Upcoming England Lockdown Affecting Xbox Series X, S, PS5 Pre-Orders

The nationwide lockdown beginning in England on Thursday, November 5 has caused multiple retailers with physical stores to change their policies regarding collecting preorders for PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. All non-essential retailers in the UK will be closed to visitors from midnight on Thursday until December 2 – crossing launch dates for Xbox Series X, S and PS5. However, deliveries and collection services can continue to run. UK retailer Game addressed the potential issues on Twitter, explaining that customers with preorders should go into shops and pay for their new Xbox Series X and S units by Wednesday, meaning they will be able to pick up the units on launch day:

XBOX SERIES S/X - STORE PRE-ORDERS Please come and pre-purchase your console from now until Wednesday evening. You will then be able to collect your console on launch day between 8am-2pm. Xbox All Access customers will be contacted directly tomorrow with further instruction.

— GAME.co.uk (@GAMEdigital) November 1, 2020

Game is also one of the approved retailers for the Xbox All Access programme in the UK - the retailer says it will contact those using All Access tomorrow, November 3. The retailer's currently made no mention of PS5 preorders, although it seems likely that the system will be the same before its November 19 UK launch date. Most major UK retailers appear to be following suit with Game's collection plan for preorders. Smyths have assured customers that pre-orders are safe, and that payment and collection details will be emailed shortly. Argos will offer collections from both stores and in associated branches of Sainsbury's which, as a supermarket, will remain open. Currys PC World seems less sure of policy right now, with its Team Knowhow service partner saying it's "uncertain as of yet what's happening". At time of writing, IGN knows of no physical UK retailer cancelling preorders for next-gen consoles, and delivery-based preorders also appear unaffected. One unknown is whether retailers will receive any extra stock of next-gen consoles on launch day – Game says it has no confirmation of extra units right now. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.