GTA 6 DualSense pre-orders face early scalper mark-ups
Grand Theft Auto 6 is receiving two themed Sony DualSense controllers ahead of its planned November launch. Pre-orders remain open, but resellers have already listed the limited-edition hardware for about twice its retail price.
Both controllers use the game’s visual identity, combining the GTA 6 logo’s “VI” with palm-tree details and a pink, purple and blue colour scheme inspired by the game’s artwork. Demand was immediate, with fans joining queues on the PlayStation website when pre-orders opened.
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Themed DualSense controllers are already listed at double retail
The official retail price is $84.99. Despite the controllers not being sold out and pre-orders still being available, scalpers are already selling them on eBay for twice as much. If supply tightens, those resale prices could climb further.
This follows a familiar pattern for special-edition entertainment hardware. Large numbers of customers queued on Nintendo’s website after a Direct presentation to pursue Zelda’s 40th anniversary Switch 2 and Metroid Ravenous editions. The 25th anniversary Xbox Series X25 sold out in less than a minute, and all of those products later appeared on resale sites at inflated prices. The same problem also affects other entertainment products, including IMAX cinema tickets.
One-per-account limit has not stopped resellers
Sony has attempted to restrict bulk buying by limiting customers to one DualSense controller per account. That measure has not prevented early resale listings, however. In Japan, some physical retailers have turned to facial-recognition technology to deter scalpers from obtaining excessive stock. Online stores cannot use that approach in the same way, leaving automated purchasing and resale difficult to control.
For Australian collectors, paying a large mark-up is not the only way to build a gaming-focused display. A full-size arcade machine or a space-saving bartop arcade can provide a more substantial centrepiece, while RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide can help with planning and room requirements.
The key distinction is that the DualSense listings are resale offers rather than proof that official stock has sold out. Anyone considering one should check the official PlayStation pre-order availability and compare the total cost before committing to a secondary-market listing.
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