In just four weeks after its debut, Chinese-based media DigiTimes (via Gematsu) reported that Sony had shipped 3.4 million units of PlayStation 5. Making it the highest ever unit shipped for a PlayStation console. According to DigiTimes’ sources, while currently North American and European markets are given priority for PS5 shipments, after January next year, Sony Interactive Entertainment might allocate more units to Asian markets instead. In 2021 PS5 shipments are expected to reach 16.8-18 million units thanks to the support from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and other firms.
Even so, ever since the pre-order period, PS5 has remained extremely hard to find in many regions. Retailers are having problems getting additional stock. Even the North American PlayStation Direct store faces immediate sell out the moment it got a fresh supply of units. According to Gematsu, in Japan, retail stores had to do raffles just to sell the limited stock they have. And right now, scalpers are taking this chance to sell the gaming machine for exorbitant prices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t12x7k_oecc
The second ninth-generation console, the PS5, was first launched on November 12 in the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Most of the other regions, including Europe, the Middle East, South America, Asia, and South Africa, got it on November 19. Interestingly, Southeast Asia countries will only be getting the console in January 2021. Well, officially anyway, since PS5 units have shown up all over the grey market after all. Still, with that in mind, it definitely lines up with what DigiTimes’ sources said regarding Sony allocating more units to Asian markets early next year.
Hopefully, the shifting of the shipping priorities does not mean that the console will still be hard to find in 2021. Do you have any issues getting your own PlayStation console? Drop by in the comments and stay tuned for more PS5 and other console news.
