PS5 Pro pre-orders as it happened: how the first day of pre-orders for regular and 30th Anniversary PS5 Pro consoles panned out
All the latest updates as we saw them
Editor's note: This blog originally contained information about the existing PS5 Slim console covers fitting the PS5 Pro that we subsequently learned has not been confirmed by Sony, so we have removed it to avoid any confusion. We apologize for any trouble this has caused and will update this article again if we do get official confirmation that the plates will fit. Our original blog continues as it was below.
Hello and welcome to our rolling coverage of PS5 Pro pre-orders and 30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders as it happened yesterday, September 26.
New hardware launches are one of the most exciting things to cover and experience in gaming, and the PS5 Pro pre-order launch is no different. The team and I kept a close eye on stock levels of 'regular' PS5 Pro pre-orders, as well as the special PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders and the 30th Anniversary DualSense pre-orders throughout the day as stock came and went and fluctuated all day.
You can see how it all panned out as it happened below, or use the links above to get the latest on the specific pre-order you're interested in. The most important thing to note is that it is still absolutely worth trying PlayStation Direct US for the regular PS5 Pro, and PS Direct UK for the Pro console too. While the Anniversary gear sold out, the 'regular' PS5 Pro can still be yours - though stock will fluctuate. If you want one, we'd act fast.
Quick links
- PS5 Pro: $699 at PS Direct | £699 at PS Direct
- PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition Bundle: $999 at PS Direct (out of stock)
- 30th Anniversary DualSense: $79.99 at PS Direct (out of stock)
- 30th Anniversary PS5 Slim Digital Edition: $499 at PS Direct (out of stock)
- 30th Anniversary DualSense Edge: $219 at PS Direct (out of stock)
- 30th Anniversary PlayStation Portal: $219 at PS Direct (out of stock)
PS5 Pro pre-orders: Consoles
I've been covering PlayStation hardware and hardware launches for six years now - I feel especially hardened and seasoned by spending months covering the stock shortage that followed its launch. I'm a PlayStation fanatic too and have owned almost every single variant, am deep in the ecosystem, and love everything about the platform so I am very much part of who the PS5 Pro console is aimed at and I'm as excited as the next fan and can't wait to get my hands on my own PS5 Pro soon.
From our estimates, we're now only about 45 minutes or so away from PS5 Pro pre-orders opening fully in the UK at PlayStation Direct - so the first thing we can give you is this PlayStation Direct UK link to get into the virtual waiting room.
As well as giving you the latest on the stock situation of both the new console and the Anniversary collection we'll also be sharing some reminders about what makes the machine exciting and what we're hoping it'll mean for games going forward.
It looks like PlayStation Direct in the UK updated their site early this morning to place folks in a temporary waiting room - it's not quite a live queue though as that has been paused - we think it'll go live again at 10am and that's when you'll be assigned a position in the queue for real and the rolls of the dice begin.
As well as the regular PS5 Pro pre-orders happening today, remember there's the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders happening today so you could bag yourself a special edition Pro (if you're lucky as there's only a select number of them) or a wicked cool DualSense with that excellent retro styling.
Remember, if you're not too keen on the eye-watering price of the PS5 Pro or still haven't got your hands on one of Sony's latest consoles, then you should still consider the PS5 Slim. It comes in significantly cheaper than the PS5 Pro, at $499.99 / £479.99, but can play all of the same games. Of course, you sacrifice some overall performance and lose out on the newest features, but that doesn't mean that it's not a great option for most players.
The PS5 Slim also comes with a disc reader out of the box, which is not present on the PS5 Pro and needs to be purchased separately. Unfortunately, there aren't that many amazing PS5 Slim deals right now, but you can see where to secure one below.
UK PS5 Pro Pre-orders should be open now!
OK, it has now turned 10am and pre-orders have been confirmed to be live via PlayStation's social media accounts. Has anyone had any luck yet? If not, keep trying and be patient - it's likely to be a low burn for a while as the queue takes effect...
30th Anniversary DualSense appears on Amazon UK! Then disappears...
We saw the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Dualsense go live at Amazon UK - it actually happened! But then it disappeared in a flash... Did anyone get one?
OK, the queue is moving! We are in the queue and seeing our yellow bar moving down so it looks like the PS5 Pro pre-order train is actually moving! For reference, if you jump into the queue now, your wait time is likely to be over an hour...
PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary bundle UK price confirmed
We've seen on social media that the UK pricing for the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Bundle has been confirmed at £959.99.
We don't think this is that bad considering what you're getting, including that 200-wuid DualSense Edge...
