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GTA 6’s PS5 Controller Pre-Orders Are Already Getting Ruined by Scalpers
Sony and Rockstar Games have released two limited-edition DualSense controllers to coincide with the November launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, but scalpers moved almost immediately to buy up stock and resell it at inflated prices. Although pre-orders remain technically open, the controllers are already appearing on eBay for roughly double their retail price, highlighting how resellers continue to undermine access to sought-after gaming merchandise despite retailers' efforts to curb the practice.
The two controllers feature the game's "VI" logo, palm tree motifs and a pink, purple and blue colour scheme drawn from GTA 6's artwork, and retail at $84.99 each. Sony has capped purchases at one per account to limit bulk buying, but scalpers have still listed units at around $170 on eBay, with prices expected to climb further as stock dwindles. The article notes this fits a wider pattern in gaming, citing recent scalping of Nintendo's Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 and Metroid special edition, as well as the 25th anniversary Xbox Series X, all of which sold out rapidly before reappearing on resale sites at a premium.
In short
- Scalpers are reselling GTA 6-themed DualSense controllers before sell-out
- Retail price $84.99; resale listings already around double that
- Sony limits orders to one per account, but scalping persists
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Reselling scarce controllers can be defended as a way to let buyers who missed the initial release obtain them, while sellers take on the effort and risk of finding buyers. Some may also see the resale price as reflecting genuine demand for a limited-edition item, rather than a price set by the manufacturer.
The case against
Buying up limited stock mainly to resell at a steep mark-up makes the controllers less accessible to fans who want to use or collect them at retail price. It can also turn scarcity into an advantage for organised resellers and weaken the value of purchase limits and other efforts to give customers a fair chance.
Explained simply
Grand Theft Auto is a long-running video game series made by Rockstar Games, and Grand Theft Auto 6 is its next instalment. Sony makes the PlayStation 5 and its DualSense controller, which players use to operate games; limited-edition versions are often released with designs tied to a particular title.
Scalpers are resellers who buy popular products and list them for more than the shop price. Their activity can make limited-run items harder to buy at the original price, even when retailers restrict how many each customer can order. The same pattern has affected special-edition consoles and gaming accessories from several manufacturers.