Sony Interactive Entertainment has said it underestimated consumer demand for PlayStation 5 ahead of the console’s November 2020 launch.
Speaking toThe Washington Post, SIE CEOJim Ryanalso blamed the lack ofPS5consoles currently available on theglobal semiconductor shortage.
“Demand was greater than we anticipated,” he said. “That, along with the complexities of the supply chain issues, resulted in a slightly lower supply than we initially anticipated.”
Ryan said production of PS5 consoles is now “ramping up steadily” and in a separate interview, he told theFinancial TimesthatSonyexpects to produce “really decent numbers” in the second half of 2021.
Sony previously said ithopes to ship over 14.8 million PS5sduring its next fiscal year but that it could struggle to hit the goal due to challenges caused by supply chain issues.
While Ryan reportedly refused to guarantee Sony will be able to satisfy PS5 demand by the 2021 holiday sales season, noting that “there are very few magic wands that can be waved,” he said the supply situation will improve throughout the year.
“It will get better every month throughout 2021,” he said. “The pace of the improvement in the supply chain will gather throughout the course of the year, so by the time we get to the second half of [2021], you’re going to be seeing really decent numbers indeed.”
AMD, which makes the chips inside PS5 andMicrosoft’s rivalXbox Series X/Sconsoles, recentlyforecast supply issues through the first half of 2021.
PS5 launched in November 2020 in the US, Europe, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.
Following“unprecedented” consumer demand for PS5, Ryan previously claimed the platform recorded“the biggest console launch of all-time”.
PS5 shipments reached 4.5 million unitsin 2020, according to Sony.
Further reading
SIE made a raft of announcements on Tuesday, including plans tobring “a whole slate” of its games to PC, starting with aDays Goneport this spring.
Ryan also revealed thatGran Turismo 7 had been delayed to 2022afterPolyphony Digital’s racing game was “impacted by Covid-related production challenges”.
Sony said it’s working ona “next-generation VR system” for PS5too. The headset, which will launch beyond 2021, will feature improved resolution, field of view tracking and utilise a new VR controller.
Additionally, the company said it willgive away Ratchet & Clank in Marchas part of its Play at Home initiative.
Sony also confirmed plans to stream a newState of Play presentationon February 25. Lasting for about 30 minutes, it promises to provide “new updates and deep dives for 10 games coming toPS4and PS5″.
