[UPDATED]English Lockdown 2: What will happen to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S pre-orders?

UDPATE: GAME customers should read this!

England is about to enter a second lockdown in an effort to curb the growing number of cases of Coronavirus Covid-19. This is of course designed to save lives, and to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed, and as such it’s something that absolutely must be done. However, along with a host of questions and worries it creates for households around the country, it will have gamers wondering about what will happen to any PS5 or Xbox Series X|S pre-orders that have been made from a high street store, whether that’s at GAME, Argos, Smyths Toys, or another retailer.

There are a number of variables here, beginning with the fact that some game retailers considered themselves essential retail during the first lockdown and remained open. We can all grudgingly agree that they’re not essential, even if we consider them to be so, and the chances of GAME or someone else using a loophole like this probably won’t last very long.

Smyths ran click and collect services during the first lockdown so they may restart that service. However, if there are hundreds of consoles at pre-ordered at each store then there may still be problems assigning enough time slots on launch day. GAME have also run a click and collect service.

Argos customers may have the best luck as many Argos stores are located in Sainsbury’s supermarkets. Any pre-orders at branches that are closed could be shifted to the ones that are open in Sainsburys.

The stores may also shift preorders to delivery, though there’s already going to be an almighty strain on delivery services through that period to begin with, with even further issues brought on by a second lockdown. There’s very little chance that anyone with an in-store order will receive their console on day one, as the console pre-orders that were already in place for delivery will have all of the capacity booked up.

Combine that with the fact that the new consoles are huge and take up way more space than any previous generation, means fewer will fit on each van. It might be the case that you will receive it within a week, if you’re lucky. If it’s GAME, they’ve also started charging an extra £10 for delivery, so you might receive it, but it will cost you more.

We’ve reached out to GAME, Smyths Toys and Argos for comment.

UPDATE: Smyths have confirmed that pre-orders will be available via click and collect.

UPDATE: Our local GAME have let us know the plans for the Xbox Series X|S launch, which will be that as of Monday the 2nd of November you can pre-pay for your console, and then pick up during limited opening hours (8am to 1pm) on launch day. We’re waiting for clarification on whether that extends to PS5 consoles, but hopefully it will.

Attention all! Information about pre orders for next generation consoles will be coming out over the next couple of days. Please make sure your contact details are up to date so we do our best to contact you in these hard times, you can do this via reward app or website!

— GAME Lancaster (@GAME_Lancaster) November 1, 2020

UDPATE: The Government has confirmed that non essentially retail can still run click and collect.

Food shops, supermarkets, garden centres and certain other retailers providing essential goods and services can remain open. Essential retail should follow COVID-secure guidelines to protect customers, visitors and workers.

Non-essential retail can remain open for delivery to customers and click-and-collect.

UDPATE: Argos say they will be running click and collect.

Hello Dave, we are still doing deliveries and Click and Collect. Please keep an eye on our website for all of our latest updates! ~Matt

— Argos Helpers (@ArgosHelpers) November 1, 2020