What video games are hard to buy?
Individual video games aren’t necessarily hard to buy this year, but gaming systems are difficult to purchase due to an ongoing console shortage.
What gaming systems are hard to buy and why?
In 2021, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will be tough to find because of the global chip shortage. Gaming PCs will also be pricier because graphics cards are in short supply—and the demand is high, especially thanks to people spending more time at home looking for ways to amuse themselves. “The supply of chips will remain very tight until at least September next year,” Takeshi Kamebuchi, a Toshiba director in charge of semiconductors, told Bloomberg. He added, “In some cases, we may find some customers not being fully served until 2023.” Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, the biggest chip manufacturer in the United States, told 60 Minutes, “I think we have a couple of years until we catch up to this surging demand across every aspect of the business. COVID showed that the global supply chain of chips is fragile and unable to react quickly to changes in demand. One reason: fabs are wildly expensive to build, furbish, and maintain.” He also pointed out that a lot of crucial chips for many electronics are made exclusively in Asia, and because supply chains are disrupted, it’s taking even longer to get them. An added obstacle for shoppers and gamers: Scalpers. You can likely find some consoles online, but for prices exorbitantly over retail because scalpers have scooped up most of the supply, driving costs up further.
Where can I get a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X during the console shortage?
Know that you are far from alone in your struggle to find a PlayStation 5 or XBox Series X console right now! You can sign up for in-stock alerts and use browser plug-ins like OctoShop to stay abreast of availability in real-time.
What alternative gaming systems are available in 2021?
If you’re not having any luck finding new consoles or games this year, you may want to consider cloud gaming, which will work on most devices with a good Internet connection. Please note that the prices listed below were accurate at the time of this writing, but may be subject to change. You can snag a 12-month PlayStation Nowsubscription for $59.99, which provides access to over 800 PlayStation games from throughout the console’s history, all playable on a PC or PlayStation 4. You can also play on a PlayStation 5 if you’re lucky enough to snag one! Google Stadialets you stream games from PCs, laptops, phones, and tablets. You can get a free trial month, then expect to pay $9.99 per month afterward—but note that you’ll have to pay extra for AAA games, so depending on what your gaming activities are like, this may not be the most economical option for some users. The Microsoft XCloudgaming platform is exclusively for Android mobile devices so far, so if mobile games are your favorite, this may be a great choice. NVIDIA GeForce Now offers some of the best games on streaming, but with some caveats: You’re limited to six hours at a time (you can log off and then back on, but there may be a wait), so if you’re the type who marathon-plays to the point of ripening, you may want to explore other cloud options. That said, this one is a steal at $24.95 for a six-month subscription. Next, 30 games to play over text!
