After Microsoft’s tumultuous Xbox pre-orders, following PlayStations clandestine arrangement, it’s safe to say that even though the technology we’re buying has progressed, the retailers distributing them haven’t. Whether a company made a concerted effort to notify customers in advance, or curiously allowed the product to just spontaneously materialise hours before it’s originally scheduled release, it appears the entire process is as unreliable as its ever been. The whole sordid business has left many frustrated, reciprocated by the cacophony of disgruntled fan’s on social media. Its no surprise that the limited availability, distrubuters assigning more consoles than they have allocated and online congestion has left many unable to secure their desired console on day of launch. But there are now growing concerns that retailers may not be able to fulfill promised demand. With many issuing discretionary emails to preempt this potential shortage. And of course people aren’t happy.

Having successfully secured my preorder, largely because of one online retailers rather impetuous actions, I felt assured that my order would be fulfilled on time. Now as personally inconvenienced as I would be by missing out on the PS5 that I’ve been desperately saving for on day of release, I would be more upset if delivery of this luxury item took priority over, say, hospital supplies. Now I realise this isn’t necessarily the way the postal service or private couriers operate, though it could be argued that they don’t operate at all, but considering the way 2020 has stagnated you’d think people would have gained a little more perspective. Perhaps attained a little humility. If nothing else this year has proven that gaming is a placating refuge from 2020’s execrable malaise, not a cure. So if you were one of the privileged few that successfully pre-ordered your preferred console, be appreciative that you were in a advantageous position to not only secure one, but also afford such a opulant commodity.