The government yesterday announced a second COVID-19 lockdown in England, UK, due to start on Thursday, 5th November 2020, and lasting until Wednesday, 2nd December 2020. With the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 both launching during this period, pre-orders may be affected.
The restrictions during this second lockdown mean people must stay at home (exceptions apply) and all but essential stores will close. This means GAME and Smyths Toys, which were offering pre-orders for in-store pick up, will have to close.
The closure of these stores, and restrictions what can be sole in other shops, will make in-store pick-up harder or even impossible until these stores reopen in December. Some retailers may offer customers to switch to home delivery instead.
The delivery services are already in strain due to increased online shopping, and the launch of bulky items like the Xbox Series X and the PS5 will mean delivery vans will be able to carry fewer items. The second lockdown could further affect deliveries too, but we hope everyone who’s pre-ordered one of the new consoles will see them arrive on launch day.
GAME is asking customers to pay in full by Wednesday this week, and then allow customers to pick-up their consoles on launch date.
Smyths Toys said they will be in touch with customers during the week, but pre-orders should be safe.