Sony Looking to Double PS5 Production in 2020
It sounds like Sony is trying to make significantly more PS5 units available for the console’s launch window.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Sony previously planned to manufacture 5 to 6 million PS5s by the end of March 2021, but under its new plan, the company hopes to double that number by the end of 2020. Due to the logistical challenges of shipping consoles that are manufactured in China, especially during a pandemic, a large portion of these consoles will end up on store shelves early next year. Sony currently plans to have 5 million consoles assembled by the end of September, so that could give us a hint of how many will be available worldwide on day one. It’s worth noting that Sony has yet to announce the release date for the PS5.
The reason behind the production increase relates to how consumers are entertaining themselves in 2020. Sony apparently feels that demand for the PS5 will be greater due to the possibility of a second wave of coronavirus infections in the winter months. The video game industry saw massive gains as the outbreak began in March, so it makes sense that gaming would be a popular pastime if people are ordered to stay at home yet again.
Back in April, it was reported that Sony was having issues with PS5 manufacturing due to the high cost of some of the console’s components. There was also some concern that a presumed higher price tag for the next-generation hardware, which many expect to start at $499, would have a negative effect on demand.