Scalpers are already selling the PlayStation Portal at inflated prices

Scalpers are already selling the PlayStation Portal at inflated prices
Aleksha McLoughlin Updated on by

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The PlayStation Portal hasn’t even officially hit the shelves yet and already the streaming handheld has become a victim of price gouging by scalpers online.

Those wanting to know where to buy the PlayStation Portal may be in for potential disappointment as it seems as though PlayStation Portal pre-orders are rapidly drying up with less than 24 hours until its official release date worldwide. Scalpers have taken to secondary markets such as eBay, where earmarked units are being sold for as much as double their respective MSRP.

Some US PlayStation Portal listings are retailing as high as $329 or “best offer” which is a markup of around 65% and a pretty disgraceful tactic, however, not one that’s unfamiliar to gaming hardware in recent years. Much like with the PS5 before it, the new handheld system’s stock at launch looks to be on the leaner side with pre-orders from PlayStation Direct currently unavailable and the big box retailers stating “coming soon” with their product listings.

We recommend keeping a close eye on the PlayStation Portal at Best Buy first thing tomorrow morning to be in with a chance of securing a unit if you’re after one, and to never pay over the odds to scalpers. While there’s no guarantee everyone in the market for the streaming handheld will secure one at launch, we recommend being patient as it could only be a matter of days before they are more widely available.

We’ll be keeping you updated on all things related to PlayStation Portal right here on VideoGamer so that you are armed with the knowledge you need. We’re hopeful that it could make an appearance in the upcoming Black Friday PS5 controller deals towards the end of this month. While it’s highly unlikely to be discounted so soon after launch, availability could stabilize by then.