Sony believes its next-gen gaming console Playstation 5 (PS5) will continue to see supply shortages into 2022. Unsurprisingly, the electronics giant is facing the same constraints as other tech companies reliant on semiconductor chips.
“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,” Sony Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki told analysts, according to a Bloomberg report citing anonymous sources.
In April, the electronics giant announced it had sold 7.8 million units of the highly anticipated console through 31 March. It’s targeting a sale of at least 14.8 million units in the current fiscal year – which would keep pace with the performance of the Playstation 4, which has sold over 115.9 million units to date.
Not too long ago, Sony officials told a different story. In February, Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan said he expects the supply constraints for PS5 consoles to get better throughout the year. Now, that seems to be overly optimistic – to say the least.
Still, Totoki’s comments comport with what other major industry players are saying. Taiwanese chip manufacturing giant TSMC and contract manufacturing titan Foxconn both see the chip shortage lasting possibly into next year. Apple also recently warned that its iPad and Mac products could see shortages.
(Source: Bloomberg.)
