PlayStation 5 Sale Causes Tokyo Stampede

The planned sale of 300 PlayStation 5 consoles resulted in an aggressive mad rush in Tokyo's Akihabara district. Despite releasing last year, the supply of PlayStation 5s is sparse compared to the large demand. Yodobashi Camera in Tokyo only had the small inventory for the possible thousand or more people who showed up for a chance to buy. The front store clerk was handing out tickets first come, first serve to the first 300 people to reach them. This resulted in shoving and shouting as patrons clamored their way to the top. Due the increasing danger and serious likelihood of mass COVID-19 exposure, Yodobashi Camera ultimately canceled the sale.

 

It was later found out that this particular Yodobashi Camera was hotbed for scalpers aiming to resell the console. At most Yodobashi Camera outlets, their specific co-branded credit card is required to purchase the latest products. However, this was one of the few locations in the entire Tokyo metropolitan area to waive this need, making resells much easier. Still, some of the blames rests on Sony for failing to manufacture and distribute consoles to their key regions.      

Kurtis Seid, NoobFeed
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