Desperate dad reveals ‘PS5 war room’ with EIGHT screens where he spent 13 hours trying to buy console

A DEVOTED Dad has revealed the extreme lengths he went to on Thursday to get his son a PlayStation 5 for Christmas.

Stephen Hill, from Walsall, scanned multiple online stores using a smartphone, laptop, five iPads and a PC in the hopes of buying one of the in-demand consoles for eight-year-old Harrison.


Desperate dad reveals ‘PS5 war room’ with EIGHT screens where he spent 13 hours trying to buy console
The PS5 is the latest and greatest console from Japanese tech titan Sony

Stephen told Birmingham Mail that he constantly refreshed eight screens over the course of 13 hours during his gruelling quest.

After logging on at midnight on the console’s November 19 launch day, the dad-of-three was able to secure a one of the £450 consoles at 1.20pm.

Stephen said the ordeal “a lot of clicking and refreshing” on dozens of websites he’d loaded up beforehand.

He also managed to bag himself a brand new Xbox Series X – also £450 – when that launched in the UK last week.


Desperate dad reveals ‘PS5 war room’ with EIGHT screens where he spent 13 hours trying to buy console
Sony’s PS5 console boasts an unusual white and black design

“The demand for both consoles was high but I was very determined,” the 39-year-old said.

“It’s that time of year, all the kids want them so they can play the latest games, whenever a new one comes out it’s always the way.

“But it’s what the boys had asked for and as a parent, you want to give them what they want.”

The PS5 went on sale in the UK yesterday and sold out at most major retailers within minutes.


Desperate dad reveals ‘PS5 war room’ with EIGHT screens where he spent 13 hours trying to buy console
The PlayStation 5 sold out at record speeds on Thursday

Stephen revealed that his route to success involved using multiple gadgets to select every PS5 bundle on UK retailer Game’s website.

Helped by his wife Emma, he eventually got hold of a PS5 bundled with the new Spider-Man Miles Morales game, setting him back £509.

While the PS5 is going to Harrison, Stephen’s  autistic six-year-old son Isaac is getting the Xbox.

Luckily, his seven-year-old daughter Lillie-Mai is not as gaming-obsessed as her siblings.


Desperate dad reveals ‘PS5 war room’ with EIGHT screens where he spent 13 hours trying to buy console
The Xbox Series X has a tall, boxy design that’s markedly different from previous models

Sony launched two versions of the PlayStation 5 in the UK and Europe on November 19, following the consoles’ release in the US last week.

The full PS5 costs £449/$499, while a Digital Edition without a disc tray is priced at £359/$399.

They’re up against stiff competition in the form of the Xbox Series X (£449) and Xbox Series S (£249), which launched worldwide November 10.

The Series X and Series S also sold out around the world within minutes.

In other news, check out our Xbox Series X review.

We also took a look at the Xbox Series S.

And try the powerhouse Dell Alienware R10 gaming PC on for size.

What do you make of the PS5? Let us know in the comments!