NEW Playstation 5 consoles could drop at Smyths any minute, fans believe as they frantically refresh the sales page.
Gamers have been busy refreshing the Smyths website after rumours of a stock drop switrled on social media.
There were originally hopes the retailers were put out stock between 8am and 9am this morning – but nothing appeared and still we wait.
Twitter restock alert account @PS5UKStock has noted a list of the times of previous stock drops – which have previously been at – 4pm, 8:50am, 11:50am and 8am respectively.
It comes as Very, John Lewis, Asda, ShopTo and eBuyer are all rumoured to have PS5 drops lined up over the next week.
And Game looks likely to follow suit from April 6-8, say tipsters on social media. In fact, April looks set to be a big month for PS5 restocks.
Those following @PS5Instant have been quizzing the Twitter account after it suggested pending stock drops.
In response to multiple queries asking of “any news on the Very drop”, they replied: “first week of April”. But no definite date/hour was mentioned.
Insiders claim console availability will be “good” after a “dry spell” at the end of March.
Rumours also continue that Amazon is about to make a large drop of PS5 consoles any day now.
Follow our PS5 live blog below for the very latest news, updates and stock drop rumours…
-
HOW TO TURN OFF AUTOMATIC TROPHY CLIPS
By default, your PS5 records a 15-second clip every time you unlock a trophy.
While this can be a handy way to document your game progression, it also quickly eats into your hard drive space.
To deactivate automatic trophy clips, head to Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Trophies.
-
SAVE CONTROLER BATTERY
You can also hold the PlayStation button for other shortcuts.
Pressing it down for about 10 seconds switches off your controller manually.
This is a quick and easy way to save battery if you’re stepping away from your console for a while.
-
£10MILLION PROFIT FOR PS5 SCALPERS – EXPERT
While a PS5 normally costs between £360 and £450, depending on the model, its median resale price on sites like eBay is £650-750, according to US researcher Michael Driscoll.
Faced with an in-store shortage, many gamers pay full price, which only feeds the scalpers’ market further.
Driscoll estimates that around 52,000 copies of both the Sony PlayStation 5 and the Microsoft Xbox consoles have been resold in Britain on eBay and StockX for a total of £42million, generating £10million in profit.
That figure is likely to hugely underestimate the problem as it only takes into account the “grey market” and not the black market, “which is definitely larger”, said Driscoll, who is from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.
The sudden surge in console scalping is being driven by much stronger demand than usual, with gamers having “extra money due to not being able to travel” because of coronavirus restrictions, he added.
-
BEST PS5 FEATURES
The PlayStation 5 console “unleashes new gaming possibilities that you never anticipated”, according to Sony.
Here are some of its top features:
- Ultra-High Speed SSD
- Integrated I/O
- Ray Tracing
- 4K-TV Gaming
- Up to 120fps with 120Hz output
- HDR Technology
- 8K Output
- Tempest 3D AudioTech
- Haptic Feedback
- Adaptive Triggers
-
PS5 SHORTAGE COULD GET WORSE
The PS5 shortage could get worse as chip-makers struggle to meet demand.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 has been largely out of stock since November – and might not be widely available until July.
Much of this is being blamed on a global “crisis” in the computer chip world.
Demand for chips is through the roof, and suppliers can’t keep pace.
Prices of chips are rising as a result, and major manufacturers like Apple and Samsung are being prioritised.
-
HOW TO GET BACK TO HOME SCREEN QUICKER
There’s a quick and easy way to get straight to your PlayStation’s home screen.
While pressing the PlayStation button opens the control centre, holding it down takes you to the console’s dashboard.
Hold the button for about five seconds to activate the shortcut.
-
PS PLUS GAMES FOR APRIL OUT NOW
There are three games up for grabs with PS Plus this month – the first being Oddworld: Soulstorm, which is only available for PS5 owners.
Legendary Oddworld hero Abe is back again in a game that follows directly on from 2014’s New ‘N’ Tasty. Once again you’re working to liberate your fellow Mudokons with platforming and puzzle-solving galore.
The second freebie is available on PS4, and it’s Days Gone.
It’s a survival horror game set in the Pacific Northwest, where you’re living in the aftermath of a global pandemic. Great…
And if that wasn’t enough, you can also claim Zombie Army 4: Dead War.
-
WHAT IS PLAYSTATION PLUS?
PS Plus is a premium subscription service for PS4 gamers.
It gives you access to online multiplayer as well as exclusive discounts across the PlayStation Store.
But it also nets you two hand-picked PS4 games to download and play each month, which remain available as long as you’re a member.
Many PS4 owners will subscribe to PS Plus for the multiplayer alone, so the free games are a pleasant bonus.
- PS Plus at Sony PlayStation Official Store for £6.99 a month – buy here
-
FIND OUT YOUR PLAYTIME
You can view game stats such as your progress and total play hours from within the home screen.
To access the stats section, head to your home screen and select the your avatar icon.
Select Games and then scroll down to view your stats – including how many trophies you’ve earned.
-
TIMES OF PAST SMYTHS DROPS
Gamers have been busy refreshing the Smyths website after rumours of a stock drop switrled on social media.
There were hopes the retailers were put out stock between 8am and 9am this morning – but still we wait.
Twitter restock alert account @PS5UKStock has noted a list of the times of previous stock drops – which has been at various points of the day.
-
MUTE SHORTCUT TIP
Silencing your console often involves physically muting the TV you’re playing on.
