The PS5 launch will be online only

News
By published

"Please don't plan on camping out or lining up at your local retailer on launch day"

PS5
(Image credit: Sony)

The PS5 will only be available via online delivery on launch day. 

In a blog post this afternoon, Sony confirmed that no in-store purchases will be allowed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sid Shuman, senior director of Sony content communications, said that while the PS5 release date is almost here, "in the interest of keeping out 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."

That means that "no units will be available in-store for purchase on launch day" whether the console is releasing in your region on November 12 or November 19. Shuman asks that would-be buyers "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."

If you've got a PS5 pre-order that you're planning on picking up from a retailer, you'll still be able to do that, as long as you abide by your retailer's safety protocols, which you'll need to confirm on an individual basis.

It's probably worth making sure that you'll be getting your PS5 launch games online too.

Ali Jones
Ali Jones
Managing Editor, News

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for news, shaping the news strategy across the team. I started my journalistic career while getting my degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick, where I also worked as Games Editor on the student newspaper, The Boar. Since then, I've run the news sections at PCGamesN and Kotaku UK, and also regularly contributed to PC Gamer. As you might be able to tell, PC is my platform of choice, so you can regularly find me playing League of Legends or Steam's latest indie hit.