PlayStation Direct typically charges for pre-orders about seven days before your game or console ships out, not at the moment you secure your spot in digital line. You’ll see a pre-authorization hold, just to make sure your credit card isn’t living on the edge, but the real charge happens closer to release—a friendly email notifies you, so surprises are minimal. Thinking of pre-ordering more than one item? Each gets its own order number, just to keep you guessing what’s next. Stick around for the nitty-gritty details.
While pre-ordering a game or console isn’t exactly a new trick in the gaming world, PlayStation Direct’s pre-order system adds its own spin to the mix—think of it as reserving your spot in line, but with more email notifications and slightly less elbowing.
Basically, pre-orders let fans lock in their favorite games and hardware before the official release date, often with just a few clicks and a credit card. But the real question most buyers have is: when does PlayStation Direct actually charge for these pre-orders?
The answer isn’t quite immediate. When a customer places a pre-order for a hotly anticipated PS5 accessory or a new game, PlayStation Direct doesn’t charge the card right away. Instead, they run a pre-authorization hold at checkout—just to make sure your payment info isn’t stuck in some fantasy domain.
PlayStation Direct won’t charge your card for a pre-order right away—they just place a temporary hold to check your payment info.
This temporary hold checks if your card is valid and has enough funds but doesn’t actually take your money yet. The hold itself can last anywhere from one to eight days, which means your available credit might look a little slimmer for a bit.
If you use a credit card, the card is only charged when the pre-ordered item is ready to ship, not at the moment you place the order.
Actual charging happens closer to launch. Usually, PlayStation Direct processes the payment when the item is ready to ship, which tends to be about seven days before the release date. If you have multiple items pre-ordered, each will have a separate order number and will be managed individually.
For the overly cautious (or just really enthusiastic), there’s a heads-up: an email arrives 10 to 12 days prior, warning you that your card will be charged soon.
If you’re the indecisive type, you’re in luck—pre-orders can be canceled before shipping, and eligible refunds are handled if you change your mind or something goes wrong.
Still, it pays to double-check your credit card and shipping details; a typo can turn your launch day celebration into a lesson in patience.