PS5 restock: GameStop stores still in stock today

➡️ The Shortcut Skinny

• ⬇️ Three GameStop PS5 restock bundles (listed below) restocked today

• 🗺️ The official GameStop PS5 restock store locator says if it’s participating

• ☎️ At this time, call your GameStop to see if it has any left (some have it)

• 💳 Must be GameStop PowerUp Rewards Pro member for the PS5 restock

• 📦 Backup plan: request an Amazon PS5 invite right now

• 🎧 Claim this 🔥$0 for Audible 3-month trial for new members

• 📱 Claim this 🔥$200 Samsung credit by filling out your email in case you buy the upcoming Samsung foldable phone

GameStop PS5 restock today

The big GameStop PS5 restock today continues, as I’m updating this post live to tell you that some store locations still have the console in stock as of tonight, July 23. I confirmed on The Shortcut over a week ago (it’s the second of two back-to-back PlayStation 5 restocks at GameStop stores), and I’m announcing that it’s still in stock, according to internal data from GameStop.

It’s best to call your local GameStop to ensure that have the Sony PlayStation 5 console before assuming they do. Some stores have sold out of the PS5 restock, but there are plenty (like in the outer boroughs of NYC where I live) that still have PS5 for sale. There’s a very good chance they’ll have it tomorrow, July 24, too.

How to get my PS5 restock alerts

• 1️⃣ Follow PS5 restock Twitter tracker Matt Swider on Twitter

  • 🔔Follow and turn on notifications for immediate alerts

• 2️⃣ Sign up for The Shortcut newsletter alerts below

✅ Paid subscribers get early PS5 bundle info, prices and inventory numbers
✅ There’s a full guide that took me hours (days, actually) to write
✅ You can always ask me tech questions 1:1

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If today’s July 23 GameStop PS5 restock is too pricey for you, I track each PS5 restock on Twitter at stores like Walmart, Target, and Amazon – if you follow and turn on notifications.

GameStop PS5 bundles July 23, 2022

Here are the leaked GameStop PS5 bundles; two PS5 Disc and one PS5 Digital (although inventory for PS5 Digital remains extremely rare, it may be more possible to snag since the included game bumps up the price a bit).

GameStop PS5 bundle #1 – $705 to $720

• PS5 Disc – $499

• PS5 DualSense controller (your choice) – $69.99 to $74.99

• Elden Ring or Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart $59.99 or $69.99

• $75 GameStop gift card – obviously $70

GameStop PS5 bundle #3 – $710 to $715

• PS5 Disc Horizon: Forbidden West bundle – $549.99

• PS5 DualSense controller (your choice) – $69.99 to $74.99

• Far Cry 6 – $20

• $75 GameStop gift card – obviously $75

This PS5 bundle adds Horizon: Forbidden West and there’s no PS Plus membership required like in the PS5 Digital Horizon bundle below (which is a good thing as there’s always a PlayStation Plus discount code for a better value).

And then there’s one rare PS5 Digital console bundle:

GameStop PS5 Digital bundle #1 – $610 – $615

• PS5 Digital Edition Horizon Forbidden West bundle – $449.99

• PS5 DualSense controller (Galaxy Purple or White) – $74.99

• $30 PlayStation Gift Card – $30

• PlayStation Plus 12-month subscription $60

Ethics disclosure: The Shortcut is supported by you. When you purchase through some of the links, I may earn a small affiliate commission.

Where to buy PS5 in July 2022

• Amazon PS5 Disc: you can get Amazon PS5 restock invitations today

• Amazon PS5 Digital

• Amazon PS5 Disc Horizon bundle

• Walmart PS5 Disc: the Walmart PS5 restock may happen early August

• Walmart PS5 Digital

• Walmart PS5 Disc Horizon bundle

• Walmart PS5 Digital

• Target PS5 restock – daily at a few local stores (but must order it online)

• Best Buy: last in stock during a Best Buy PS5 restock last week

• GameStop PS5 bundles: still in stock at some stores in the US

• Sony Direct PS5 queue – how to sign up for the invite email

What to buy with a PS5 restock

• Upgrade to the best SSD for PS5 (avoid the new WD Black SN850 SSD)

• Pick six PS5 controller colors – now six official colors

• Comparison time: PS5 Disc vs Digital – choose wisely

• VR pre-orders soon: PSVR 2 – eventually

• Buy the best PS5 games ranked

GameStop PS5 restock time

This is the first time that GameStop will sell the PS5 console in the United States for two weekends in a row. That’s significant because other retailers like Target and Walmart have struggled to offer the console nationwide in July 2022.

