When Will the PS5 Be Back in Stock? Shortages Expected To Last Well into 2022
The PlayStation 5 could prove frustratingly elusive for gamers well into next year, Sony's chief financial officer has warned.
Sony's next-gen console has proved enormously popular since launching in November last year and immediately flew off the shelves. Restocks have been sporadic and limited ever since, partly due to a shortage of components.
The situation isn't expected to change anytime soon, according to Sony's CFO, Hiroki Totoki. Speaking to analysts after the Japanese tech giant announced its financial result on April 28, Totoki warned demand would continue to outstrip supply.
"I don't think demand is calming down this year and even if we secure a lot more devices and produce many more units of the PlayStation 5 next year, our supply wouldn't be able to catch up with demand," he was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.
Totoki, however, admitted Sony would have to increase production to meet the ongoing demand.
In its financial report, Sony said it had sold 7.8 million units of the PS5 through to March 31 and it expects to sell at least 14.8 million during the current fiscal year. Should the target be met, it would put the PS5 on track to match the PlayStation 4 in terms of sales. Since launching in November 2013, the PlayStation 4 has sold 115.9 million units worldwide, at an average of approximately 16.5 million per year.
In its second year after launch, the PS4 sold 14.8 million units, a milestone Sony said in February it was hoping the PS5 would pass.
"Originally, our plan was that at the time of the PS4 launch, we try to exceed that level by 7.6 million units this fiscal year, and we are on track to achieve this," the tech giant said during a briefing following its Q3 earnings call.
"And for next fiscal year, we believe that there will be strong demand to continue. But compared to the original time, we try to procure components and the level of the second year of the launch of the PS4 at 14.8 million, we would like to exceed that level of PS4 when it comes to PS5."
Speaking to analysts last month, Totoki said the soaring demand could be partly attributed to the coronavirus pandemic, as people spent far more time at home during lockdown than they would have done otherwise. That, in turn, fuelled demand for stay-at-home entertainment devices.
"We have sold more than 100 million units of the PlayStation 4 and considering our market share and reputation, I can't imagine demand dropping easily," he added.
In February, Sony admitted demand was likely to outstrip supply for the coming months, due to 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," Totoki told investors during a briefing.
"We have not been able to fully meet the high level of demand from customers [but] we continue to do everything in our power to ship as many units as possible to customers who are waiting for a PS5."
How can gamers get hold of the PS5?
Newsweek provides the latest PS5 restock information from Target, Amazon, Walmart, GameStop, Antonline, PS Direct, and more. Check the PS5 page regularly for updates on which U.S. retailers are selling Sony's next-gen console.
