Tesco has no PS3 Red Dead stock

By Robert Purchese Published 20 May, 2010

ASDA won't sell the game in stores.

An insider at Tesco has told Eurogamer there are shipping delays with the PS3 version of Red Dead Redemption.

Therefore, most if not all of the country's Tesco stores will have no PS3 copies to sell at tonight's midnight launch events.

Xbox 360 stock is unaffected.

Tesco customer service told Eurogamer it hadn't heard of such a problem and that we must know more than they do.

While this shipping delay appears localised to Tesco's UK-wide sales, the blue-and-white supermarket isn't the only one having problems.

ASDA told Eurogamer this afternoon that no copies of Red Dead: Redemption would be sold in its stores. All sales of the game will be handled on the ASDA website. There's been an issue between ASDA and its supplier, apparently.

Eurogamer is waiting to hear back from Sainsbury's, HMV and GAME.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (84) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • telboy007 #1 2 years ago

    Yeehaw!

  • spliffhead #2 2 years ago

    Could the "Issue" be that Publishers don't want supermarkets selling it at £26?

  • Buztafen #3 2 years ago

    Tescoentertainment.com are quoting 1-2 weeks delivery the PS3 version it might be true. Incidentally you can get the 360 version off there for £29.75 using promo code FTSL15-1 but its got 4-5 days delivery time.

  • Shikasama #4 2 years ago

    spliffhead - it affects the Publishers not one iota. Publishers sell games at wholesale prices to retailers. It doesn't matter what it gets sold at after that

  • schmung #5 2 years ago

    I saw somewhere else Tesco were selling at £39.70 anyway, so unless chavsda were planning on gazumping them I don't see it affecting things much any word from Morrisons? L

  • MiniAmin #6 2 years ago

    Xbox 360 stock is unaffected.

    A thousand fanboys have just soiled themselves.

  • actionfitz #7 2 years ago

    dont think publishers give a fuck about supermarkets - they get the same cut.
    In fact they probably love it - it means loads of guaranteed sales and lots of money for them.
    Plus, supermarkets don't fuck them over with pre-owned.

    the only ones with mud on their faces are specialist retailers.

  • M_of_the_sys #8 2 years ago

    Smells like sabotage... *shifty eyes*
    Edited by M_of_the_sys at 20/05/10 @ 16:07

  • zubnut #9 2 years ago

    Maybe GAME are waiting for some second hand stock...

    /God, I'm cynical

  • BigJonno #10 2 years ago

    Listen all of y'all...

  • ron_aldo #11 2 years ago

    I pre-ordered mine from TescoEntertainment.com a few weeks ago for £28 and got an email this morning saying that it has been posted

  • CaptainQuint #12 2 years ago

    Betcha any money Asda wanted to flog it cheap but the publisher wouldn't have it. I'm LOVEFiLMing it anyway so I'm not really arsed either way.

  • DoctorZoidberg #13 2 years ago

    That's shit about asda. I normally pop in before work as its just over the road from my office.

  • HermitArcader #14 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #15 2 years ago

    I pre-ordered mine from TescoEntertainment.com a few weeks ago for £28 and got an email this morning saying that it has been posted

    On PS3? Might be that online orders are unaffected. I imagine they come from a warehouse elsewhere.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #16 2 years ago

    Betcha any money Asda wanted to flog it cheap but the publisher wouldn't have it. I'm LOVEFiLMing it anyway so I'm not really arsed either way.

    The publisher has already been paid as soon as it lands on the shelf. They couldn't care less if they gave it away for free.

  • ron_aldo #17 2 years ago

    @Bertie

    Yeah, PS3.

  • chubster2010 #18 2 years ago

    re 'Tescoentertainment.com are quoting 1-2 weeks delivery the PS3 version it might be true.'

    It said that when I ordered mine at the beginning of the week but I got a notification today to say it had been posted.

    B)

  • Dolly #19 2 years ago

    What about Lidl?

  • Eraysor #20 2 years ago

    Good job mine is en route from the interwebs then!

  • Malkotheslick #21 2 years ago

    @Dolly What about Lidl?

    They proabably have a prime stock of Red Dead Revolver for £8.99
    Edited by Malkotheslick at 20/05/10 @ 16:30

  • fiery_jackass #22 2 years ago

    the comments re "publishers not caring" are inaccurate. Publishers will care for several reasons including, but not limited to:
    1. Public getting used to the idea of lower RRPs, putting pressure on publisher prices in the longer term, foreshortening the golden period before price points and margins drop across the board en masse, as they have every generation.
    2. Supermarkets following the model that's worked so well in the past of cornering markets and then being in a position of sufficient power (once the competition has been hammered a bit) to put the squeeze back on the producers/publishers. This squeeze can take many forms, at its root is a transfer of power.

    naturally, clued up Eurogamer types will no doubt be importing/net-purchasing etc, but it's further bad news for conventional bricks and mortar outlets


  • Mark1412 #23 2 years ago

    Was in Blockbuster earlier and they've been impacted too. Supposedly they've got enough for most of those with pre-orders already made but with none left over for those who haven't pre ordered and it isn't available for rental.

