UK Politicians Call To Combat PS5 & Xbox Series X Profiteers

UK politicians are calling to take action against those that are hugely profiting on the next-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles.

The problem of sellers acquiring goods to make profits based upon greed is nothing new, especially when a new generation of console launches.

ebay listing of ps5 next to image of ps5
Credit: eBay/Sony

However there seems to be more of a highlighted issue with the most recent generation involving the PS5 and the Xbox Series X and S consoles.

Not only are individuals acquiring next-gen consoles for the sole purpose of making grotesque profits by luring in desperate buyers, but the problem has gotten far more sophisticated with large companies getting in on the schemes too.

Only recently a UK based company boasted of how they had acquired over 3,500 PS5 consoles for their subscribers, aiming to sell them on for a profit. 

The company even uses bots to not only jump online queues but also to make full transactions in seconds, something that is not possible for any individual person. 

This has meant that genuine buyers that want next-gen consoles are constantly getting beaten by bots. However, some retailers have been finding ways to thwart those plans or at least halt them temporarily (including the GameByte Shop! Find out more here).

An image of both versions of the PlayStation 5, with two DualSense controllers
Credit: Sony

Even UK retailer CeX has been selling the consoles for a high mark-up. Yes I know that it is a retailer that specialises in buying second hand goods, but when the company is selling PS5s for £815 and Xbox Series X for £650, does it make them any better than Bob and Sue on eBay or Facebook Marketplace?

Thankfully UK politicians have been discussing the possibility of finding a way to not only ban reselling of consoles for “vast profits” but also banning those pesky automated bots.

To be fair the politicians aren’t looking at completely banning reselling of certain consoles but rather those sales that exist purely for grotesque and greedy profits.

A Scottish National Party tabled a proposal to the Members of Parliament calling for legislative proposals “prohibiting the resale of gaming consoles and computer components at prices greatly above Manufacturer’s Recommended Retail Price.” [via VGC].

PS5 and Xbox Series X
Credit: Sony/Microsoft

As much as those individuals that acquire sought-after goods to sell at a profit, in my humble opinion it’s the use of the automated bots that are the real problem.

With this console generation alone it’s always an uphill task competing with individuals that want to acquire next-gen consoles to sell at huge profit, but when you throw in the competition of automated bots into the mix it’s a near impossible challenge for genuine customers.

So as far as of this Monday (December 13) apparently 15 members of Parliament have signed off to put a stop to automated bots being able to make purchases, which is a good start.

A section of the motion states: “new releases of gaming consoles and computer components should be available to all customers at no more than the Manufacturer’s Recommended Retail Price, and not be bought in bulk by the use of automated bots which often circumvent maximum purchase quantities imposed by the retailer”.

GameByte PS5 stock is coming image
Credit: GameByte

Hopefully a solution to combat greedy sellers and bots can be found soon, but UK politicians acting to stop the reselling of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles is a start. Ideally Microsoft and Sony can also produce more consoles which should put a big dent in the profiteering plans.

Sign-up to the GameByte Newsletter and be the first to find out when the new-gen consoles will next be in stock at the GameByte Shop – and don’t worry, we have a plan to keep console resellers at bay AND donate to charity at the same time!

Featured Image Credit: eBay/Sony