CONSOLE HUNT · BUY SMART, SELL FAIR
Console Hunt
Trying to find a PS5 or Xbox before November 19 is its own side mission. Stock is tight, prices went up, and scalpers are circling.
Don’t feed the scalpers. Buy smart, sell fair, and look out for each other.
Why it’s so hard right now
The confirmed facts behind the empty shelves.
Retailers warned of shortages around launch
Back in June, a major retailer told The Game Business it expected console stock to run out around the GTA VI launch, with demand outstripping supply over the holidays.
Consoles got more expensive this year
A global memory chip shortage pushed hardware costs up. Microsoft raised Xbox Series X and S prices by $150 starting August 1, 2026, and Sony has raised PS5 prices during 2026 as well.
Scalpers are flipping the PS5 Pro for hundreds over list
After the extended look premiered on Netflix in late August, the PS5 Pro sold out at major US retailers and third party sellers relisted it around $1,300 against an $899 list price.
You don’t need the most expensive console
GTA VI is coming to PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Before paying a scalper markup for a Pro, check whether a standard model at list price gets you playing on day one.
Sightings in the wild
Spotted consoles in stock at list price? Tell us where, and we’ll pass it on to the community.
How it works
- Send us the store, the city, the model, the price and when you saw it.
- We only share sightings at list price from real retailers. No resale listings, no marketplace flips.
- Stock moves fast, so every sighting shows when it was spotted.
No sightings posted yet. Be the first to report one.
Buying smart
How to get one without getting burned.
Buy new
- Know the list price before you shop, so a markup jumps out at you.
- Stick to the console makers’ own stores and real retailers. Sign up for their restock alerts.
- On big marketplaces, check who the seller actually is. “Sold by” a third party usually means a markup.
- Never pay by gift card or wire transfer. Real stores don’t ask for that.
Buying used
- Meet in person, in a public spot. Many police stations have safe exchange zones.
- See it power on, connect to the internet and run a game before you pay.
- Ask for the original receipt, and make sure the console isn’t signed in to someone else’s account.
- If the price looks too good to be true, it’s a scam. Every time.
Selling yours? Sell to a gamer
Upgrading? Keep your old console out of a scalper’s hands.
How to spot a real player
- Ask what they play and what they’re excited for. Real gamers love that question. Resellers get vague.
- Be wary of buyers who want several consoles, or who offer over your asking price without seeing it.
- Sell to one person, in person, at a fair price. A fair price is the scalper’s worst enemy.
- Selling local means it stays in your community, with a kid, a parent or a buddy who will actually play it.
Before you hand it over
- Sign out of your accounts and turn off any automatic purchases.
- Do a full factory reset, so none of your data or payment info goes with it.
- Include the controller and cables, and keep a note of the serial number.