of the afternoon to keep you up to date with goings on.

PlayStation Direct in the US has a listing, it's almost time!

PlayStation Direct has expanded its DualSense page to include the new Joyful edition, but it says that it's "currently unavailable". To me, that would signal that PlayStation Direct is the first place to shop. Get ready, folks!

I'll be checking the other stores like crazy too, so I'll let you know if there are any other updates.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | Check availability at PlayStation

PlayStation Direct is go, a whole two minutes early!

You can grab your pre-order straight from PlayStation now using the link below. Maybe this makes up for a late start in the UK this morning...

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | $84.99 at PlayStation

Walmart is go for launch as well

Walmart is also stocking the new Astro Bot DualSense for slightly cheaper than PlayStation, too!

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | $84.88 at Walmart

Amazon is about to drop...

Amazon in the US now has a listing for the Joyful Astro Bot controller, and it's linked below. It's saying "currently unavailable" at the moment, but I think that's because the listing page has only been published, and stock is yet to drop.

(unless all of the stock was gone within seconds, and I missed it, but I highly doubt that because I've been spamming the refresh buttons on all of the big retailers)

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | Check availability at Amazon

Target enters the game

Target is also stocking pre-orders for the same $84.99 price. US shoppers are eating well right now as stock seems to be holding at all of these retailers.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | $84.99 at Target

Aaaand GameStop

The supply of this controller is crazy! Usually, we're lucky if one or two retailers outside of PlayStation Direct stock a limited edition DualSense skin, but GameStop is also offering pre-orders, as well as perks if you join the store's GameStop Pro program.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | $84.99 at GameStop

I'm slightly shocked

We're 40 minutes into pre-orders being live, and I can't believe my eyes. For how popular the original Astro Bot controller was, stock for this Joyful edition is holding across all of the retailers so far. Maybe I'm speaking too soon, but you can still grab your controller at the retailers below:

• ✅ PlayStation Direct: In stock
• ✅ Walmart: In stock
• ✅ Target: In stock
• ✅ GameStop: In stock

Amazon still says "currently unavailable", although it's likely holding its supply until other retailers run out so it can swoop in as the hero. I'm keeping an eye on its listing though.

UK has a new player

Attention UK DualSense hunters, you can also grab a pre-order from The Game Collection, although stock appears to be holding at the other UK retailers besides Amazon.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | £74.95 at The Game Collection

The UK has a new cheapest deal

Shoppers in the UK who are still looking for an Astro Bot Joyful DualSense controller can now get one even cheaper thanks to a deal at ShopTo.

For some reason, this retailer has knocked a few pounds off the price, and if I were you, I'd order quickly before they all disappear...

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | £74.99 £71.85 at ShopTo

Still nothing at Best Buy

It's odd that Best Buy has been a reliable go-to for new DualSense Limited Editions and yet this time around they're still showing nothing. It might be a similar case to Amazon in that they're waiting until stock runs out elsewhere before releasing theirs to the desperate masses.

Still, we can be glad that there are other sources to go to right now...

• ✅ PlayStation Direct: In stock
• ✅ Walmart: In stock
• ✅ Target: In stock
• ✅ GameStop: In stock
• ✅Amazon: Check stock

No change yet!

I've done another sweep of retailers in the US and UK, and all the links above are still up to date. There's plenty of places to buy the new DualSense in both regions currently, although I'd hurry if you're keen to secure one since stock could start disappearing from the shelves if you leave it too long.

Best Buy has finally arrived!

Fiiinally Best Buy has decided it wants in on the action. You can grab the new Astro Bot controller at the big Yellow tag store now too.

Astro Bot Joyful DualSense | $84.99 at Best Buy

Happy weekend, folks!

I'm just about done for the working day, so I've done a final sweep through all the retailers in the US and UK, and updated the quick links above to match the current stock. I have no idea if stock will hold throughout the weekend, but for now, there are plenty of ways to grab your Astro Bot gamepad and add it to your PS5 loadout.

All the best in your DualSense hunting, and I've been honoured to serve you! Hope this coverage has been helpful, and have a great weekend.