Players looking for a PlayStation 5 may have to wait a little longer to find one.
Sony warned on Wednesday that it is struggling to meet demand for the video game console, which is having great success as it faces a shortage of computer chips.
The Japanese tech giant said it needs to compete with a wide range of other companies for the semiconductors used to make the PS5, such as smartphone makers and firms.
“It is difficult for us to increase PS5 production amid a shortage of semiconductors and other components,” said Sony’s chief financial officer, Hiroki Totoki, at a news conference.
Despite production problems, Sony said it sold 4.5 million PS5 consoles from its launch in November through the end of December. That performance was similar to the launch of the PlayStation 4 in 2013, which handled 4.5 million units in the first quarter on the market, Sony said.
Sony said it is on track to meet its target of selling more than 7.6 million PS5s by the end of March, although it has not “been able to fully meet the high level of customer demand”.
The $ 499 consoles have been hard to find, as pre-orders ran out in a few hours in September. The money changers tried to sell the consoles for thousands of dollars on eBay after they officially hit stores.
“We continue to do everything in our power to send as many units as possible to customers who are waiting for a PS5,” said Sony in its earnings report on Wednesday.
New York-listed Sony shares jumped up to 10% to $ 109.48 on Wednesday after the company raised its profit outlook thanks in part to the strength of its gaming unit.
Sony now expects to record operating profit of 940 billion yen (about $ 9 billion) for the year ending March 31, with 340 billion yen (about $ 3.2 billion) from the games and network services.
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