I'm in!
I have managed to get in past the queue and can browse all the listings including the 'regular' PS5 Pro. The 30th Anniversary Bundle has indeed sold out for now, but the regular console has an orange 'add to cart' button - however, I can't place it in my basket yet. If you're in the same boat, keep trying!
Remember the disc drive and vertical stand
While you wait in the queue or finalise your PS5 Pro pre-order, it's worth remembering that it does not come with a disc drive or vertical stand.
So, if you want to play physical games on PS5 Pro, you'll need to have the PlayStation 5 disc drive handy. The disc drive is sold separately for $79.99 / £99.99, and Sony is already struggling to keep up with demand as it seems to be sold pretty much everywhere.
The vertical stand costs $29.99 / £24.99 and thankfully, stock has been more reliable, and it's currently available at a wide variety of retailers. For a full list of stock options for both of these items, you should check out our guide on where to buy the PS5 Pro disc drive and vertical stand.
Current stock situation - seems to be struggling
OK, sit rep. The main thing is that PS Direct still has PS5 Pro stock available to pre-order right now - I finally got one into my basket as you can see.
In terms of the 30th Anniversary Collection, it looks like the PlayStation Portal is the only item still readily available at PS Direct right now. We can still some orange add-to-cart buttons, but are having mixed results with getting them into carts. The 30th Anniversary PS5 Pro bundle sold out in minutes by the looks of it, too.
The only other retailer that saw some action was Amazon UK with its DualSense listing (the only thing it could have sold due to PS Direct having exclusivity over everything else).
PS5 Vertical Stand and Disc Drive for PS5 in stock at Currys
A user on Twitter / X has advised that the PS5 Vertical Stand and Disc Drive are currently in stock at Currys in the UK. You can find the Vertical Stand for £24.99, while the Disc Drive is available for £99.99. This could be a good way to pick up the PS5 Pro compatible accessories if you're struggling to locate them now that they seem to be firmly out of stock at PS Direct.
The Vertical Stand is a great option if you need to position your console in a vertical orientation. While a stand was included with the launch, that is no longer the case for the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro making it an essential accessory for some. The Disc Drive is needed if you have a physical game collection, as it's not included with the PS5 Pro out of the box.
The queue is no more in the UK!
It appears as though those shopping from a mobile phone can now enter the PS Direct website directly without the need to queue. We've tested a range of Android and iOS devices and managed to reliably get into the site every time in the last few minutes. There's not a huge amount of stock left at the moment, sadly, but this is still worth noting if you haven't managed to get online yet.
The queue has also vanished over on PC according to our most recent checks, so now is the time to strike if you've been waiting until things died down. Again, there's not a lot of stock left but there are still some things like the limited edition PlayStation Portal left to secure.
Updates from the front line
Things are slowing down a little in the UK, so it is the perfect time to reflect on the day so far. The morning was pretty chaotic, with the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Limited Edition seemingly selling out in a matter minutes. The limited edition PS5 Slim was the next to follow, plus the lovely limited edition DualSense. Even the pricey limited edition DualSense Edge was fully sold out in just a few hours.
The only products that are still holding strong are the limited edition PS Portal and the standard PS5 Pro. If you want to get your hands on either of them, we would suggest acting quickly as there's no saying how long the stock will last. The PS5 Pro is available for £699.99, while the PlayStation Portal 30th Anniversary Limited Edition is priced at £209.99.
Throughout the morning, shoppers have been battling against a lengthy queueing system that has only recently eased up. If you're currently in the US and want to get the best chance at securing your items, we would strong recommend that you head over to the PS Direct site now before the pressure starts ramping up.
Queues open for US shoppers!
If there's anything that we've learned from the UK shopping experience this morning, it's that those who get in early will have the best chance to secure their PS5 Pro or any of the 30th Anniversary products. Queues are now live in US and we recommend jumping in as soon as possible.
There's no official word on when pre-orders will begin, but we suspect that it will be around 10AM. This would match the starting time that we saw in the UK earlier today. We can also predict that products will sell out incredibly quickly, so get your head start now before it's too late.
US pre-order time confirmed
The queue screen on PS Direct gives us our first official confirmation of a pre-order time. It states that "pre-orders for the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection and PS5 Pro will begin at 7AM PDT (10am EDT)". This matches our earlier prediction that the US time would match what we saw in the UK earlier today.
We got to the end of the queue and can confirm that the products are not currently available in the US, so there's no need to rush to the website quite yet. That said, we would still recommend keeping it open in a tab so that you're ready for when that 7AM PDT / 1AM EDT start time rolls around.