The GameStop PS5 restock today July 23 at 9am local time at stores in the US – or as soon as they open their doors (some locations open as late as 11am or 12pm). A few sell out on day one, but many locations (like in the outer boroughs of NYC) still have a few bundles if you’re willing to shell out more than $700.

Believe it or not, the GameStop PS5 restock from last weekend is still ongoing, even though it’s been a few days. You just have to figure out which stores still have the console in stock by calling before heading over there. That said, if your local GameStop store says the PS5 is out of stock, just wait for July 23.

Be like this person who follows my PS5 restock Twitter tracker:

🛑 GameStop PS5 restock again this weekend

• 🔮 Next GameStop PS5 restock: More stores will get the console this weekend

• 🧠 What to do: Go to GameStop stores on Saturday morning if your local store is due to have the console

🆕 What’s new
We’ll the GameStop PS5 restock twice in July, as stores are now getting the console in smaller batches. The first restock at GameStop happened last weekend and we’ll see more stores have it again this weekend. Xbox will be in stock at some GameStop stores, too, but as our PS5 vs Xbox Series X comparison shows, there’s a gulf between how readily available these two consoles are today (and it’s hurting Sony’s PS5 sales).

⏲️ But what time if it happens online again?
GameStop usually often had online restocks on Tuesdays at 11am EST/8am PST. Last time it was at 11am ET, so it’s important to get that Twitter alert 🚨, especially I can usually send out a PS5 restock Twitter tracker alert 90 minutes before the actual GameStop PS5 restock.

🏆 Why it’s your best shot in 2022
GameStop is your best bet to get a console. Why? It deters resellers by only selling game-and-accessory-included PS5 bundles ($650 for PS5 Digital, $750 for PS5 Disc) and requiring a low barrier to entry; a $15 PowerUp Pro annual membership.

It’s actually a really good thing. It goes to real gamers who intended to buy games anyway.

GameStop PS5 restock: what to do

While I suggested that it’s best to wait in line one to two hours in advance (and that was a good idea in some parts of the United States), not all GameStop stores sold out of Sony PS5 consoles on days one and two. This is due to the fact that GameStop forces its customers to purchase a bundle, a long-held tradition that has prevented resellers from buying up all of the PlayStation 5 consoles.

Does my GameStop sell PS5?

How will you know if your GameStop store location has a PS5 restock going on? The night before an official GameStop PS5 restock (so Saturday night, in this case for July 2022), your local store closes and, if the store is participating in the resupply, the employees will post a paper sign detailing which bundles they’ll have at their store, how many will be in stock (again, it’s an average of eight per store nationwide but can vary), and how much it’ll cost.

Warning: Some stores have been known to force customers to get a one- or two-year warranty. That’s never part of the official restock information I get, and I think some managers like to make their sales quota off the back of PS5 demand (it’s happened to me before, too when the Xbox Series X price was much higher than it is now). A few stores are even trying to force customers to buy their 4KTV inventory laying around, bringing the PS5 restock price to $900.

Will GameStop sell PS5 online?

No, all but one GameStop PS5 restock in 2022 has been exclusive to local stores; it hasn’t been sold online for months. You can get a PowerUp Rewards Pro membership ahead of time online, although stores do allow you to buy it at the store, too.

Why trust my PS5 restock expertise?

How do I know about the next PS5 restock? I’ve taken my 24 years of tech journalism experience and basically started to ever-so-kindly nag my reliable retail and supply chain sources. Then I tweet what I know and do in-depth guides on The Shortcut.

Why should you trust my PS5 restock tracker updates? I’ve helped 220,000 of my one million Twitter followers get a next-gen gaming console thanks to my tweet alerts and my old-school reporting.

In a single day in March 2022, exactly 8,703 got a next-gen console from my links during a recent Walmart PS5 restock

🏷️ Best Buy PS5 restock

• 💻 Last PS5 restock: July 12, 2022

• 🧠 What to do next time: Wait for an alert. Be prepared to splash some cash for Totaltech if you’re willing to part with $199/year. Decide that now.