But that’s not always ideal: maybe the remote is out of reach, or maybe you’re connected with wireless headphones.
Whatever the reason, it’s actually possible to mute the PS5’s system audio with the DualSense controller.
Hold the microphone-mute button down to mute audio. An orange light will glow to confirm that mute is on.
The same trick will unmute the console.
-
PLAYSTATION RELEASE APRIL’S PS PLUS GAMES
The latest PlayStation Plus games have been released today.
These are Oddworld Soulstorm, Days Gone and Zombie Army.
-
HOW TO FIT MORE GAMES ONTO YOUR CONSOLE
If your PS5 is already starting to get full, don’t panic – it’s possible to expand the console’s storage.
After all, even though your PS5 has an 825GB SSD, only 667GB of that is actually usable.
Plug in an external hard drive or solid-state drive via USB to immediately boost your storage while the unit is connected to the PS5.
The catch is that you can’t play PS5 games using this method, as the storage won’t be fast enough.
However, you can play PS4 games stored on the drive – freeing up space on your PS5 for native games.
-
HOW MUCH DOES THE PS5 COST?
The PS5 launch fell on November 12, but not everywhere.
That date only stood for the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.
UK gamers had to wait until November 19 to order one of the consoles.
The PS5 proper costs £449.99/$499.99, while the digital edition comes in at £359/$399.
-
HANDY TIP TO DODGE SPOILERS
Your PS5 has a setting that helps to protect you from spoilerific content sent by your mates.
When activated, a pop-up will warn you if it thinks you’re about to see something in a game you haven’t finished yet.
It’s a handy tool if your friends have a habit of sending you screenshots or clips from games before you’ve completed them.
To activate the setting, head to Home > Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Spoiler Warnings.
-
GAME OVER – CONTINUED
PS3, Vita, and PSP owners will still be able to re-download and play any games they’ve already purchased through the PlayStation Store.
Users can also still redeem voucher codes for games and PlayStation Plus.
Once the deadlines pass, the only way to play new games on the systems will be through second-hand disks.
Owners will also lose access to the library of films and TV shows available to rent or buy through the PlayStation store.
Sony highlighted that players can download their owned content onto their PS3, PS Vita or PSP device by accessing the Download List on their device.
-
GAME OVER AS PS STORE CLOSES FOR OLDER CONSOLES
Buying games for your favourite old PlayStation consoles is about to get a lot harder.
That’s because Sony is closing down its PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable this summer.
It means anyone wanting to buy games for their retro systems online will have to do so before official marketplaces vanish worldwide.
Sony announced the controversial move on Monday in a post on its website, saying: “We are closing PlayStation Store on PlayStation 3 consoles on 2nd July 2021 and on PlayStation Vita devices on 27th August 2021.
“Additionally, the remaining purchase functionality for PSP will also retire on 2nd July 2021.”
-
LEVEL UP
Sony will reportedly open up its new console to internal memory upgrades in the coming months.
The PS5’s 825GB memory drive leaves players with 667GB of usable space on which to store games and other files – and that fills up pretty fast.
According to Bloomberg, a firmware update released by Sony this summer will add support for additional internal drives.
-
TIP TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T GET BANNED FROM SITE
With a Smyths stock drop expected to be imminent, gamers are being warned not to refresh the website too much as they risk getting “Bot banned”.
The retailer could soon be restocking the elusive PS5.
Many were hoping stock would drop before 9am, so keep your eyes peeled!
-
PS5 CHIP MAKERS STILL STRUGGLING TO KEEP PACE WITH DEMAND
The PS5 shortage could get worse as chip-makers struggle to meet demand, warn industry insiders.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 has been largely out of stock since November – and might not be widely available until July.
Much of this is being blamed on a global “crisis” in the computer chip world.
Demand for chips is through the roof, and suppliers can’t keep pace.
Prices of chips are rising as a result, and major manufacturers like Apple and Samsung are being prioritised.
-
SMYTHS DROP EXPECTED TODAY: RUMOURS
Smyths could be dropping stock as early as this morning, according to social media rumours.
Twitter restock account @PS5StockAlertsUK noticed a purple banner had been removed from the website which said “stock expect April 2021”.
We will keep you updated!
-
MORE GAMES TO ENJOY
ANOTHER week, another selection of top PlayStation games to enjoy.
There are loads of new titles out on the PlayStation Store this week – ready to grace your new PS5.
The PlayStation Store is Sony’s official online shop for console owners.
You can buy games digitally, downloading them to your console without ever having to handle a disc.
-
SURPRISE STOCK
GAMERS can snap up surprise PS5 stock over at EE right now.
The PlayStation 5 is rarely available, but fresh units have turned up at the UK mobile network.
Importantly, you’ll only be able to access the stock if you’re an existing EE customer.
Buyers on other mobile networks won’t even be able to see the units, let alone buy them.
-
BUYING GAMES TO GET HARDER
BUYING games for your favourite old PlayStation consoles is about to get a lot harder.
That’s because Sony is closing down its PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable this summer.
It means anyone wanting to buy games for their retro systems online will have to do so before official marketplaces vanish worldwide.
Sony announced the controversial move on Monday in a post on its website.
-
USEFUL TRICKS
IT MIGHT be nigh on impossible to get your hands on a PlayStation 5 but for those who have, there’s a tonne of useful tricks to learn.
From dodging game spoilers to tracking your playtime, here are a few hidden settings and features on Sony’s next-generation console.
There’s a quick and easy way to get straight to your PlayStation’s home screen.
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
