PlayStation 30th Anniversary Order Cancellation Update

Sony wanted to celebrate its PlayStation 30th Anniversary in style and announced the PS1-inspired 30th Anniversary Limited Edition, including the symbolic DualSense Edge, standard DualSense, controller charging station, and USB-C connector of PS1 controller wires. But things didn't go as they had planned, and there was a dispute surrounding cancellations. Sony has canceled the pre-orders for the Anniversary bundle, and those already ordered for the collection are now in the dark.

From 14th October, buyers from outlets have been receiving a message saying - We're very sorry to inform you that we're unable to fulfill your PS5 30th Anniversary Edition pre-order. We will automatically process a refund to your original payment method. Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this has caused.

It appears that PlayStation retailers and PlayStation Direct oversold the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition and DualSense controllers; therefore, pre-orders for both have been canceled. Even though most of the buyers got confirmations of their pre-orders, some were upset to get emails about cancellations. Both Amazon and GameStop have had this problem with their customers' orders. As a gesture of goodwill toward impacted buyers, Amazon is providing $5 gift cards. The catch is that many buyers are in the dark as to whether or not Sony would expand supplies in order to fix the problem.

Some eBay users are expressing their frustration by reporting scalpers and drawing attention to unfair practices. It's disheartening to believe you've secured an order only to find out it's no longer available. Understandably, many buyers are angry about the cancellations, and they have every right to be. The problem lies in the limited nature of the product, which inevitably leads to such issues. Unfortunately, this seems to be the case with the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition.

Sony's lack of anticipation for the demand and failure to adjust production accordingly is disappointing. The decision not to increase inventories only adds to the disappointment. The 30th Anniversary Limited Edition, like all products, should be accessible to those willing to pay for it. If this were the case, the number of resellers and scalpers would decrease. Unfortunately, if you had pre-ordered it, your order has been canceled.

Sony, however, hasn't responded to this issue formally yet. Regardless of that, PlayStation Direct is avoiding any communication efforts altogether. No one from customer service, the support team, or even u/AskPlayStation on Twitter has gotten a response. Buyers who have received the cancellation email are upset and hoping that their complaints will be handled by using the EU Online Dispute Resolution site (RLL) or by following the proper legal channels established by consumer protection regulations.

Many are speculating that Sony made a mistake and gave us false reasons to cancel, suggesting that this might be an attempt to let the buyers purchase a standard PS5 Pro. However, Sony may still compensate these buyers in some way by giving priority to when new stock is available. Canceled orders are one thing, and delaying the delivery is another. Those who ordered the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition indeed did it because they wanted this edition.