Target shifts Xbox Series X restock plans: dates are out, ‘as inventory arrives’ is in

Big Xbox Series X restock changes are coming to Target starting tomorrow, May 18, and it seems like good news if you’ve been waiting to buy the Microsoft console.

You’ll be able to buy the Xbox Series X ‘as inventory arrives’ in your local Target store, as first reported by and later confirmed by our Target employee sources. This means you’ll be able to secure the hard-to-buy Xbox at random times in the US based on local inventory and won’t be limited to specific nationwide drop dates.

This goes along with the reporting of our , who has been told that there are ample consoles for the next Xbox Series X restock this week. Instead of a specific early morning Xbox drop, however, we may see Target stock the console at various locations sporadically as they get them in.

Matt Swider is tracking Xbox Series X restock opportunities from 12 different stores in the US. Here’s an example of the alert you’ll get if you follow his Twitter account.

Will Target sell Xbox Series X in stores?

No, Target won’t sell the Xbox Series X in stores for the time being. Instead, you’ll be able to buy the console online at Target.com for a same-day in-store pickup. 

“[Customers] shouldn’t go to Target to buy an Xbox,” urged one of our sources we talked to today. “It’s only going to be sold online and you can pick it up later in the store.” When we asked about when in-store purchases may resume, we were told, “We’re not there yet.”

In other words, the Xbox Series X won’t be sold at Target on-demand and employees at the retail chain don’t want to be asked incessantly about a console they don’t have in stock. You either arrive with a purchase order email or you don’t get an Xbox.

TechRadar has reached out to official Target comms channels and we’ll update this news report when we hear back.

It’s just Xbox so far, not PS5

Today’s Target news applies to both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and we’ve seen a few Walmart locations begin to restock the Series S last week. It’s officially a trend.

However, not part of this shift in Target’s restock strategy are plans. The company is going to stick with specific PS5 drop dates, and we’ll continue to update our Twitter tracker as consoles become available throughout the US.

Other Xbox restock locations this week

Matt has been sending Xbox Series X restock alerts for all retailers in the US, and it now seems as if the ample Target Xbox inventory he reported on this week is now destined for online purchases, which may begin starting tomorrow, May 18.

Beyond that, we may see Walmart restock Xbox on Thursday, May 20 at 2:30pm (also online), although that’s not confirmed just yet (we usually know from our Walmart restock sources at 12pm EDT on Thursdays). Walmart has also been getting the Xbox Series S in stock in stores (where to can actually pick it up there). So we’ll be watching to see if it shifts strategy too.

Best Buy is overdue to have the Xbox Series X in stock, too. It had a Monday restock two weeks ago late in the afternoon, so we could see Best Buy repeat its sale of the Microsoft console today or sometime this week.

Antonline is another restock console source we track daily, and the American store, while small, has shipped the Xbox Series X console to its customers very quickly. Here’s the one thing to know: while Antonline does restock at least one next-gen console per week, it’s had the Xbox Series X in stock recently, and it may be Sony’s turn this week.

Microsoft Store Xbox Series X restock

When will Microsoft restock the Xbox Series X? We always suggest checking with us every Sunday in May 2021 at 11:59pm EDT / 8:59pm PDT. While we think it comes in stock at midnight, since that’s technically Monday morning, we want to be as clear in our advice as possible and avoid any confusion around when you’ll be able to buy the Xbox Series X. It’s Sunday night before you go to sleep for Monday.

What to do when it’s in stock at Microsoft: You should keep trying to buy it for at least 30 minutes from the Microsoft store – with a lot of refreshing even if it says out of stock. Why? Thousands of people will be trying to make the purchase of the Microsoft console, and many will either fail to add their credit card details properly or bail on buying it (a lot of people just like to see if they can buy it). After a few minutes (roughly 15 minutes), that inventory will kick back into the Microsoft store system and be available to buy again. That’s our best tip: don’t give up on trying to buy the Xbox Series X.

What not to do: Most people see the initial Xbox Series X restock Twitter alert from Matt Swider at midnight, and they immediately go to the Xbox website to buy it only to see the add-to-cart button say ‘Out of stock’. Frustrated, they reply to Matt with a message like ‘Out of stock’ or ‘It’s gone’. However, what they should be doing is sticking to the Microsoft website and constantly refreshing the page.