Ps5 Restock: Sony Addresses Massive Shortage
Sony promises ‘relentless’ pace to catch up
Finding a PS5 is a little easier now than it was in November, but not by much. Resupplies can last for up to 10 minutes now, rather than about 30 seconds. Thats good news in a vacuum, but still not very helpful for console-seekers who dont have all day to devote to refreshing retail websites.
Jim Ryan, PlayStations CEO, has some good news, however: Sony is doing its darndest to increase PS5 production. The bad news, of course, is that the world is still in the middle of a pandemic, and that slows down the supply chain considerably.
Robert Leedham GQ conducted an extensive and wide-ranging interview with Ryan, in which they discussed everything from the PS5s 2021 lineup to the upcoming PSVR successor. The very first thing Leedham asked was about the PS5s still-very-limited availability.
All I can say is were working as hard as we possibly can, Ryan said. Were working as we always have, but with renewed vigor and energy post Christmas to get supply up, it will increase as each month passes. And the situation will start to get better hopefully quite quickly. We have been relentless in terms of trying to increase production and I cant really say more than that.
Ryan does at least give a reason for the PS5s supply-chain woes, and unsurprisingly, its the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Sony Is Gearing Up Make A Drastic Change In Production As The Focus Is Now Being Placed On The Ps5 This Could Lead To Ps4 Becoming Obsolete
The COVID-19 pandemic threw a gut punch to the world and threw a wrench into Sonys plans gearing towards the discontinuation of its PlayStation 4 console by the end of 2021. Unfortunately, the aforementioned gut-punch disrupted supply lines across the globe, and Sony just couldnt keep up with the demand for its new console, the PS5, so it continued producing its older sibling, whose chips were easier to source. Now, as the world recuperates from the Pandemic, Sony resumes its plans to discontinue the PS4.
According to a report by GamesRadar+, Sony laid out its expectations for its first-party PlayStation portfolio up to 2026, and it seems that the production of PS4 is winding down soon, aiming for a complete stop by 2025. Apparently, Sony projects that 50% of its releases in the fiscal year 2025 will be on PlayStation 5 console, 30% of its releases will aim at the PC market, and 20% on mobile gaming. Unfortunately for PlayStation owners, first-party PS4 titles are nowhere to be found something that shouldnt be all that surprising, considering the consoles unusually long lifespan.
Sony plans to be done with PS4 games by 2025.
IGN May 26, 2022
Why Does Sony Have Stock Issues
Even though it isn’t Sony’s fault directly, the PS5 sales don’t look good for the company, especially when compared to last gen’s console. As Daniel Ahmad reported on , the PS4 sold 20.2 million during the same timeframe.
Comparing these sales with the current PS5 situation, it’s clear that Sony hasn’t been able to meet expectations despite the high demand since the console came out. But why is this happening?
Unfortunately, Sony’s facing two major issues. First is the global health crisis. The global pandemic caused another problem: a global chip shortage. Many chip manufacturers haven’t been able to supply as many semiconductor chips as companies need. Since pretty much any electronic device uses these chips, Sony hasn’t been able to produce as many consoles as the companyand customerswould like.
Related: What Will Help PS5 Production Meet the Demand From Gamers?
The second biggest problem is scalpers. Some unkind people buy too many consoles to sell them at a higher price. And even though there are measures against this, scalpers have still found ways to snatch a lot of consoles.
When you combine these two issues, you get what many of us are facing: we either support scalpers and buy a PS5 at a ridiculous price or play the waiting game.
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Is Sony Still Producing The Ps4
According to Japanese publication NLab, Sony Interactive Entertainment PR stated that there were no plans to end production of the PS4 in 2021. Sony plans to continue offering the PS4 in parallel with the PS5 for the foreseeable future.
The caveat to this is that only one model of PS4 is still being made, the Jet Black 500 GB PS4 Slim. Sony stopped manufacturing the more desirable PS4 Pro in late 2020, which lent credence to the rumor that the company had closed the lines making the PS4 entirely.
Looking at Sonys history, though, the Bloomberg report seems a bit premature. Here are the years previous PlayStation consoles were manufactured:
- PS1: 1994-2006: 12 years
- PS2: 2000-2012: 12 years
- PS3: 2006-2017: 11 years
With PS4 units continuing to fly off shelves, Sony obviously doesnt have the back stock to meet demand, so why would it stop making the console? If the PS4 sees the same longevity that previous generations have, we may not see production ending until 2024-2025.
With the worldwide chip shortage and other complications caused by COVID-19, PS5 production hasnt been able to meet demand. However, even last-gen consoles like the PS4 have had stock shortages, so it makes sense that Sony is continuing to manufacture its cheaper and easier-to-produce console.
