The Playstation 5 launches today which can only mean one thing: you're probably not going to be able to get one. Or, at the very least, you might be putting in more effort and resources just to secure one compared to any other electronic gadget already in the market.
PS5 console listings on eBay have grown to almost 6000 with many demanding at least four-digit asking prices even for the $400 all-digital PS5 edition. Listings that have successfully sold appear to be in the $900 to $1100 USD range which is still roughly double the price of the retail value.
Consequently, PS4 listings on eBay have increased dramatically in the past few weeks as more users are looking to upgrade. A search for "Playstation 4" consoles on October 29 yielded 7351 individual listings which increased slightly to 7868 listings on November 6. As of November 12, results have jumped almost threefold to 20251 console listings.
Console scalping has unfortunately been around for decades. The original PS2, for example, was sought after at launch even by non-gamers for its ability to play DVDs. PS5 stock will likely remain tight throughout the Holidays.