Sony Says Coronavirus Won’t Change PS5 Release Date

Sony claims that the coronavirus won’t be affecting the PS5’s release date at the end of this year.

According to Bloomberg, a Sony spokeswoman “doesn’t see any notable impact on the launch of its next-generation game console PlayStation 5.” There has been no specific day set as of yet, but the console is still set to release at the end of this year. The real question is, how late into the year will it launch?

But, even though the PS5’s release remains unchanged, Sony is hurting because of the coronavirus. Sony is set to lose around $370 million dollars due to the pandemic, and that’s just at the current moment. Things continue to grow more severe, especially here in the United States. Considering the United States is a major market for Sony as well as the severely afflicted Japan, the situation might worsen financially for the company.

It is refreshing to hear that PlayStation employees are working from home and staying healthy. As well, they are receiving their full pay and funds for equipment necessary for working on the PS5. 

The PS5 is not exclusively affected by the coronavirus. Some players might not be able to get physical copies of upcoming games like Resident Evil 3. The same might be the case with Final Fantasy VII Remake. GameStop has closed down, which doesn’t help accessibility, but the closure was something that definitely needed to happen.

But even though the gaming industry is suffering, video games are actually playing a major role in staving off loneliness and making connections during this pandemic. Games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons are providing players with a relaxing and wholesome way to spend their time and play with friends.

Hopefully, the PS5 still releases at the end of this year, as Sony claims. Now that we have an idea of the console’s specs and backward compatibility, we have a better idea of the console, and that’s exciting.

How are you spending your time in quarantine? How are you reacting to all the news regarding the coronavirus’s impact on the gaming industry? Let us know in the comments below!

Otherwise, stay healthy. Wash your hands and practice social distancing.

Kabriel Hoover

I am an English (Writing Specialization) major at the University of Nevada, Reno, and I also LOVE video games. I’ve been playing everything I could get my hands on since I was a kid playing my Nintendo GameCube. When I’m not playing the latest titles or replaying Dark Souls for the umpteenth time, I am usually trying to write my novel or write and edit for clients as a freelancer.