Number of PS5 units will be limited in the first year - report
A variety of factors could cause PS5 stock to be limited in its first year.
According to a new Bloomberg report, Sony is planning to manufacture fewer PS5 units in the console's first year, compared to PS4.
Although production capacity is unaffected, disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic along with the console's expected higher price may drive demand down. People familiar with Sony's supply chain say they expect 5 to 6 million units to be produced before the end of March 2021 (the current fiscal year). By comparison, Sony sold 7.5 million units in the PS4's first six months.
Full production is set to begin by June, but worldwide travel bans and lockdowns have caused unforeseen problems in other areas. For instance, the report says the company's board of directors are unable to meet in person to decide on certain details. Sony's hardware engineers are also unable to fly to assembly factories to oversee the process.
Bloomberg previously reported that Sony is struggling to price PS5 due to the high-end nature of certain components, as well as as their scarcity. The pandemic certainly hasn't helped there.
One other area coronavirus disrupted has been Sony's plans to reveal the console. The company may no longer be able to hold a physical event to unveil PS5. Some familiar with these plans also say that last week's DualSense controller reveal was very last-minute, as Sony didn't want to risk any leaks.
Some of these plans could change as the coronavirus pandemic evolves, the report points out, including PS5's production volume.
Catch up on everything we know about PS5, including how its specs compare to Xbox Series X, in our stories.