When can you get a console?
When can you get a console?
Understanding when more PS5s and Xbox Series consoles become available
Game and Watch, Bojangles, and understanding Sony and Microsoft’s distribution strategy.
Read time: 7 minutes
Quick Tidbits
Here are small and developing stories you should keep your eye on.
Racial impact of Miles Morales: Spider-Man Miles Morales has received rave reviews, and it’s another great addition to the growing Spider-Man universe. But along with its great gameplay and story, the game is also being praised for its ability to showcase a mixed-minority character and his multi-cultural upbringing in a great article by CNN. Gaming has, and is continuing, to expand in regards to its demographic, and it’s become increasingly important to diversify the characters gamers get to play. Spider-Man Miles Morales doesn’t just place a black man front and center as the lead character, they’re placing an Afro-Latinx man with a unique upbringing that blends multiple cultures. Not many games showcase a minority as the main character, fewer games have that main character as multi-racial, and only a select few games actually showcase the unique culture with these multi-racial characters. The fact that Spider-Man Miles Morales does all three, and does so extremely accurately, is phenomenal. Gaming is in desperate need of a more diversified roster of characters, and I really hope that Spider-Man Miles Morales is just the start. It would be so great for younger minority gamers to see a little bit of themselves in games.
Game& Watch is released: while the PS5 and the Xbox Series consoles were released, Nintendo released a small “console” of its own — the Game & Watch. The console, which is a nod to the original Game & Watch consoles that were released between 1989 to 1991, acts as both a digital watch and a handheld console. The “new” console comes with three titles for players to enjoy — Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros 2, and Ball, an LCD juggling game released in the 1980s. To be clear, nothing is particularly special about the Game & Watch, and frankly, there’s a lot of better ways to play all the games installed (except for maybe Ball), but it’s definitely a neat, niche item to own. And if you actually owned and enjoyed an original Game & Watch, this will certainly bring back some great memories. You can buy the console directly from Nintendo’s website, where it’ll cost consumers $50 to enjoy.
Huge player loss: remember last Monday’s newsletter? When we discussed the massive failure that was Marvel’s Avengers? Well, the game is continuing to experience heavy losses, and I don’t think any amount of new content will help it bounce back. Reports from Steam have stated that 96% of players on PC have left the game, causing matchmaking issues for the remaining players. It’s gotten so bad that current players have spent nearly 30 minutes trying to find a game. To give you a better idea of just how bad it’s gotten, around 1,190 people were reported to still be playing the game. Now compare this to Fornite, which has nearly 350 million active players enjoying its game. So, why am I reporting numbers from the PC version of the game? Currently, no numbers have been released for console players, but multiple reports have stated that it’s safe to assume that the console version of Marvels’s Avengers is experiencing similar numbers. Although I never wish ill will on a developer, I’m really glad that players are responding to the poor product that is this game. Players deserve better, especially when they’re asked to spend more money on a $60 game that isn’t even complete.
When can you get a next-gen console?
Credit: Sony
The release of the Xbox Series X and the PS5 has been met with some rave reviews, outside of some strange issues console owners have been experiencing.
Everyone that’s gotten their hands on the next-gen consoles has expressed satisfaction and excitement, as the new consoles have been delivering on most of the hype they built through the course of this year.
But with the consoles finally released, it’s led many to ask a new question, and it’s one that’s been fairly unclear since the consoles were both announced back in September:
When will more consoles be available?
Sony and Microsoft have made it clear that more consoles are on the way, but there hasn’t been a clear timeline in regards to when these consoles will become available. With that said, there is some short term clarification in regards to when we’ll see consoles next:
Black Friday.
Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop have all confirmed that a “limited stock” of both consoles will be available on Black Friday.
And if you’re even more desperate, you can also try E-Bay. In fact, there are a handful of PS5 and Xbox Series consoles available on the platform, but be prepared to spend big.
And these listings are just a snapshot of what’s being displayed on E-Bay right now. Some PS5 consoles are costing people up to $3,000, while the Series X is being flipped for around $1,100.
But outside of Black Friday and hilariously expensive E-Bay prices, it’s uncertain when more consoles will be available.
GameSpot and Tech Radar have both set up pillar pages (central hubs for console info) that are constantly being updated in regards to when stocks are replenished. With that said, it could be safe to assume that consoles will start to become available closer to Christmas time.
But, at this rate, it does look like we won’t be getting a surplus of new consoles until the new year.
My Thoughts
Please, if you don’t already, make sure you’re following the pillar pages provided by GameSpot and Tech Radar. Both sites have done a wonderful job updating these pages and, if you’re looking for a new console, these are the best sources to stay ahead of other consumers.
And if you’re really dedicated to getting a new console this year, I’d recommend checking these sites at least once per day.
Now, in regards to the timeline:
Unless you’re desperate to get a console, I don’t believe it’s going to be worth attempting to get a PS5 or Xbox Series console anytime this year. A big reason why are the obstacles stores are putting people through in order to obtain one. Let’s look at GameStop as an example:
GameStop will have both the Series X and the PS5 available, but these consoles will only be available for purchases in-store. Along with that, only two of each console will be available at each location. So that means, during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’ll have to wait in long lines (with some people waiting outside), just for a chance to get a next-gen console.
That is not worth it, especially during a pandemic.
Your health and the health of people who you’re frequently around are at risk if you choose to wait around what’s assumed to be a long line of people.
Maybe during a normal year, this would be a little more tempting, but not by much.
And if you choose to go the online route in regards to securing a console, you’ll be met with the same experience we saw during pre-ordering and launch:
Long wait times. Carts suddenly going empty due to a “sold out” product. Sites experiencing issues due to an “overwhelming volume of visitors.”
Yes, you could get lucky, but why put yourself through the headache?
The Xbox Series X currently has no next-gen titles worth fighting over, especially since all of its current games have versions created for the Xbox One.
As for the PS5, games like Spider-Man Miles Morales or Demon’s Souls won’t look as good on the PS4, but they’re still available for the older console.
What I’m trying to say is — you can wait a few months for a new console if you weren’t able to secure one. With games currently being available for the PS4 and Xbox One, as well as next-gen games being cross-gen compatible, it doesn’t seem like people will be missing out on too much if they don’t own a Series X or PS5.
The only thing that will suck is not enjoying the quicker load times and the DualSense controller, which has been the star of the show during this console launch season.
Oh, and I really hope you’re not considering buying a next-gen console from E-Bay. It’s not worth it, and the chances of the listings being fraudulent are high.
But if you do end up doing it, let me know! Would be interested to hear about the experience.
Bojangles + Xbox
Microsoft has been very proactive when it comes to partnering with the right people and companies to advertise its now released Xbox Series X. Currently, they've partnered with Taco Bell, and they ran a similar promotion to what Sony did with Burger King and the PS5.
Make digital purchases online. Reclaim awards. Get a chance to win the Xbox Series X.
It’s a clever marketing tactic, and it’s one with increased value considering the stock of the console has been pretty limited.
But Microsoft hasn’t stopped at just Taco Bell, and they’ve expanded this partnership to include a new fast food restaurant — Bojangles.
The beloved fried chicken fast-food chain that’s typically found in the South East U.S. released a tweet announcing its partnership with the Xbox Series console manufacturers. No details have been announced outside of the tweet listed above, so make sure to pay attention to the official Bojangles Twitter account for more info.
Frankly, I haven’t had Bojangles in so long, so this would be a perfect excuse to get me a two-piece dark meat meal with iced tea, dirty rice, cajun fries, and a Bo-Berry biscuit.
Wow.
That meal sounds blessed.