PS5 PlayStation 5 1
Image: Push Square

As PS5 stock becomes more readily available, and starts to dominate hardware sales charts again, scalper bots are beginning to lose interest. That’s according to a report by Netacea, which tracks the products targeted by scalper bots on a quarterly basis. According to its results, while Sony’s new-gen system remains very much in-demand, it’s currently the fourth most searched for product – when it’s previously remained in the top three since launch.

Scalper bots work by scraping retailer websites and ordering products faster than any real person would feasibly be able to. Considering the limited availability of the PS5, those systems can then be resold at a premium, earning the scalpers a tidy profit. It’s a practice that governments in both the US and UK are looking to stop.

Subscribe to Push Square on YouTube150k
Watch on YouTube

According to Netacaea, the products most targeted by scalper bots between July and September were:

  1. Adidas Yeezy Slide Bone
  2. Nike Dunk Low Panda
  3. Panini Donruss Optic Football Trading Cards
  4. PS5
  5. Jordan 1 Retro Low OG UNC

The company explained in its report: “This is the first time the PS5 has not made the top three in our index, a reflection of the slight reduction in bots targeting the console due to stock increases. However, its resale value has remained stable, with only a two per cent drop since last quarter.” So, in other words, the system remains highly sought after – it’s just getting a little bit easier to actually buy one legitimately these days.

[source netacea.com, via videogameschronicle.com]