Sony won't allow PS5 to be sold at Norwegian retailers, says a report from Norwegian website Gamer.no. According to sources, potential buyers won't be able to simply pick up a next-gen console from their local outlets when it launches next month, as per orders from Sony.
Supposedly, the Japanese giant doesn't want to put customers at risk — it wants to avoid any situations where people could gather in one place and potentially spread Covid-19. As such, it's against having people queue for PS5 in shops.
At the time of writing, it's unclear whether Sony will enforce these restrictions across the rest of Europe and beyond. We'll keep you updated.
[source gamer.no, via resetera.com]
Comments 28
There's Norway we're selling physically in Norway!
Ive heard Mark Cerney will be personally dispersing crowds quietly and calmly.
Will there even be any in stores to buy?
So it’s ok to go in to buy PS4, and ps4 games, ps5 games, etc, just not ps5 consoles? Weird.
Are you sure Norway aren’t just closing non essential retail outlets and thus was the only newsworthy product worth mentioning?
@thefourfoldroot No, it was a request from Sony to retailers not to sell PS5 in stores, with wording strongly suggesting that retailers who violate this will suffer from a worsened relationship with the manufacturer going forward (according to the original article, anyway).
Edit: Stores in Norway are open as normal and no COVID restrictions have been placed on retailers (only customers, who as of Thursday 12pm must wear masks when in stores in Oslo)
If "the Japanese giant doesn't want to put customers at risk", why would they single out Norway? That doesn't make a lot of sense.
@ShaiHulud Don't think Norway was singled out, only that the Norwegian gaming site was the first to report on this.
I don't see how they could enforce this in the USA, when Gamestops have physical allocations coming to all of their stores that are preordered (mine included). We just couldn't access them? That sounds like it would create a nightmare.
@God_of_Nowt Could very well be the case, yes. I don't really think it will matter too much as many of the biggest chains took way too many pre-orders resulting in backorders not expected to be fulfilled until may-june-july. Not sure there were all that many units set aside for in-store purchases anyway.
@God_of_Nowt Agreed, but I'm starting to get used to the fact that pretty much everything has a grimy layer of confusion about it these days
@God_of_Nowt sneakily photographing their ears as they leave haha.
I could see this as some sort of a controlled test to see if they could meet the selling quota without the customers and staff exposing themselves that is why only Norway ( Small Market ) was picked I mean no offense if this happens on GameStop they will be shouting thru the rooftops by now
There should be a work around for allowing people to get their Playstation 5 on release day . If many can go to a supermarket , surely people should be allowed to get their playstation 5 and go home , especially considering there is a low quantity of Playstations around the world at launch .
If they are concerned about people being at risk catching Covid,
All they have to do is not allow people inside the store and keep a distance from each other and line up with their pre orders ready .
How many Playstation 5s will be available in Norway at launch Anyways ?
@ArcadeHeroes I've seen rumors that there is a total of 20,000 units for Norway, Sweden and Denmark combined, but I have no idea if that's true, whether it's just the initial batch, when subsequent batches are scheduled to arrive, etc.
They made it a requirement to wear facemask in Danmark in public spaces. Malls cafe bars ect,
Was only just talking about this the other day with non-essential items here in the UK if lockdown etc happens in places
@ArcadeHeroes: Groceries are essential, a console isnt. During the 1st wave in spring many countries closed stores, so it wouldnt surprise me. They can still send the consoles and have them delivered though, if it happens.
Personally think this should be worldwide. PlayStation 5 is not essential in the slightest. Yes, you want one. Order one online then. People are struggling to safely buy food in the shops, in Wales, Tesco labelled tampons as not essential so there’s clearly issues already there without a massive rush to the high street to spread Covid and cause crowding. Just buy yours online.
The U.K. has local lockdowns but to be honest we are heading for another country lockdown I think the numbers are soaring! Game should just approach it like shop to have done give the customers a deadline to pay then send them through a courier! I’ll just pick mine up from the depot as I work for DPD so all is good!
And I believe GAME is contacting pre-order owners to get them to pay for the console similar to Shopto is so it quickens the process or if they do plan to ship these within the courier network.
@God_of_Nowt I have a good friend who works in a Game store and she has to contact pre order customers to come in and pay for it, but I think she said this to be in force next week possibly. I will try and get more info tomorrow for you to confirm!
I think they are doing this because to make it easier for a mid night launch and can get through the customers and preorders quicker which does make sense!
@God_of_Nowt But I think on an overall basis it mostly applies to in store pre-orders opposed to online pre-orders, as online would be upfront payment and send straight out kinda thing.
No way.
No way.
Man-ah mah-ah
I'll happily be picking mine up in store, stopping for a coffee, might get a haircut, do some other shopping maybe. All without a mask. Feels good fam.
Order online..protect the norwegian gamers..norwegian gamers lives matter...
@God_of_Nowt are you sure about the game UK thing? They've told me they would only change it if stores are closed at least a week before the console releases
@thefourfoldroot Im not the smartest guy around but i believe if you release the new console you could get a run on the product. Nobody in their right mind would go out and run too the stores for a PS5 game without a PS5. PS4 consoles and games can be bought without a big problem because their are is no problem in getting them.
I live in Norway, I don’t know how to get the console now
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