Walmart jumps on PS5 and Xbox early access bandwagon ahead of Black Friday

THIS Black Friday is likely going to be more manic than ever as people try to get hold of a PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Walmart is anticipating the influx of shoppers and is rolling out a new addition to its membership scheme to deal with it.

• Walmart+ membership –

Walmart+ offers a slew of benefits, like contact-free checkout, member fuel prices, and reduced prescription costs.

But it's latest bonus is early access to Black Friday deals, so paying members can get "first dibs on the hottest online Black Friday deals."

The retailer doesn't explicitly state that the new perk is for the PS5 or Xbox Series X.

It doesn't mention other hard-to-find tech products either, but it's not a stretch to imagine that's why the new tier has been created.

GameStop and Best Buy have rolled out similar incentives, although the membership fees vary wildly.

Walmart+ weighs in at $12.95 per month, or $98 for an annual membership, and you can cancel anytime.

There's a 15 day free trial, but anticpitating that members might only sign up for Black Friday, those specific perks are available with paid membership only.

Early access lets you shop online Black Friday deals four hours before everyone else.

That applies to all three of Walmart's Black Friday events, and all online Black Friday deals.

For comparison, Best Buy's Total Tech membership is an annual fee of $199.99.

To stop people signing up and then cancelling as soon as they get a PS5 or Xbox Series X, Best Buy's terms allow it to deduct the value of items bought during membership from the refunded fee.