Update: As of 2:52 PM ET on October 21, Sony Direct appears to be live for the PS5 console. Apparently, an invite-only link was circulating online. Many people, including us, ran into problems with rejected queue numbers. Previously, invitation-only links could still be shared. It appears that Sony no longer allows that. We will continue to update this page as information becomes available.

Be sure to check our PS5 Restocking Guide for news on PS5 restocking and the next retailer you should check for stock.

If there are any consoles left after the sale ends, restocking for the public will likely be about an hour after the event ends; the PS5 is available for $499 at this link and the PS5 Digital for $399 at this link. News of the restocking was brought to us by expert console tracker Matt Swider.

While there are expected to be a number of PS5 deals on games and accessories on Black Friday, the console may be hard to find during the holiday season. In the unlikely event that the PS5 is reduced in price for the general public, bookmark this page.

Occasionally, Sony Direct will offer restocking to invited guests only. (Invitations are sent via email). Sony recently opened registration for these events to the public; anyone can sign up for the November Sony Direct PS5 invite-only restock.

Or, make sure you have an active Sony Direct account and have your notifications set to "Yes." creating a Sony Direct account is easy. You can sign up at this link. Once your account is set up, add your address and billing information. Registering this information will make it easier for you to add the PS5 unit to your cart.

To turn on notifications from Sony Direct, sign in to your account, click "My Profile," and from your profile page, click the "Edit" button. You will be redirected to a new account settings page. On that page, select "notifications" from the left column to opt-in to receive news and special offers from Sony.

Remember that this method does not guarantee that you will receive your invitation in time for the next PS5 drop.

Typically, Sony tends to open the virtual queue to the public after an invite-only PS5 restock. However, that is not always guaranteed. (In some cases, retailers have sold out completely.) If there is a surplus of consoles, restocking for the public will likely take place after the invitation-only event has ended. (Usually 1-2 hours after the first drop begins). Of course, you can bookmark this page to keep up with the latest PS5 restocking information from Sony Direct and major US retailers.

Once in the virtual queue, an estimated wait time will be displayed. All wait times vary, and there is a good chance that you may have to wait "over an hour". Even in that case, do not despair. Your status may change rapidly and your wait time may be shorter than estimated. (For example, after waiting 20 minutes for a previous PS5 restocking event, the wait was reduced from "over an hour" to just 15 minutes.)

Additionally, you may have to solve a captcha. (A simple challenge/question to verify that you are not a bot). Usually a radio box must be selected. As a result, the browser tab should be prominent, otherwise you may miss the captcha challenge and lose your place in the queue.