Massive PS5 restock: Best Buy time if you missed GameStop – how to get it Walmart PS5 restock date

Update: The PS5 restock at Best Buy time is almost always just after 12pm EDT, with last week’s restock happening at 12:30pm EDT. We should expect the same if it does go back ins tock today, although once in the last six weeks, we saw it go live at 3:15pm EDT in a very late update. All of this is good news in case you tried for the GameStop restock of bundles this morning that just sold out, according to our PS5 restock Twitter tracker. Here’s how to know.

To get advance notice, follow Matt Swider as he tracks the PS5 console:

This is what the notification for the Best Buy PS5 restock looks like (last week is the example given) to give you a sense of what you should see between 12pm EDT and 3:15pm EDT.

Best Buy is likely to happen this afternoon based on the fact that the retailer has sold the PlayStation 5 on Friday for the past six weeks. And the time has always landed between 12pm EDT and 3:15pm EDT. Last week, our PS5 restock Twitter tracker detected the PS5 Disc console on sale for $499 at 12:30pm EDT. In fact, we were able to run an exclusive report ahead of the official time thanks to sources at Best Buy warehouses regarding inventory.

Best Buy PS5 restock date and time explained

The Best Buy PS5 restock date will be today, Friday, April 2 if the retailer sticks to its pattern of launching next-gen console orders on Friday afternoons. The PS5 restock time is usually just after 12pm EDT, though once it landed later than normal at 3pm EDT. Semiconductor shortages delayed console inventory for many retailers, though Best Buy seems to steadily be offering online orders with in-store pickup. 

We’ve had exclusive reporting pieced together from inventory counts via warehouse and store employee sources to confirm the Best Buy restock date and time right before it officially went live, and we will be looking to do the same later today.

Last week, the PS5 inventory at Best Buy was Disc only, with the PS5 Digital Edition not being sold whatsoever. We don’t have a clear count on how many versions of the console will be on hand this week, but we’re also searching for those sources.

Best Buy restock date: all signs point to today

Very likely for two reasons. First, the one you know about: this would be the seventh PS5 drop at Best Buy on a Friday, so their track record for opening orders is solid.

Second, many people following our PS5 restock Twitter tracker commented that the PS5 console that tried to buy last week but left in their cart was suddenly removed on Thursday afternoon. Best Buy purging consoles from carts is another sign that it’s preparing another big restock for today.

The Best Buy PS5 restock is good news for thousands of people who were left down by the fact that there was no Walmart or GameStop restock this week. Demand for the console is actually down from its peak three weeks ago, but inventory remains a problem that Sony hasn’t been able to address to this day.

TechRadar also got word from several retail sources who suggest that April is looking dire for both Sony and Microsoft console inventory. So even as demand wanes (as early adopters get their console), there still doesn’t seem to be enough consoles being made and shipping to retailers. 

In other words, if you see the PS5 back in stock, get it while you can.

Best Buy PS5 restock date and time

As we’ve said, Best Best is likely happening today, Friday, April 2, and we’d put it at a 75% chance. We may know one way or another just before it usually goes live just after 12pm EDT. Last week, we saw Best Buy open orders at 12:30pm EDT across the nation (so 11:30am CDT / 10:30am PDT / 9:30am PDT). Be warned, once the time was at 3pm EDT, so adjust your expectations – if Best Buy happens. 

GameStop PS5 restock date and time

The was just a GameStop PS5 restock date this morning, so we expect that the game retailer will have its next restock late next week or the week after. It usually opens up orders for bundles one to one-and-a-half weeks after the last restock So we’ll be keeping an eye out for that late next week.

Amazon PS5 restock date

The overdue Amazon PS5 restock has become the white whale of eager gamers looking to buy the PlayStation 5. We were sent information that the retailer had a PS5 restock date for Thursday, March 18 with 46,000 consoles up for grabs. But that scheduled date got shifted, clearly – and we’re not sure why. Maybe it’ll offload those 46,000 console in inventory this week. But really, who knows?

Update: We’re told that the Xbox may drop sooner than the PS5, even though Amazon just had a small round of Microsoft consoles for sale early last week.

Antonline PS5 restock

Antonline usually has next-gen console restock every week – Antonline has publicly stated that it has “drops every week” – so because it launched a PS5 bundle March 30, we don’t anticipate another restock from this retailer until next week. However, we’ll keep watching in the off-chance there’s a PS5 Digital Edition for sale.

We caution getting there on time: Antonline tends to sell out in three minutes, but when it goes on sale, there are no waves or in stock/out of stock funny business with the add to cart button.

Here’s what our Antonline restock alert looked like yesterday:

Sony Direct date and time

The Sony Direct PS5 restock date hasn’t been this week, but it often does PlayStation 5 drops multiple times a week during weekday afternoons. This is Sony’s official store for the PlayStation brand and one of the more fair ways to buy the console: it uses a lottery system to keep bots at bay. You need a PSN account and it’s one PS5 console per address. Its virtual queue is randomized, so we’re always “in line” attempting to reach checkout. 

Our success rate on getting through? About once every other week when there are 3-4 drops per week. Note: we never buy the PS5 in the end, giving up our spot to the next person and just testing it out for reporting purposes to see if it gets any easier or learn new tricks. One trick we’ve learned: while having new tabs open won’t help your chances, using different browsers and different devices is the best way to get the console from Sony Direct.

Here’s what our Sony Direct PS5 restock alert looked like last time (March 22 example shown):

TechRadar will continue to report on PS5 restock information as the news breaks. We’ll keep this page updated with the most relevant data regarding Sony’s console and when it’s back in stock. Time is always a factor, so knowing when PS5 will be in stock at Best Buy and other retailers give you a better chance to buy it in April, rather than having to wait until the summer of 2021 – or even later this year.