Preorder the PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Edition with Early Walmart+ Access

UPDATE: On October 11, 2024, by 10:25 a.m. EDT, preorders for the PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition 30th Anniversary Limited Edition flew off the shelves at major retailers on Thursday, October 10. Even Walmart couldn’t keep up despite its paywall, as scalpers started listing the console on eBay for steep markups. Here’s the original scoop.

The second batch of preorders for the much-anticipated PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle becomes available today, Thursday, October 10, at leading retailers. This follow-up comes just a couple of weeks after Sony first launched the bundle through their PlayStation Direct platform, where it vanished in record time.

While the preorder was officially slated for a 10 a.m. ET start, Target’s page gave eager shoppers a surprise by briefly appearing overnight. If you’re really set on snagging one of these coveted consoles, it might be worth considering a Walmart+ membership.

For those who don’t know, becoming a paid member (sorry, no trial memberships for this perk) of Walmart’s benefits program will grant you early access to preorders for the PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary bundle starting at 10 a.m. ET. The high demand is a given, but Walmart’s barrier to entry should make things less frenzied (and ideally keep some scalpers at bay). However, it’s unclear if non-members will eventually get a chance to preorder.

For quick navigation, here are a few links:

• Walmart+ Membership: $12.95 monthly or $98 annually, which offers early access among other benefits.
• Walmart Holiday Deals Event: Happening this week till Sunday, October 13, it’s Walmart’s answer to Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days and their way of kicking off the holiday shopping season.

The PS5 Slim Anniversary Edition bundle is also set to drop at Amazon and Best Buy today, offering other options if you want to take a shot outside Walmart’s membership advantage.

This bundle, released in celebration of PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, features a sleek PS5 Slim console in a retro gray, echoing back to Sony’s inaugural console look. The package includes a matching DualSense controller, a cover to add a disc drive (sold separately), a vertical stand, and various collectibles, all priced at $499.99.

This matches the price of the standard PS5 Slim with a disc drive (which Walmart has knocked down to $449 as part of their Holiday Deals event). It’s $200 cheaper than the upcoming PlayStation Pro, Sony’s mid-generation powerhouse, which also sold out on PlayStation Direct. But, no worries, its retailer preorders are rolling out today alongside the PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary bundle.

As for Walmart’s Holiday Deals event, here are the top offers in gaming you shouldn’t miss:

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In summary, while the road to acquiring the limited edition PS5 Slim may be challenging with such high demand, weighing your options among different retailers and considering added benefits like early access through memberships can help you secure this retro gem celebrating three decades of PlayStation magic.