PS5 pre-orders might not arrive on time, Amazon warns

Securing a PlayStation 5 pre-order has proven tricky over the last few days, as nearly every retailer seems to sell out of their stock the second it goes up. Amazon appeared to be a good bet for many PS5 hopefuls, but now, anyone who got a pre-order from the retail giant might want to think about backup options — at least, if they want their console to arrive on Nov. 12, the PS5’s U.S. release date.

An email from Amazon to numerous pre-order customers warns that the console might not show up on launch day. Sent Friday afternoon, the message — which was received by some Polygon employees with existing PS5 pre-orders — says that “you may not receive this item on the day it is released due to high demand. We’ll make every effort to get the item to you as soon as possible once released.”

The email goes on to say that customers can track their order via the Amazon website, and, should they wish, cancel unshipped items. It’s unclear if Amazon sent this email as a precaution to everyone who pre-ordered the PS5; Polygon has reached out to the company for comment, and we’ll update this article with any information we receive.

In the past, Amazon has bungled day-one shipments for new gaming hardware, like the Nintendo Switch, or popular games, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons — so even if the email is a “just in case” thing, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that some PS5 pre-orders might arrive later than anticipated.

It’s also worth noting that COVID-19 has, on the whole, greatly affected the availability and shipment of even basic goods. While Sony has promised that it is making more PS5 hardware than it did for the PS4 launch, actual shipments of the system might not be immune to things like the overall mail slowdown in the United States.

font: Polygon