by With millions looking to pre-order a next generation gaming console, it seems like most won’t be able to get one on launch day. The new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are the newest generation of consoles that are set to come out next month. Even though that’s when they’ll release, many people won’t be able to get one even by Christmas.
The CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Jim Ryan, has said that Sony took more PS5 pre-orders in the first 12 hours of availability than it sold PS4 consoles in the first 12 weeks. This means that Sony should ramp up production, but with the recent pandemic, they may not be able to supply the high demand.
There have so far been “two waves” of pre-orders for the PS5, but those consoles sold out in mere minutes. This comes as the rumors of a “third wave” of pre-orders keeps fading day by day. Many retailers, like Amazon, have messaged those who were able to successfully pre-order a console to let them know they may not even get their purchase on day one.
Trying to get your hands on a PS5 has been a nightmare. Even though the lack of supply is a big issue, there is another issue that Sony apologized for. When the PS5 reveal event took place, many retailers put the PS5 up for pre-order without Sony’s permission. This caught people off-guard as retailers like Walmart and Best Buy put their consoles out for pre-order before Sony said they would be available.
When Xbox saw this, they immediately capitalized and said they were going to have their pre-orders come out at a specific time. Even though these pre-orders came out at the correct time Microsoft wanted, they also sold out within minutes. Once again, the supply could not keep up with the demand. Microsoft says that the Xbox Series X shortage could last for a few months after the console’s release.
This begs the question, what is to blame for these shortages? The COVID-19 pandemic, or is it a lack of preparation by both Microsoft and Sony? These answers are unknown, but what we do know is that the PS5 is set to launch on November 12, and the Xbox Series X is set to launch November 10.
Good luck gamers, you’re going to need it!