    Pretty shoddy stuff all round.

  • Mkwone #24 2 years ago

    Mine was despatched this morning apparently. This was from Tesco Entertainment and it was the PS3 version.

  • Greggywocky... #25 2 years ago

    It'll be £35 in Argos, I found out earlier today, £40 in Game/Gamestation...

  • Breach #26 2 years ago

    Asda not stocking in stores but still good for online orders.

    Hmm, maybe they have been told they cannot remove the seal and sell it as new?

    I hope so, about time this retarded practice was stopped.

  • Jegeman #27 2 years ago

    The whole nordic market is afected, im from Norway and just got a mail from the store I preorderd it from. Says that due to production problems at take two/rockstar the PS3version will be delayed.

  • Dizzy #28 2 years ago

    Let's hope the face off is published after they are back in stock then.

  • FenderMaster #29 2 years ago

    my local Tesco had no PS3 SSFIV is stock on launch day either, but loads of 360 copies...

  • FourS33N #30 2 years ago

    Ive just ring up my local tesco (willenhall) there selling both ps3 and xbox staryong from £39:70 pn midnight
    Edited by FourS33N at 20/05/10 @ 17:13

  • onyxbox #31 2 years ago

    conspiracy... shh.

  • glaeken #32 2 years ago

    This story seems to be based on some what tenuous information.

  • Mkwone #33 2 years ago

    I think tesco's is a rumour but there's a lot of talk about Asda not selling it.

    Doesn't it say in the article that Asda have confirmed they won't have it in tomorrow?

  • Rpt81 #34 2 years ago

    Knew Asda weren't going to be stocking it in stores since last Saturday
    http://www.itchythumbs.com/2010/05/15/uk...

  • CYBER-WOO #35 2 years ago

    Hmv shipped my pre order on Tues, with a free copy of 3:10 to Yuma on blu-ray! Should arrive tomorrow hopefully.

  • Brimmy6 #36 2 years ago

    Pre-ordered from GAME on tuesday, it shipped on wednesday and i got it today. Haven't played it yet because im pre-occupied with Split/Second. :)

  • f00b_inc #37 2 years ago

    omg Tesco 360 bias

  • Gambit1977 #38 2 years ago

    Another convenient display of money passing ;-)

  • byron_hinson #39 2 years ago

    Asked in ours and they said they had a load to sell from midnight - seems like bogus news?

  • sneetch #40 2 years ago

    @fiery_jackass
    1. Public getting used to the idea of lower RRPs, putting pressure on publisher prices in the longer term, foreshortening the golden period before price points and margins drop across the board en masse, as they have every generation.
    2. Supermarkets following the model that's worked so well in the past of cornering markets and then being in a position of sufficient power (once the competition has been hammered a bit) to put the squeeze back on the producers/publishers. This squeeze can take many forms, at its root is a transfer of power.

    Good post and good points.

    Look at the amount of people who completely dismiss the idea of buying digital copies of games for the RRP because - amongst other things - they can buy them far cheaper in the shops or online (and they're dead right to do so: you should have a real good reason to spend more than you have to). Basically I think that being able to buy something cheaper in one place creates the expectation that they should be cheaper elsewhere, in the long run this will put pressure on the publishers to reduce prices and/or result in reduced sales because people believe they're being overcharged.

  • makeamazing #41 2 years ago

    The local blockies near me has enough stock for pre-orders but wont be having rental stock (as all stock is going straight on sale instead).

  • Dagdriver #42 2 years ago

    Not the only ones with issues.
    My preorder (Denmark) has been postponed to mid next week due to "logistical issues" :o(

  • DrunkDec #43 2 years ago

    Everyone is affected by production / logistical problems on PS3 format. Online have it slightly easier as they don't have to ship to stores. It only takes a small error to mess up the logisitcal process from factory to high street!

    No conspiracy I'm afraid.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #44 2 years ago

    Of course I'm not completely serious when I say publishers don't care about the price at all, especially not in the long term. That is clearly exaggerated, the main reason I posted was to add something to the false conclusions that publishers might hold back stock so that only stores selling the games closer to the RRP get the game which would hurt publishers even more.

