The Best Way to Grab a Game Console for the Holiday Season

Good afternoon! It’s been two years since the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X debuted on the market and consumers are still struggling to find consoles for retail price. Fortunately, I think many of you will find success this year with a few hints. Here’s my advice to grab a brand new video game console before Christmas. 

Nintendo Switch OLED
In case you didn’t know yet, the Switch OLED is widely available from multiple retailers, both online and physical stores. I regularly see the Switch OLED available through Amazon, Target, GameStop, Walmart, Best Buy, and the Nintendo Store. 

PlayStation 5
Naturally, the PlayStation 5 has the highest demand and it’s the most difficult console to purchase. However, it’s not impossible. In fact, the PS5 can be available on certain websites for a handful of days at a time. However, there’s a catch. You probably need to purchase a bundle. That’s actually not a bad thing. Many players want extra controllers, headsets, and a good selection of games. Bundles actually give you a solid discount of various goods. Sorry, but gaming is a pricy hobby. 

Amazon
Unfortunately, Amazon changed their policies for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. You can sign up for an invite. That means the majority of people won’t be allowed to purchase a console. If you want to snag a PS5 through Amazon, follow Wario64 on Twitter. He has legit insider knowledge about retailers. I know it’s true because his tips worked for me several times. He lets people know periodically when Amazon is going to send invites on certain dates. That’s when you should ask Amazon for an invite. Keep in mind, you must be a member of Amazon Prime. 

Antonline
Who the heck is Antonline? It’s an online gaming retailer who primarily caters to people who build their own PCs. Occasionally, I find PS5 bundles with really good items. Fewer people buy from this retailer, so inventory can last for several days. You can find God of War Ragnarok bundles as we speak. It will cost more, but I believe their bundles are worth the price. I haven’t bought anything from them personally, which means I can’t vouch from experience. You can keep this one in mind if other retailers fail to produce consoles. 

Best Buy
Rarely, I see the PlayStation 5 available on BestBuy.com. There’s a really huge catch. Usually, you need to be a member of their Total Tech service and it has an annual membership of $200, if I remember correctly. I would only recommend this option for people who already have Total Tech memberships. Regardless, consoles sell out in minutes. 

PlayStation Direct
In my opinion, PlayStation Direct is the best and most reliable way to purchase a console. It’s an official PlayStation retailer, so they prioritize this website over competitors. I see regular consoles for sale once in a while, but most of their inventory is bundles. Again, it costs more, but their merchandise is good. Bundles appear frequently and last for several days, sometimes an entire week or more. Keep checking PlayStation Direct on a regular basis. You should find a console pretty soon. I saw God of War bundles earlier today. Make sure you have a PlayStation account. You must sign-in to purchase anything from this website. It’s okay. A basic PlayStation account is free. 

Walmart
Sometimes I see individual consoles available on Walmart. If you really want a basic console without the price of bundles, this is probably the best retailer at the moment. However, inventory is limited and they only sell consoles once in a while. Keep your eyes glued to Wario64 or check Walmart.com frequently. Either way, you might find a basic console eventually. PS5 consoles can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. 

Xbox Series X
I find the Xbox Series X seriously undervalued in the gaming market. It’s much easier to find the Xbox Series X compared to the PlayStation 5. Also, Xbox Game Pass is a killer subscription service. Think of it as Netflix for video games. You can download hundreds of games and play them without a purchase, including many day one releases. Xbox Game Pass is $14.99 per month and several Xbox exclusive titles are coming out next year. 

Amazon
It’s the same situation with the PS5. Watch tweets from Wario64 and sign-up for invites on specific dates. I can’t guarantee you’ll receive an invite at all, but some people will get lucky. 

Antonline
I see bundles for the Xbox Series X on this website every day. Like I said earlier, I’ve never purchased merchandise from this retailer. Check it out, if you wish. 

Best Buy
They sell consoles sometimes. You have to purchase the console online and choose a physical store for pick up. Best Buy runs out of stock frequently, but they also receive inventory on a regular basis. Just check the inventory for your closest stores. You can probably find something eventually without paying for bundles. Inventory can last for a few days at time. Usually, you don’t need to worry about a Total Tech membership for the Xbox Series X. 

Costco
I saw Xbox Series X bundles on Costco.com earlier today. It’s normally the console and two black controllers. Their bundles are very basic. You must have a Costco membership to purchase consoles. They sell out sometimes, but inventory comes back in stock frequently. 

Microsoft Store
As expected, Microsoft prioritizes their online store. You can buy consoles every day from this website. Often, you must build a bundle. You can plunk in a number of items, including games, controllers, Game Pass memberships, headsets, etc. Periodically, they also sell individual consoles as well. I might be wrong, but it seems like you need a Microsoft account to purchase an Xbox Series X from them. Truthfully, I already have a Microsoft account, so it’s hard to tell. Just like PlayStation, a Microsoft account is completely free. 

Sam’s Club
This company is a competitor to Costco. You need to have a membership to purchase a console. Also like Costco, Sam’s Club tends to have basic bundles nearly every day. It’s fine if you already have a membership. I wouldn’t recommend buying a Sam’s Club membership for the sake of the Xbox Series X. You have plenty of options. 

Target
Believe it or not, Target has a secret inventory in most stores. Don’t pay attention to the inventory shown online. Just walk inside one of your local Target stores and ask a rep in the electronics area if they have the Xbox Series X in stock. They might actually have consoles in the store. It’s hit or miss. They run out of merchandise and restock after a bit. Basically, every Target has Xbox Series X consoles in the back and they don’t tell anyone. It’s worth asking on a regular basis. You’ll probably find a console eventually. Sometimes, they also sell consoles online for in-store pick up. 

Verizon Store
Here’s another store with secret stashes of consoles. Sorry, PlayStation fans. They only sell the Xbox Series X in-store. It’s kind of like Target. Walk inside a physical Verizon store and ask if they have the Xbox Series X in stock. I’m not sure about one key detail. They might require Verizon to be your cell phone carrier. I’m honestly not sure. You might want to investigate this one. Regardless, my local Verizon store had a whole bunch of consoles, so it’s a thought. 

Walmart
This retailer might be one of your best options to buy a console without expensive bundles, especially online. I see the Xbox Series X appear on Walmart.com at retail price every now and then. Avoid third party scalpers. When they have consoles in stock, the inventory can last anywhere between a few hours and several days. I just checked and they have the Xbox Series X in stock now. It might be a good idea to check Walmart often. 

There you go! You should be able to find these consoles at some point before Christmas. I recommend shopping now because the competition will get worse in December. You’ve got this! Are you planning to purchase one or more of these consoles for anyone this holiday season? Are you still trying to snag one for yourself? Leave a comment. Good luck with your holiday shopping in general and come back again next week. Cheers!