Walmart PS5 Preorders Are Doing Some Weird Things

PlayStation 5 preorders recently began, and they were a bit of a mess. A new complication has now appeared with the retailer Walmart, one of the first to offer preorders, with users being alerted to wild price drops.

Several GameSpot staff have received emails alerting them to a price drop due to a "competitive price match." These have ranged anywhere from $50 to a whopping $377, the latter of which brought the total price of the all-digital console down to a cool twenty bucks. The error also appears to be applying to accessories and games, as emails went out promising discounts on an extra DualSense controller and the PS5 remake of Demon's Souls.

For obvious reasons, this seems like a mistake, and these prices won't ultimately be honored. As the console doesn't release until November, the retailer has plenty of time to fix the glitch. It is possible that Walmart will end up price-matching another retailer for preorders at some point, but not at these prices. GameSpot has contacted Walmart regarding the error.

This isn't the only hiccup Walmart has suffered regarding PS5 preorders. The chain had previously planned to host in-person preorders at retail stores, but canceled those plans anticipating crowds that would make it difficult to maintain social distancing guidelines.

Meanwhile, Sony has apologized for its messy rollout of PS5 preorders and promised both more stock and more information to come. It also promised it will continue to put consoles on store shelves through the end of the year.

The PS5 releases on November 12. If you're still in the market for one, keep an eye on our PS5 preorder guide, which is being regularly updated as retailers make more units available. Or if you're looking for its competition, check out our Xbox Series X/S preorder guide, as those preorders start tomorrow.