Is This Actually A Good Idea
I get the logic of giving PlayStation hopefuls something, especially with big games like God of War Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West being available on PS4 as well as PS5, but Im just not sure if this will be worth it in the long run since the entire point is to, eventually, move on to the next-gen console. As pointed out over at Kotaku, Gamers who want a PS5 but purchase a PS4 now as a compromise will always be at the mercy of whether or not Sony decides to release a new title for both consoles. Currently, the games that havent been released for cross-platform include Demon Souls, Returnal, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade.
I share the same concerns. Because if this is indeed the year where more PS5s can be produced, then Sonys gonna look at the PS4 and go, I dont know her. Not right away, of course, but there will be fewer releases on PS4.
Now if they were making it so PS5 games could be played on the PS4 then this would be a different conversation, as this comment from on that Kotaku article points out:
I feel like the people who will benefit from this news are people who genuinely just want a PS4 and arent in a rush to get a PS5. As I said, there are plenty of games to be excited about with the PS4, but the folks who are ready to get the next thing arent gonna be interested .
Theyll just also have to deal with everyone who wants a PS5 going, How does that actually help me?
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% Increase In Annual Console Production Not Expected To Satisfy Customer Demand
by Kyle Orland – May 10, 2022 3:46 pm UTC
If you’re a potential PlayStation 5 owner who has been unable to find the console on store shelves over the last 18 months, Sony has good news and bad news for you.
The good news is that the company now expects to produce 18 million PlayStation 5 units worldwide for the current fiscal year, which runs through March 2023. That projection, from the company’s latest earnings report, is up over 60 percent from the 11.2 million PS5 units produced and sold in the last fiscal year.
The bad news is that Sony thinks that increase still won’t be enough to satisfy the sky-high demand for the PS5 in the coming months. “We feel that there was a little bit higher demand than that ,” Sony Executive Deputy President and CFO Hiroki Totoki said during an investor Q& A portion of the call. “If the question is whether we can meet the demand, I think still short somewhat.”
Sony To Ramp Up Ps5 Production And Broaden Games Portfolio
- PS5 to overtake PS4 install base in year four
- Supply chain “definitely improving” -gaming chief
- PlayStation to push into live service games, PC and mobile
TOKYO, May 26 – Sony Group Corp said it plans to ramp up production of its PlayStation 5 console as supply chain snarls ease and signalled a radical broadening of its games portfolio including more titles on PC and mobile.
The PS5, which went on sale in November 2020, undersold its predecessor in its second year due to component shortages which have roiled the electronics industry. But it is expected to close the gap in year three and overtake PS4’s install base the following year.
Beyond the initial ramp up “we’re planning for heavy further increases in console production, taking us to production levels that we’ve never achieved before,” Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan told an investor briefing.
While COVID-19 lockdowns in China continue to create supply chain uncertainty, “things are definitely improving,” he added.
Sony has forecast PS5 sales of 18 million units in the business year to end-March compared to 11.5 million a year earlier.
PS5 by PlayStation is displayed in a GameStop in Manhattan, New York, U.S., December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Outlining a shift by PlayStation away from just concentrating on single player games exclusive to its platform, Ryan said more PC and mobile titles will be on offer in addition to live service games, which provide continuous updated play.
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Ps5 Stopping Production Explained
The rumors about the PS5 stopping production originated from an article from the website The Onion. However, what most people dont realise is that The Onion is a satire news website, writing funny stories with sarcastic pop culture references for readers.
So, this isnt an official source and is ultimately a falsehood in the name of satire. There is your answer, Sony isnt stopping PS5 production and has no reason to do so as it is selling out everywhere. Fans are keen to get their hands on the console and Sony will continue to produce them and release games for the platform, including first-party exclusives and third-party games.
Ps5 Production Ramping Up In 2h 2022
Veronica Rogers, senior VP of business operations at Sony Interactive Entertainment, shared the following statement with GamesIndustry.biz:
We are thrilled to share that Sony Interactive Entertainment has sold more than 20 million PlayStation 5 consoles globally. Since PS5s launch, our teams have worked tirelessly to deliver a truly next-gen gaming console that has won the world over and we want to take this time to thank the fans for their support. Your passion for the PlayStation brand is what drives us and what inspires us to innovate new technology, engineer the future of gaming, and continue creating the best place to play.
Thats all well and good, but what about the millions of consumers that still havent landed a PS5? Thats where the focus on production comes in.
To those fans who have yet to get their hands on a console, she added, please know that we are planning on a significant ramp-up in PS5 production this year and we are working endlessly to make sure that PlayStation 5 is available for everyone who wants one.
