Sony’s PlayStation 5 will only be available to purchase online come launch next week. In a release update at the PlayStation.Blog, Senior Director of Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications Sid Shuman confirmed that you won’t be waiting in any lines for the next-gen console come launch on Nov. 12 (U.S., Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea) or Nov. 19 (worldwide). Shuman says that the decision was made in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, adding, “Be safe, stay home, and place your order online.”
Those that made preorder pick-up plans at retailers will still be able to grab their console in person.
This PlayStation 5 news follows Sony’s heavily criticized handling of the console’s preorder situation from earlier this year. Along with unclear scheduling, Sony seemed to fall through on its promise to notify potential buyers when they could expect to pre-purchase their respective version of the next-gen device. Thankfully, more PlayStation 5 consoles have been made available since, and there will surely be more as we head toward launch.
You’ll be able to choose from a few titles when the device launches next week, including Demon’s Souls, Bugsnax, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. In addition to the thousands of PlayStation 4 titles available through backwards compatibility, some current-gen games are getting next-gen upgrades, such as No Man’s Sky and Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate.