GTA 6 PS5 Controller Preorders Hit Queues and Scalpers
Reservations brought PlayStation Store errors, partial sellouts, and eBay listings at nearly twice the price.
Redação G6 World
Preorders for the two limited-edition GTA 6-themed PS5 controllers opened with queues, PlayStation Store errors, and uneven availability across retailers. Some versions sold out at specific stores, while others could still be purchased at the time of reporting. IGN also found units being relisted on eBay for nearly twice the price.
What happened when preorders opened
Reservations opened on the morning of September 10, one week after Sony announced plans to offer the pair of themed controllers. Demand produced a wait of more than an hour on PlayStation's online store for IGN's reporter, who had joined the queue half an hour before preorders began. The estimated wait later dropped by half, possibly because some users left the line.
The queue was not the only obstacle described in the report. When attempting to sign in, the reporter repeatedly encountered errors on PlayStation's website and had to open the store through another browser and device. He eventually gained access, but described a purchasing process filled with avoidable friction.
Stock conditions varied depending on the controller color and retailer. The white controller appeared to be sold out at GameStop and Best Buy, while Target and Amazon still showed availability when IGN published its report. Because preorder inventory can change quickly, those conditions only represent that particular moment.
The black controller remained available through PlayStation Direct during IGN's check. According to the report, that version is exclusive to PlayStation's official store, concentrating its preorder availability in a single channel. The source does not say how long those units were expected to remain in stock.
Account limits and eBay resellers
PlayStation implemented a limit of one controller per account. That measure may reduce the number of units acquired by an individual buyer, but the report notes that it cannot eliminate scalping. No other purchase restrictions or anti-resale measures were mentioned.
Despite the account limit, listings for the controllers were already appearing on eBay at nearly twice the price. IGN cautioned that it remained unclear whether customers would actually pay those amounts. The listings therefore show attempted resale rather than completed purchases at the asking price.
The combination of queues, access problems, and differing stock levels made the start of preorders competitive. At the same time, IGN still found both colors available through at least one channel when the article was published. A sellout at one retailer did not necessarily mean the controllers were unavailable everywhere.
What this means for buyers
For interested fans, the immediate consequence is that availability must be checked retailer by retailer. Stock for the white controller was split among the stores named in the report, while the black version was limited to PlayStation Direct. The one-unit-per-account rule also needs to be considered before attempting a purchase through PlayStation's store.
More expensive eBay listings do not mean that regular preorder stock has completely disappeared. IGN found units available through official channels or established retailers during its reporting. Without confirmation of a total sellout, resale listings were not the only option documented by the source.
What remains unknown
It is unclear how long the controllers will stay in stock. There is also no information about a possible restock if they sell out or how many units were allocated to each retailer. The source does not provide exact prices, so the only supported comparison is that eBay listings were approaching twice the regular price.
These reservations opened a little over two months before GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The next step in the marketing campaign remains unknown, including whether another trailer or information about GTA Online will arrive before release. According to IGN, however, the controller preorder launch has already put the intense demand for anything connected to GTA 6 on full display.
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