Some fans are receiving word that their Xbox Series X|S and PS5 will be available for Black Friday at select online retailers, but that's post-launch, and even then seems like it may not be something that many people get to enjoy given how limited stock has been up until this point.
Xbox Series X|S officially launched today, November 10, and many consumers are fortunate enough to be getting their consoles on time - and, of course, there were some who were even luckier and received their Xbox Series X ahead of launch due to shipping errors. The reception of the console has been warm, with many critics suggesting Xbox Series X represents the more powerful and appealing option between it and the PlayStation 5. Some early concerns persist, like a notable lack of launch exclusives for the console, but even without something as big as Halo Infinite available alongside the next-gen console's release hasn't stopped Xbox Series X|S pre-orders from selling well.
Unfortunately, however, those pre-orders may have sold a little too well. News has been making the rounds on social media from fans who have gotten emails suggesting their Xbox Series X|S pre-orders will be delayed, with varying amounts of time being reported. Some fans believe their consoles will arrive within a few days after launch, while at least one consumer posted an email they received from Amazon on Twitter suggesting the latest date they would receive the console is December 31, 2020.
Those are obviously some very large release windows, and the emails thus far have been just from Amazon, so it's possible that's the only retailer that has been affected by stock shortages. Of all the companies affected, though, Amazon is probably the one that's going to have the biggest impact given the ubiquity of the shipping giant. Just how many people are experiencing Xbox Series X|S pre-order delays is unclear, but the fact it's happening at all is cause for concern when it comes to a company as big as Amazon.
Hopefully, the longest delay reported - the potential of a December 31 receiving date - is simply Amazon being extremely measured in its estimates. Still, any Xbox Series X|S pre-order delays at all are an annoyance, and frustrating the longer they go on. Early adopters really didn't have much reason to pick up either Xbox Series X or PS5 due to a lack of launch titles, so they're purchasing them because they're ionate about the future of console gaming.
