With Black Friday and the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 approaching, console shortages have been in the news lately.
Xbox chief Asha Sharma recently said there was more demand than Xbox consoles available, and Microsoft was asking Xbox owners to trade in their dusty consoles. Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, Sony wants to buy your PS5 for $400, and anyone looking for a PS5 Pro may have to shell out as much as $1,400 to a reseller to get one.
Console stock must be getting pretty dire, right? To answer this question, I visited all the major online retailers to see what the status of console availability is. And what I discovered, with the exception of the PS5 Pro, all current models of every current console are widely available at the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).
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Now, that doesn’t mean things are going to stay that way as GTA 6 and Black Friday get closer. And it’s worth noting that these MSRPs have increased in recent years. But at least right now pre-Black Friday, pre-GTA 6, it’s not hard to find a new gaming console at retail price – unless you want a PS5 Pro. Let’s take a look at the situation of each current model of each game console.
The PS5 Pro is sold out
PS5 Pro (SOLD OUT)
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For starters, yes, the new PlayStation 5 Pro consoles are sold out everywhere. You can still get one used on eBay or marked up through third-party retailers by clicking on some of the links above, but they cost around $1,500, so buy at your own risk. Let’s move on…
PS5 with disc drive
PS5 Digital Edition
PS5 Digital Edition (825 GB – Slim)
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As you may have heard (in the previous blurb), Sony is phasing out discs starting January 2028. If you’re ready to embrace this digital-only life, don’t hesitate to pick this one up. At $599.99, it’s a steal in this (horrible) economy. However, it’s worth noting that Amazon and GameStop are currently out of stock of this model, while other retailers have it in stock.
Xbox Series X (with disc drive)
Xbox Series X (1TB with disk drive)
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The standard Xbox Series X with disc drive is available at most retailers. It’s worth noting that Target and Microsoft are currently sold out, which could be what Sharma was referring to in his comments about supply not being able to keep up with demand.
Xbox Series X (All-Digital Edition)
Xbox Series X (1TB All-Digital Edition – White Robot)
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We’ve seen plenty of evidence over the years to suggest that Xbox console sales are lagging far behind the PS5. The most recent hint that this is the case came from Capcom, which claims that only 8.6% of Resident Evil Requiem’s sales were on Xbox. But if you’re still willing to partner with Microsoft, you can get an Xbox Series
Xbox Series S (512 GB)
Xbox Series S (512 GB)
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The slightly less powerful Xbox Series S comes in two models that are identical in every way except for the amount of storage they contain.
Xbox Series S (1TB)
Xbox Series S (1TB)
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The same goes for the digital-only (and less powerful) Xbox Series S. It’s available at MSRP just about everywhere consoles are sold.
What about the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch2
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Nintendo seems to have plenty of Switch 2 consoles on hand, but if you’re curious about how much they cost and where to get them, you can check out the links above. Like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, it’s widely available at MSRP.
That said, if you’re thinking about picking up a new gaming console this holiday season, you might want to do so sooner rather than later. It’s entirely possible that Sony and Microsoft are simply anticipating the Black Friday sales rush when they issue their inventory warnings. It’s possible that a group of GTA 6 fans will rush to get a console when the game launches on November 19 (pre-loads start on November 10, by the way).
And it looks like RAMageddon will only get worse in 2027, meaning we could see further console shortages or price increases in the near future. So grab a console if you need one, as they are readily available as of this writing.
Chris Reed is a senior business editor and deals expert for IGN. He also directs the IGN LEGO cover and keeps articles on upcoming release dates for video games, LEGO setsAnd 4K Blu-ray. You can follow it Blue sky.
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