🗺️ The basics
Every Best Buy PS5 restock is a lot like Target – you purchase online and pick up the console at your local store. But in this case, you pick it up about five days later. That’s because the console you are purchasing isn’t sitting in an individual store, but at a regional warehouse. At the time of purchase, it’s then shipped to your local store (hence the five-day delay).

🏷️ Do you need Best Buy Totaltech for PS5?
Of all the retailers’ paywalls, Totaltech is the hardest to swallow. At $199, you get free GeekSquad IT support (though don’t buy into it think this includes fixing hardware parts), extended warranties, and discounts, but there’s no monthly option. My followers have gotten away with canceling their membership (it’s prorated so they pay for the month), but this isn’t something I can say with authority will always work.

Best Buy’s $199 barrier-to-entry has slowed down the bots – sometimes the PS5 console just sits there with no takers for several minutes – but it’s not a guarantee. I bought Totaltech during the last restock and got no console.

⏲️ Timing for Best Buy PS5 restocks
Best Buy has consistently done PS5 restock events during normal working hours on weekdays, from 9:55am ET to 5:05pm ET, according to my restocking tracking data. No weekends and no nighttime restocks have happened in 2021 or 2022. Only once has it had an in-store restock (back on September 23 of last year).

📦 Amazon PS5 restock July 2022

• 🔮 Next PS5 restock: Invitations went out to select customers on Thursday, the day after Prime Day; look out for email invites (you’ll have 72 hours to checkout)

• 🧠 What to do: Wait for an alert on Twiter

🆕 Why I think the Amazon PS5 will be this week
The Amazon PS5 restock this month happened the day after Amazon Prime Day deals wrapped up, with some customers able to get an invitation via email for the PS5 Horizon Disc bundle. The number of people mentioning that they got the console is low, so it seems as if Amazon is drip-feeding PS5 restock invites rather slowly.

🗺️ Basics for PS5 at Amazon
You’ll need Amazon Prime to buy PlayStation 5, but even with one, Amazon remains the hardest retailer to purchase from. Like Walmart, it’s very popular. Unlike Walmart Plus, tons of people have a Prime membership. Amazon also remains a favorite target of resellers’ bots, even after going behind a paywall.

🤫 Secret tip 1: Click “See all buying options” instead of add-to-cart
Whenever I see PS5 in stock at Amazon (outside of the new invite method), it never has the normal add-to-cart button. The price is displayed in small text alongside the words “See All buying options” or if that’s not there “New & Used”. Click that button and a pop-out menu will show all of the options, which should include the PS5 at MSRP (if not, refresh until it shows up).

🤫 Secret tip 2: Add-to-cart trick (see the pic above)
When it’s in stock, you can skip the add-to-cart button altogether and select the “Add to List” button. A pop-up will ask you if you want to “View List” and selecting that will whisk you to a different page (that’s a good thing). From your wish list page, you can add it to your cart. The theory here is this page isn’t getting hammered with traffic and it’s easier to get it in your cart this way.

⛔ Which PS5 stores in the US can’t be trusted?

• 🐦 Twitter: never buy PS5 from Twitter ‘sellers’. They are ALL scams

• 🤓 Silicon Nerd: I’ve helped 222,000. Never seen anyone get it here

• 😒 Shady online storefronts: many went up overnight at launch, especially ones that only accept PayPal, cash or non-traceable forms of payment

• 🤨 Clones of me: Whether it’s me or a celebrity, beware of impersonators. I’ll never sell you any console

🎯 Target PS5: restock time

• 🔮 Next PS5 restock: A few stores almost daily but must be bought online

• 🏬 Last PS5 in-store restock: Doesn’t do in-store purchases for PS5 (for real)

• 🧠 What to do: If the Target PS5 restock is ever nationwide again, wait for a Twitter alert from me. It’s always mornings, Wednesday through Friday (though we never know which day) between 7am EST and 8am EST

🗺️ The basics:
Target does online orders with same-day in-store pickups (don’t worry, you have a few days to make the pickup if you can’t make it on day one). It feels great to see my followers smiling with their console-in-hand photos almost immediately after ordering the PlayStation 5 in the morning. You can go from wanting a PS5 for over a year to playing Ratchet & Clank in a matter of hours.

With Target, you’re buying online, but competing with your neighbors as you select a local store. Usually, when enough PlayStation 5 consoles trickle into the back rooms of its individual stores, it does a nationwide online restock (please don’t go to Target stores to pester Target employees, as PS5 is only sold online at Target).

⏲️ Target PS5 restock time
It’s always early, between 7am and 8am EST, and that’s even earlier on the West Coast, but at 4am PST, very few of your neighbors are up, so you have a better shot than anyone else in the United States. In 2021, the day of the week has shifted, but it’s always been a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday for the past 12 months.

🤫 Secret tip: Pay with PayPal or Apple Pay to bypass the Target servers
Pay with PayPal or Apple Pay at Target. Target’s normal credit card processing fields are what everyone else goes for as it’s right there on that page, but that page is always getting hammered with traffic during a PS5 restock. Being whisked out to PayPal’s stronger servers (an option fewer people try) is the way to go.

🤫 Secret tip 2: don’t buy PS5 Digital (14x less inventory than PS5 Disc)
See our PS5 Disc vs Digital comparison. The biggest mistake people make during a Target PS5 restock is waiting for the PS5 Digital version (which almost always comes second) and letting the PS5 Disc console pass them by. It’s $100 cheaper for PS5 Digital, but inventory just isn’t there at any of the retailers. I’ve checked their inventory (thanks to Target sources) – it’s sometimes 40:1 at Target stores with PS5 Disc more available.

Walmart PS5 restock July 2022

• 🌟 Walmart PS5 (last PS5 restock was on June 2, 2022)

  • 🚨 You needed Walmart Plus (paid version, not the free trial)

    • How?: To buy it next time, scroll down to the “early access” to reveal the “Starts paid membership button.”

Each Walmart PS5 restock takes place about five weeks after the prior restock, so you should expect the next one to take place on a date and time after July 4, 2022. The most popular day of the week is a Thursday and the most popular times are 12pm ET or 3pm ET. The biggest constant is that each Walmart PS5 restock in 2022 has required the paid version of Walmart Plus, which you can get below.

Get Walmart+ (click here, scroll down)

Before it happens again, you should read up on the full Walmart PS5 restock to get step-by-step directions (written for June’s restock that has already happened, but still highly relevant for July).

PlayStation 5 restock live stream

I always do a Walmart PS5 restock live stream showing exactly how to buy the PS5 from Walmart. It really helps because you can ask questions in the chat and you’ll see how I check out. Here’s the last previously live video on YouTube for June 2022:

🌟 Walmart PS5 restock: next date and time

• 🔮 Next PS5 restock: July 2022 with Walmart Plus

• 🧠 What to do: Follow me on Twitter and watch my PS5 restock live stream where I illustrate how to check out from Walmart and get Walmart+

The last few Walmart PS5 restock events required a paid Walmart+ (the free trial wouldn’t work). There are two things people who aren’t The Shortcut subscribers in the know keep asking me: “Do I need Walmart+?” Yes. “Do I need to have the paid version instead of the free trial?” Yes. Access to hard-to-buy items like the PlayStation 5 won’t work on the Walmart+ free trial.

🔢 Steps to buying PS5 at Walmart next time

1. Get a Walmart+ membership for $12.95/mo or $98 (if you’re going to use it, the annual plan is a better value). Scroll down to reveal the free trial.

2. Get my help: follow me on Twitter – I’ll count down to the Walmart PS5 restock with siren-filled Twitter alerts and I’ll provide links through these notifications

3. Don’t go for PS5 Digital if it’s even in stock. Through my links, I helped 14,000 get a console per week in December. 14x as many PS5 Discs sell compared to either PS5 Digital or Xbox Series X. Think about that.

4. Refresh the Walmart PS5 links I provide at 2:58am EST steadily for one minute until you drop into a queue (the page will change with a center-aligned box telling you your time)

5. At that moment, move on to a different device or browser (so that the cookie files aren’t shared – otherwise Walmart will just reflect your queue spot you just secured in Step 4). You have less of a shot here, so feel free to try PS5 Digital, Xbox Series X or use this as a way to increase your chances for PS5 Disc.

🗺️ The basics
Walmart PS5 restocks are always online, and recently have been locked behind the Walmart+ membership for $12.95/mo to prevent scripted bots from scooping up all of the consoles. It doesn’t completely stop all of the bots, but it certainly helps.

You won’t find PS5 in Walmart stores – except random stores in Texas where rebel employees don’t seem to follow the rules of headquarters every once in a while.

