PlayStation 5 will launch in India on February 2, 2021, according to the official Twitter handle, while preorders on the next-gen console will be opened on January 12, 2021. This is an amazing piece of news for fans in the country and also a big step for Sony, as they’re about to launch PS5 in one of the world’s biggest markets.
Considering the tech product shortages, availability problems, and pandemic-induced delays that hit other parts of the world, the distance between the PS5 announcement and the availability dates is pretty much acceptable. Of course, we don’t expect the first stocks to last for long, but since the inventory will be active, re-stocks will come and go, and the enthusiasts with enough persistence will eventually find a unit.
According to Sony, the following stores will accept preorders at the designated date, starting at 12 PM local time: Amazon, Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital, Games The Shop, Vijay Sales, Shop at the Sony Center, and a couple more authorized retailers. There’s no word about how many units will be shipped for starters, but if you want one, you should be ready to order it in the first few hours.
The official prices for the console, the accessories, and some notable games are the following:
On the other side of the ring, Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S are already available in India for Rs 49,990 and Rs 34,990, respectively, although stock shortages are a problem with these as well. Many Indians who weren’t patient enough for the PS5 launch simply grabbed the Xbox, which cannot be considered a compromise in terms of specs for the price anyway.
However, with the launch date for PS5 now known, you may want to wait for a while, as there are still some reasons to do so. For example, if you’re already using PS4, the next-gen console will offer backward compatibility with your old games. Also, Sony’s accessories for the PS5 are on another level compared to Xbox. And finally, we would consider the new DualSense controller to be the superior choice with its new haptics engine and integrated microphone.