Should you upgrade from the PS5 to a PS5 Pro?
Now that pre-orders are nearly here in the US, it's time to start weighing up whether you really want or need a PS5 Pro. Here's what Hardware Editor Rhys Wood had to say:
"The PS5 Pro is very much a luxury item that comes at a high price relative to the standard model. What it's worth to you will all depend on how much you value aspects like increased image quality, AI-powered supersampling, and a chunkier storage capacity.
If you're at the forefront of playing the very best PS5 games - the ones with class-leading visual fidelity like Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, then you will certainly benefit from a PS5 Pro upgrade.
Overall cleaner image quality will make these games look crisper than ever. While in-game graphics themselves won't be affected, this upgrade is all about cleaning up the overall image to an impeccable degree. Plus, that 2TB of storage will also go a ways to helping you store and play even more of these massive games."
The PS5 Pro is now out of stock in the UK
It seems as though the inevitable has happened. The PS5 Pro is now out of stock in the UK. This means that no more pre-orders are available at the moment. There's also no word on whether any new stock will become available throughout the day, but there's definitely no harm in keeping an eye on the PS Direct site if you have the time.
Hardware Writer Dashiell Wood has the following advice for US shoppers: "it's a huge shame that the PS5 Pro is now out of stock in the UK, but I'm honestly quite surprised that it was available for as long as it was. There were a good few hours where it was up for purchase this morning, which is a good sign for what's to come in the US later.
If you're in the US and planning on picking up a PS5 Pro, definitely join the queue now and have you card details ready to fire for 7AM PDT / 1AM EDT!"
Code red: the queue is now paused
Bad news if you were in the queue or browsing the PS Direct site It seems as though users are now being pushed back to the waiting room, with a new message stating that "the line is paused" and that PlayStation is "currently experiencing a large volume of customers." It goes on to add that "we're working hard to get you back in so you can place your pre-order direct from PlayStation".
This was something that we saw earlier in the UK, but we're not quite sure how long this period of limbo will last for US folks. Hopefully we will all be able to get back in the queue before pre-orders go live.
PS5 Pro pre-orders should now be live in the US
We've crossed Rubicon of 10am ET and PS5 Pro pre-orders and 30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders should (technically) now be live for our US readers!
However, we expect the waiting page to take some time to sort itself out and the queue may stay paused for a good few minutes too. It's just a matter of waiting...
The pause has lifted...
The queue has lifted for us but the wait is for "more than an hour" so it looks like we're in for a bit of a wait.
However, there is some good news elsewhere...
The 30th Anniversary DualSense is in stock and available to buy!
The good is that while you wait for a PS5 Pro, the 30th Anniversary DualSense is up for pre-order at a bunch of retailers!
Walmart: 30th Anniversary Dualsense for $79
Best Buy: 30th Anniversary DualSense for $79.99
There's also a listing page at Amazon but it's currently 'Currently Unavailable'.
The queue is moving but progress is very slow
Okay, we're now seeing our queue drop below the hour mark which means we can actually see some tangible progress happening. However, it's very slow going. While the progress bar is certainly moving towards the right, we've only just dipped under an hour and - perhaps to rub salt into the wound - we're only waiting to be assigned a "random place in the queue," according to Sony, before we actually get in. It feels like we could be in for the long haul here...
Has the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary bundle already sold out at PlayStation Direct US?
Our friends at Tom's Guide have heard rumors from users that the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary bundle has already sold out, and that's while teems of US-based customers are still waiting to get through the queue.
Several members of TechRadar and TechRadar Gaming are waiting in the queue to get into PlayStation Direct to assess the situation. We'll keep you posted as soon as we learn more.
DualSense 30th Anniversary Limited Edition back in stock at Amazon UK!
If you missed your chance to secure your DualSense 30th Anniversary Limited Edition over at PlayStation Direct, it's now back in stock over at Amazon UK for £69.99! This may be your last chance to secure a model in the UK, so act now if you're particularly keen.
Limited Edition DualSense still in stock
We've finally got to the front of the queue so here's the very latest on the current stock situation.
The PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition bundle has officially sold out in the US and seems to have only been available for a matter of minutes, which is pretty much exactly what we saw earlier in the UK.
The PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Edition is also sold out, but stock is holding firm on the limited edition PlayStation Portal and DualSense Edge. If what we saw in the UK is anything to go by, these will be two of the last products to sell out today.
The DualSense 30th Anniversary Limited Edition is still in stock too, but we would advise jumping on this quickly given the apparent high demand.
