Sony reveals that launch PS5 sales will be ‘online,’ says not to camp out or line up at retail

‘In the interest of keeping our gamers, retailers, and staff safe’

This is coming in hot, but Sony is warning fans not to expect physical PS5 sales this year. Meaning: the typical “camp out for your next-gen system” routine is right out in 2020.

Sony’s content communications senior director Sid Shuman shared the news this morning, explaining that “in the interest of keeping our gamers, retailers, and staff safe” amid the pandemic, they are “confirmation that all day-of launch sales will be conducted through the online stores of our retail partners.” “Don’t plan on camping out or lining up at your local retailer on launch day,” Sony re-iterates. “Be safe, stay home, and place your order online.”

So what happens if you pre-ordered a console at a store already? Sony says that “you should still be able to do so,” at a “designated appointment time, under the retailer’s safety protocols.” They state that you should confirm this directly before the day of.

As we rush headlong into winter and the shopping season, this move is completely expected: we suspect a lot of other retailers and manufacturers alike will follow suit. Except GameStop, maybe.

PlayStation 5: Launch Day Ordering Update [PlayStation Blog]