Why is Walmart a challenge? Popularity. I see more activity on my tweets for Walmart than any other retailer (122,000+ click through the links in one tweet). Also, web traffic for ‘PS5 restock’ spikes when it’s Walmart restocking the console. They tend to announce their PS5 restocks ahead of time, which certainly hypes up their PS5 sale.

⏲️ Timing of restocks
Online-only: It’s usually one of three times: 12pm ET, 3pm ET, or rarely 9pm ET.

I usually know about a Walmart PS5 restock anywhere from two days in advance to 90 minutes in advance.

Besides Walmart, I have a Sony Direct PS5 queue guide and Target PS5 stock info, but recent changes to Target have made the Sony console harder to come by.

The PS5 restock is caused by the global ship shortage that has yet to be solved. Sony also keeps launching new games, including Gran Turismo 7 and Horizon: Forbidden West in 2022, and new hardware, key among the announcements will be the PSVR 2 pre-order date. In June, Sony relaunched its online service with the top-tier PlayStation Plus Premium plan, so the PlayStation Plus discount code remains a must-have PS5 accessory for new console buyers for even more PS Plus free games.

That’s a challenge. The better the Sony PS5 console gets in May 2022, the more new buyers suddenly want to buy it. Demand for the PlayStation 5 hasn’t ceased today.

💿 Sony Direct PS5 queue

• 🔮 Next Sony Direct PS5 restock: Today, July 20, 2022 at 2pm ET

• 📥 What to do: Look out for Sony’s email invite in your inbox, but also keep watching my PS5 restock Twitter tracker for public queues, which have been happening more often in June 2022

• ✉️ Invite email will be from this address: [email protected]

• 📚 Link to register for the Sony Direct email invite: sign up right here

🗺️ The basics
Sony Direct is the official store for the PlayStation brand and it gets things right with email invites sent randomly to PSN users – you can register for it today. Unlike other publications, I’ll let you know this truth: this doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the console (you’ll be put in a virtual queue), and only once has Sony Direct done a public queue since changing up its registration system. I’ll alert you if it opens up again.

⏲️ Timing of the Sony Direct restock
The invite-only PS5 restocks at Sony Direct have happened on random weekdays at 2pm EST/11am PST, but you need that coveted email invite. Public queues are rare, but we did see one last month with a few consoles for sale to PSN users.

🧮 I’ve detected the pattern:
Among my followers (lots of data): Email invites go out the late afternoon before a restock, so check your email for sender [email protected] when I alert you about an invite-only PS5 restock from Sony Direct. Dozens of people have come back to tell me, “I almost missed it. Thanks!”

Check your email for sender [email protected] Dozens of people have come back to tell me, “I almost missed it. Thanks!”

I always see some nice wins from people who reply to my alerts. They have said things like it was “smooth sailing⛵” and “Easiest way to get it.”

🤔 “But what can I do to increase my chances?”
There’s nothing you can do to increase your chances of getting an email invite (I get asked this question hundreds of times a week). But please chec

Will they ever restock the PS5?

It seems like the PS5 is always out of stock, especially because, with the exception of a nice two-week inventory splash in June, the Sony console stock has been so light in 2022 compared to last year before Black Friday. There’s no sign that this is going to change in the coming weeks. That’s why my PS5 restock Twitter tracker continues to be a vital source of information for people without a PS5 in hand.

The good news is that while PS5 supply has slowed, demand isn’t as high as it was during 2021. It’s down 33.6%, according to my exclusive data tracking via social media engagement of one million followers (December vs the last 28 days).

Why the PS5 shortage?

While it’s getting easier to successfully find a PS5 restock, it’s still far from perfect. Delays are due to the ongoing global chip shortage affecting all electronics, according to supply chain analysts interviewed by The Shortcut. Lockdowns have affected both chip production and shipping times across the world, though your precious iPhone 14 release date by September 23 seems to be on track (some companies are paying for something called “chip priority”).

It’s not just woes for Sony. US consumers attempting to purchase a PS5 Disc or PS5 Digital Edition console during a restock often get beaten by scripted bots employed by resellers. This has caused PS5 prices and time to get the console to skyrocket.

I have interviewed resellers who use bots to check out rare items and they are able to purchase the PS5 and Xbox before the add-to-cart button is ever shown to normal consumers. Retailers, which don’t make much money on the PlayStation 5, have very few options; remedies they come up with to fortify their websites are often figured out by resellers’ updates to PS5 bots within a matter of hours.

Updated: July 20, 2022

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