As for the main attraction, the PS5 Pro, pre-orders are still available at the time of writing. We saw them sell out in the UK a few hours ago though, so I wouldn't bank on them being around for long in the US either.
The Disc Drive and Stand are holding strong
The PS5 Pro compatible Disc Drive is still in stock right now at PS Direct, where it will set you back $79.99. We've seen plenty of people rushing to pick these up over the last couple weeks, as the PS5 Pro does not include a disc drive out of the box, so now is your chance. If you have a large physical collection, then this is an absolutely essential purchase.
Those who require their PlayStation to be stood upright should also pay careful attention to the official Vertical Stand. This is still in stock too right now and costs $29.99. While not as important at the Disc Drive, this is still very nice to have and gives you a lot more options when it comes to positioning your new machine.
Still some 30th Anniversary products available
In case you missed the news earlier, the PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Limited Edition has sold out in the US. It was available for quite a lot longer than the 30th Anniversary Collection bundle, which seems to have been only up for a matter of minutes, but it now looks like things are finally winding down for good. There's still a chance that a restock will show up later today, perhaps as the result of any canceled pre-orders, but we wouldn't hold our breath on it.
If you still want to get your hands on some of the 30th Anniversary Edition gear, your current options are the PlayStation Portal, DualSense Edge, and DualSense. Pre-orders of the regular PS5 Pro are also still holding strong and can be secured for $699 at PS Direct right now.
The 30th Anniversary DualSense Edge controller has sold out in the US
The DualSense Edge 30th Anniversary Limited Edition wireless controller has now sold out in the US at PlayStation Direct, so if you were one of the lucky few thousand who managed to snag one, enjoy your hard earned spoils. The controller, designed to evoke the look and aesthetics of the original PlayStation controller released in 1994, is definitely going to be a sought after collectors item for many a gamer in the days, weeks, and years ahead.
30th-Anniversary DualSense controller and Portal remote player both sold out at PlayStation Direct, but there is still PS5 Pro stock available for now
And just like that, the 30th Anniversary PS5 products all look to be sold out, which isn't surprising given that these were limited run items. Fortunately, if you're in the market for a PS5 Pro, there is still stock available as of 1:00PM ET.
PS5 Pro and PS5 Digital Edition are still available at Playstation Direct
It appears that everyone in the queue ahead of us here at TechRadar really wanted those 30th-Anniversary consoles and accessories, because they seem to have bought all those instead of the vanilla PS5 Pro. That's great news for you if you're still in the queue, though, since as of 1:25PM ET, the PS5 Pro is still available for pre-order at Playstation Direct.
Just a slight update as of 1:55 PM ET: The PS5 Pro is still in stock and available for purchase after signing in on PlayStation Direct. The 30th-anniversary bundles, console, and accessories are sold out and all listed as "Currently Available," though.
For what it's worth, you are limited to just one console per order. Considering the standalone Pro console sold out after a few hours in the UK, we'd expect this to sell out in the US eventually. So, if you're keen to get one, it's a good idea to head over to PlayStation Direct sooner rather than later.
It appears that there is no longer a waiting lobby or queue to access the PlayStation Direct site – at least, that's the case for a few TechRadar team members in the US. This means that you no longer need to wait to score the consoles that are still in stock.
The entire 30th Anniversary collection – including the controllers, the Portal, the consoles, and the bundle – is sold out, but the PS5 Pro is still in stock at $699.99 USD and comes with 2TB of storage. You can see it on PlayStation Direct here; note that you must sign in to purchase it.
There are still some $699.99 PS5 Pros left in stock to get your hands on as of 3:00 PM ET, but those looking for a 30th Anniversary Limited Edition console or the PS5 Slim Digital Edition are out of luck as they're both unavailable in the US.
The PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Edition remains out of stock as well, with the 30th Anniversary DualSense controllers and the limited edition Portal following suit. Stock is moving quickly, with the base PS5 Pro the only remaining console from this release available for purchase at this time.
The PS5 Pro, Disc Drive, and Vertical Stand can still be yours
Mere hours was all it took to swallow up the available stock of limited edition PS5 items. The 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle, standalone 30th Anniversary Slim Digital Edition, and 30th Anniversary DualSense controllers are all still "Currently Unavailable" with no signs of restocking soon.
On the bright side, the Add to cart button is still available under the PS5 Pro, Disc Drive, and Vertical Stand. That means you can still be the proud owner of a fully functional PS5 Pro setup, albeit without any special 30th Anniversary decals.
