Amazon adds an invite system to stop PS5 scalpers

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Amazon is launching an invite-based ordering system for tech products that always seem to be out of stock. The first item in the new system is the disc version of the PlayStation 5, and it’s live in the United States.

The eventual goal is to prevent scalpers from snapping up all the “high-demand, low-supply products,” according to TechCrunch. Anyone can request an invite, even without having a subscription to Amazon Prime.

Other retailers have tried ways to beat the bots, like using a system that locked graphics cards behind expensive subscriptions. Sony also has a similar invite system for direct sales of the PlayStation 5.

Requesting an invitation doesn’t even require a down-payment, as we’ve seen with Valve’s Steam Deck queue. All you need to do is go to the Amazon listing for the PlayStation 5. While there, click on the big yellow “Request invitation” button.

Amazon told TechCrunch that it will “assess whether an account that requests an invitation is authentic by looking at things like the account creation date and purchase history”. That’s a good thing, as it stops scalpers from creating new accounts just to game the system.

The Xbox Series X is the next device to be added. Amazon says it should be live in the next few days. A future expansion of the program will include more countries and devices.

The big question we have is why did this take so long? Eighteen months have passed since the PlayStation 5 was released. In that time, supply has been low, with mainly scalpers and their bots able to purchase one.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.