  • muppet86 #45 2 years ago


    I've worked for ASDA for many years and know for a fact that it depends on which region a store is in to which supplier it has. So for the whole nation to be affected by this is highly unlikely. At least I hope so! /prays

  • Miths #46 2 years ago

    @Dagdriver

    I was lucky to have mine shipped from CoolShop today. They stopped taking pre-orders several days ago and still can't say when neither the PS3 nor the 360 version will be in stock again.
    I also checked a few other Danish online stores today out of curiosity, it seems like both versions are in short demand. So short that Friday the 28th was listed as the release date on one site, and another said 2-10 days.

    I wonder if buying a copy tomorrow would be as easy as simply walking into the nearest Fona? It wouldn't be the first time where the dedicated game stores - online or off - are the first to run out, as that tends to be where most gamers pre-order.
    In fact the only game I've ever had a problem buying on release day here in Denmark was GTA4, where I had to visit four or five stores in Århus at opening time, before I found one that had a few copies that hadn't been reserved.

  • Miths #47 2 years ago

    It certainly looks like the 360 version is affected as well, at least here in Denmark.

  • saintedd #48 2 years ago

    Ordered from shopto at 4.30pm today , got an email by 5 saying it was shipped and should be here friday morning. (PS3)

  • MrPinky93 #49 2 years ago

    My sister works in my local Morrisons, They had very limitied stock... Luckily she reserved me a copy :)

  • PlugMonkey #50 2 years ago

    My pre-order from GAME is already in the Xbox. \o/

    /smug mode.

  • tachometer #51 2 years ago

    Apparantly the PS3 version is very bad so at least its a small mercy!

  • geordiek #52 2 years ago

    Dolly 'What about Lidl?'

    They have their own brand version. Red deed reduction.

  • makeamazing #53 2 years ago

    Apparantly the PS3 version is very bad so at least its a small mercy!

    But not as bad as your overall fanboyism though right ;)

  • welshben23 #54 2 years ago

    I'll be getting mine for £9.99 in Argos anyway.

  • tachometer #55 2 years ago

    But not as bad as your overall fanboyism though right

    touchè!
    Edited by tachometer at 20/05/10 @ 19:48

  • shotgun44 #56 2 years ago

    I have my copy from game online already! hurrah!

  • DoctorFraud #57 2 years ago

    Who would want the sub-HD version anyway?

  • shotgun44 #58 2 years ago

    I'm not gonna get to play it I'm off to the pub :(
    Oh well; every cloud!

  • makeamazing #59 2 years ago

    Who would want the sub-HD version anyway?

    Maybe people who like games such as Alan Wake...?

    Joking aside for a minute, it is a shame that Rockstar still havent got their PS3 mojo.. i would have thought they would have had enough time and resources to get the two engines working similar by now.

  • CB.Gamestation #60 2 years ago

    Nationwide shortage.we didn't get any for general sale on PS3.
    No Limited edition on PS3 either... weird.

  • Blazewamp #61 2 years ago

    i work in a morrisons store in scotland and its not got any PS3 copys ether

  • stoopidgreg #62 2 years ago

    was just gonna grab it tomorrow but now it's almost midnight i may as well get it now. last game i bought at midnight release was GTA 4. funny that...

  • nabbers25 #63 2 years ago

    i have just got back from the tesco in stockport and the manager came out at midnight with 5 copies on the ps3.....NO 360 VERSIONS, he said thats all that had been delivered.....there were loads of people there... it wasnt a pretty sight.... he said that all the other stores in the areas were the same....what a joke

  • Murby #64 2 years ago

    Just got back from my local Tesco and they must have had atleast 50 Xbox 360 versions so I nabbed one and got the 800 points free as well. Strange how its different in different areas :/

  • strikerno07 #65 2 years ago

    I have just been to three 24hr tesco's in Buckinghamshire, the first one I went to at just gone midnigh had NO stock for xbox or PS3 whatsoever (aylesbury), the other had only a limited amount of xbox rdr's and zero PS3 copies(also aylesbury). The final Tesco which was in Milton Keynes I only went to because I phoned and the diamond geezer security guy (who I did not know) but by the only remaining PS3 version until I got there gone 1.30am.
    After speaking to various night staff managers, it seems there is VERY limited stock on both consoles especially PS3, and delays at most stores for delivary. Small Indie games stores also seem affected. It seems like all the pre-orders have swallowed up the already limited stock with all the large retail stores having only a few units each.
    ASDA are not stocking it at all and won't be, morrisons is in the same situation as Tesco.
    Tesco have had to turn quite a few people away after advertising a big advert in the Sun newspaper on thursday that they will be doing a midnight launch thu at midnight. One of the Aylesbury managers told me they are hoping for more stock to be delived through out the day on friday for a rescheduled launch on fri at midnight, which makes no sense to me.
    I feel very lucky now to be one of the few playing it right now on PS3. Pre-order was the way to go on this, although I had 8 pound of tesco vouchers which took the price down. Tesco launch price is 39.70GBP

  • lockload #66 2 years ago

    Not only is the ps3 version subHD it also has worce AA, sort it out rockstar

    I could maybe accept it with gta4 as the ps3 was fairly new but not now
    Edited by lockload at 21/05/10 @ 06:31

  • CaptCastle #67 2 years ago

    I have £90 of store credit (broken Hoover!) to use up in Argos. I'll go grab a copy on my lunchbreak (reserved online). Although it's a busy weekend coming so I'm not sure I'll get to play it.

