If you’re having trouble protecting a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you’re definitely not alone. In the run-up to Christmas, the offer was disappointingly scarce, with new consoles being sold almost the minute they went into stock anywhere. For the PlayStation 5, at least, we can see these inventory problems subside in the new year – at least assuming that a new report is to be believed.
According to DigiTimes (via Gematsu), Sony managed to deliver 3.4 million PlayStation 5 units worldwide in the first four weeks of console availability, which is definitely an impressive number. The PlayStation 5 was released in the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand on November 12, while it was released for Europe and other regions of the world on November 19. It is important to note that this figure leaves out the last few weeks before Christmas, so it would not be surprising to know that total PS5 sales are a little higher now.
Sure, the PS5 is running out as fast as Sony and its manufacturing partners can produce inventory, but it looks like production will also have a boost in the new year. The DigiTimes report also says that PS5 production is expected to reach 16.8 to 18 million units in 2021, which will be helped by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), giving AMD more foundry capacity to produce the PS5 CPU. .
The hope is that, with this additional smelting capacity, downstream production can also increase. While PS5 inventory is still difficult to find in the coming weeks and months, it may not be long before inventory begins to keep up with demand – assuming, of course, the DigiTimes report (which is based on statements from “industry sources “) and need.
For now, however, the PS5 is very difficult to find, and although we are officially on the other side of the Christmas shopping season, we don’t expect stock problems to subside for a while at least. If you’re trying to protect a console for yourself, be sure to check out our tips and tricks guide to beating money changers, bots and your normal human competition.