This isnt the first time Sony has made this promise. During an investor briefing last month, SIE CEO Jim Ryan stated: Were planning for heavy further increases in console production, taking us to production levels that weve never achieved before.
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Where To Buy A Ps5
If you want to know where to find a PS5 to buy, bookmark our PS5 restock page.
We do our best to keep our readers up to date about every PS5 restock we see. For example, if you have Walmart Plus, you had a chance to get a PS5 this past Thursday for $499. Amazon also restocked the PS5 twice in May, and will probably have more supply this month as well. You just have to be quick on the trigger to stand a chance.
With that said, Amazon might make it easier to snag a PS5 by the time Sony ramps up production. The online retailer is launching an invite-based ordering program for products in high demand with low supply. Unsurprisingly, this includes the PS5.
Amazon customers will be able to request an invitation to buy items from the product detail page. If Amazon picks you, youll receive an email with instructions on how to purchase the item and how much time you have to complete your purchase.
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Ps5 Production ‘difficult’ Thanks To Supply Shortage Says Sony
Gamers are still trying to get their hands on Sony’s PlayStation 5 months after launch, but that may continue to prove difficult as the company struggles to meet demand.
During a briefing following Sony’s Q3 earnings call, a Sony spokesperson confirmed that the company plans to sell more units of the PS5 in its second financial year than the highly-successful PS4, which sold 14.8 million units.
“For next fiscal year, we believe that there will be strong demand to continue. The second year of the launch of the PS4 14.8 million, we would like to exceed that level of PS4 when it comes to PS5,” the spokesperson said.
However, that will prove difficult with a global shortage of semiconductors, which are used in AMD processing chips in the PS5 and its competitor, the Xbox Series X/S.
“It is difficult for us to increase production of the PS5 amid the shortage of semiconductors and other components,” Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki said. “We have not been able to fully meet the high level of demand from customers we continue to do everything in our power to ship as many units as possible to customers who are waiting for a PS5.”
A spokesperson for the company said Sony has tried to emulate past production plans that successfully got the PS4 into gamers’ hands, but were met with unforeseen roadblocks.
Have you been able to procure a PlayStation 5 recently? Let us know in the comments section.
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Ps5 Production Stopped By Sony Here Is Everything You Need To Know About The Playstation 5 Production Rumours And More Read Ahead To Find Out
The PS5 was released on November 12 for U.S, Japan, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. The PS5 has two different variants, Digital and the Standard edition. The price for these consoles is $399 and $499 respectively. While the next-gen console is proving to be one of the big hits in the market, a piece of news says “PS5 production stopped by Sony”. So, if you have been wondering about whether PS5 is discontinued or not, then do not worry, here is all you need to know about it.
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The Ongoing Chip Shortage Strikes Again
Sony has reportedly cut production plans for the PlayStation 5 by around one million consoles due to component shortages and logistic constraints. And with less consoles being produced, it could be harder to buy one.
A report from Bloomberg cites sources familiar with Sonys operations. Those sources claim that Sony was originally targeting more than 16 million PS5s to have been produced in the year ending March 2022, but that figure has been cut down to about 15 million.
As noted in the report, Sonys Chief Financial Officer, Hiroki Totoki, recently told investors that logistical issues and parts shortages have grown more severe. PS5 sales in the quarter ended September 2021 were weaker than expected, and since July sales of the console have fallen behind the pace set by its predecessor, the PlayStation 4.
The ongoing global chip shortage has not done any favours for the PS5 and many other electronic devices, and the continuing effects of the COVID pandemic has made supply unpredictable. Bloombergs sources note that PS5 assembly partners are in daily contact with component suppliers to try and confirm that shipments will arrive on schedule, but clearly Sony has decided that the current situation means it cannot fulfill its original aims of over 16 million constructed consoles.
In a similar situation is Valve, who recently announced that it has had to delay the release of the Steam Deck portable PC due to global supply chain issues.
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Sony Cuts Playstation 5 Sales Estimates As Production Slows
The PS5 might become even harder to find.
Consumers still looking to purchase Sony’s PS5 will have to contend with even less consoles to go around throughout this holiday shopping season. On a conference call late last month whose details are only now surfacing via Blommberg, Sony Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki told investors that logistics and parts procurement for the PS5 had become increasingly difficult. According to people familiar with the current situation at Sony, it seems that the company has reduced its PlayStation 5 production outlook for this fiscal year due to these constraints.
Initially hoping to have delivered 16 million PS5 consoles by March next year, Sony has now cut its PS5 sales guidance by one million consoles and a lower number of manufactured consoles naturally translates into lower consoles for sale. The supply chain issues had already manifested in lower than expected PS5 console sales as of September 2021 the delta between Sony’s initial outlook and actual production capabilities seems like it could be widening even further.