Expect Shortage Of PlayStation 5 Units To Continue Until Next Year

It was reported during a briefing following Sony's financial results report in April that gamers and tech enthusiasts alike should expect a shortage of PlayStation 5 units to continue until next year.

A reliable source told Bloomberg that the demand for the console isn't calming down this year due to game companies already releasing games for the new console, and although they are still able to produce more units next year, it is not enough to meet possibly the demand.

It was stated during the briefing that Sony is currently having trouble keeping in stock of their PlayStation 5 units since its launch, partly due to the shortage of semiconductors worldwide. Reports revealed that Sony had sold 7.8 million PlayStation 5 units from its launch in November 2020 until March 31. The company is expecting to sell at least 14.8 million units for this fiscal year.

An interview with an industry leader and researcher confirmed that the world is currently experiencing a shortage of semiconductor chips. These are essential parts for creating current electronic devices such as game consoles, flat-screen TVs, and cars. An average car needs one hundred semiconductor chips to function properly. These companies do not make these chips on their companies; they reach out to other manufacturers in order to purchase this raw material.

The tech world is currently paralyzed due to the lack of semiconductor chips, cutting production short. This shortage has caused hundreds to thousands of vehicles to halt production until the situation normalizes.

In the case of game consoles, there has been an increase in demand, such as the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox. Since these consoles require the use of semiconductor chips, there is a chance that stocks for it will be low, and the reselling prices may skyrocket.

With COVID-19 vaccines now being deployed in all parts of the world, there could be some slow chances of recovery for the industry as well. However, the possible timeline for this global chip crisis to normalize might take some time.