PS5 Target restock: consoles now out of stock, but here's where you could still snag one

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PS5 stocks were plentiful to start, but quickly sold out

PS5
(Image credit: Sony)

Update 06:46: our store scanning is now returning no stock of either the Digital Edition or disc console, so we're calling them both as out of stock now for the PS5 Target restock session.

Target's much-rumored PS5 restock drop was live between 5:30 - 6:15AM ET for the main disc version, but is now sold out. That was quickly followed by stocks of the Digital Edition, which went live between 6:25-6:40AM ET, but that lasted significantly less time.

It shows that Target had more PS5 stock of the main, popular console, focusing less on the PS5 Digital Edition.

However, if you miss out on this latest PS5 stock announcement, you might still be in luck this week. There's often a queue on the Sony website weekdays, so if you're after a Sony Direct PS5 restock, then you could be lucky during the days this week.

While PS5 stock is rare and severely limited, here's where else to check when it does land:

Target had been tipped to have PS5 restock shipments incoming, and the expected time frame was December 27-29, according to video game site Spiel Times, which cited 'Someone of higher designation' as the source of Target PS5 restock info. This means the window has been narrowed down to tomorrow.

The stock was heading to stores earlier in the week, and that drop has now happened, albeit at the very last minute.

It seem the Spiel Times' source is accurate and the detail in the report was strong: specific regions are likely to get more than others, and that's what we're seeing right now.

When the PS5 restock appears...

The only good news is that retailers are offering the stock in waves to stop their sites crashing under heavy loads at certain times – that could also explain why Target is doing drops in the early hours. 

Spiel Times is suggesting that 3am-7am is the key time for PS5 stock to land (which turned out to be true), and that's something we've experienced in the past too.

This previous Tweet from Spiel Times earlier in December is also worth remembering:

The PS5 stock drop will be in-store pickup only with no walk-in orders (thankfully, to avoid the Covid-tempting stampedes at the news of a PS5 console) – so you'll order online and get them in store at a specific time. 

The key thing with these PS5 restock drops is making the checkout process as smooth as possible – you'll often be able to add to cart, but every second and click after that reduces your chance of actually getting one dramatically.

Should you buy a PS5?

The PS5 comes with a revolutionary new DualSense controller, and is capable of 4K gaming at 120fps. It's also backwards compatible with all the best PS4 games, so you can revisit some classic titles and take your existing library with you.

What's more, the PS5's selection of games is already shaping up nicely. Games such as Demon's Souls and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales are must-haves, and continue Sony's legacy of creating compelling exclusives you won't find anywhere else.

Gareth Beavis
Gareth Beavis
Formerly Global Editor in Chief

Gareth has been part of the consumer technology world in a career spanning three decades. He started life as a staff writer on the fledgling TechRadar, and has grew with the site (primarily as phones, tablets and wearables editor) until becoming Global Editor in Chief in 2018. Gareth has written over 4,000 articles for TechRadar, has contributed expert insight to a number of other publications, chaired panels on zeitgeist technologies, presented at the Gadget Show Live as well as representing the brand on TV and radio for multiple channels including Sky, BBC, ITV and Al-Jazeera. Passionate about fitness, he can bore anyone rigid about stress management, sleep tracking, heart rate variance as well as bemoaning something about the latest iPhone, Galaxy or OLED TV.