  • CB.Gamestation #68 2 years ago

    I think we're all in big trouble if the biggest news about this stock availability is regarding supermarkets.

    Are we forgetting about dedicated games retailers such as GAME,Gamestation,HMV?

  • etyek #69 2 years ago

    Has anyone's copy from Tesco Entertainment been delivered yet? Rumour has it they post from Jersey, which doesn't bode well for turning up today since it was only dispatched yesterday...

  • chrisjm #70 2 years ago

    i see the sun still rose this morning despite this end of the world ps3 stock problem

  • Mkwone #71 2 years ago

    Someone told me Asda aren't selling the game because of it's 'Graphic Content'

    Which is code for, we can't can any copies of the game so we think the game should be banned

  • bushwod #72 2 years ago

    The girlfriend has picked up an xbox copy of RDR for me this morning from GAME. She didn't say how many copies there were but apparently a que of 20 people.

    Don't mind paying £40 for it as had lot of trade in money to use up.

  • captainrentboy #73 2 years ago

    We had quite a few copies on PS3 in my Game store (free stock), both standard and special edition and my store's as quiet as they come, so larger stores could have a fairly decent amount this morning.
    I'm also aware I'm telling the wrong group of gamers, as going from past comments the Game group makes 95% of you physically sick :)

  • CHACK #74 2 years ago

    regarding ASDA - ASDA wouldn't bend on the pricing it was buying the stock at - Amazon had this at £34 at one point.

  • spenner #75 2 years ago

    Arr bugger, its gone up to 39.99 at Tesco online now. Yesterday it was £35. I should have ordered it then. with the 15% off voucher and another 8% cashback from quidco nevermind

  • makeamazing #76 2 years ago

    Blockbuster are apparently getting more stock in on Saturday, so if you cant pick it up from elsewhere might be worth giving them a ring.

    Locally Asda have 0 copies..

  • hulkamania78 #77 2 years ago

    Its the oldest marketing trick in the book - create demand by not releasing enough stock.Then in the papers tomorrow articles will appear saying sold out every where. When really they havent released the full quota of stock to satisfy peoples orders.

    How many stupid parents are gonna go out now and pay stupid money on ebay to keep there under 18 kids happy. loads. ROCKSTAR = MARKETING GENIOUS.!!!

  • Bonders99 #78 2 years ago

    Just been to Tescos in Bradford on canal road. Plenty of PS3 versions in stock but no 360 versions at all.

  • paul.doh! #79 2 years ago

    That's bollocks - they have PS£ copies in Tesco reading

  • RobotRocker #80 2 years ago

    Checked Tesco Galleons Reach. Plenty of PS3, no 360. Strange.

    They are offering an 800 point card for free with a chart game purchase though so good times if you want to pick up Split/Second.

  • SMOM #81 2 years ago

    Both my local Sainsburys got no PS3 stock delivered despite being fairly large, plenty of 360 copies left. Every local place that sold games got tiny numbers of PS3 copies and plenty 360 copies, the few PS3 copies left were reserved.

  • Rens11 #82 2 years ago

    gamestation near me had plenty of 360 copies no ps3 though be interestin to find out the real reason why such short stock in most places

  • reeferchief #83 2 years ago

    I went in HMV in Darlington last week to trade my copy of FIFA 10 for £20(surprised they were still giving that much for it) to go towards red dead, which the cashier then informed me they were only getting 10 copies for the PS3, so I reserved one, free blu ray, double points on my pure card, awesome.
    Not too far into the game but I'm impressed so far, my horse has only commited suicide once, threw it's self of a cliff and into pikes creek.
    Edited by reeferchief at 23/05/10 @ 10:58

  • SEVQA #84 2 years ago

    The Tesco's in Adelstone had some red dead copies on Friday which were all gone come Saturday. They had three PS3 releases on Friday modnation, split second and red dead. Neither of these games were priced up (i.e. price displayed). And guess which game actually cost the most, Red Dead £39.99.
    Edited by SEVQA at 24/05/10 @ 16:24