PlayStation 5 pre-order anxiety is nearing an all-time high, with many gamers around the world wondering when they will be able to secure a PS5 console. PlayStation fans in Japan recently got some bad news in this area, as Sony has confirmed that no more pre-orders will be accepted in the country.
While some good news regarding PS5 pre-orders on Amazon was shared earlier today, this update is a major gut punch for Japanese customers who have yet to secure a console via pre-order. With PlayStation systems always performing well in Japan, high demand for the console is not unexpected. The console being completely sold out, however, is an impressive accomplishment for Sony — and a very worrying development for Japanese gamers.
Sony announced the news today via a Japanese PlayStation Blog Post. Posted to Twitter by video game insider Nibellion, a translation of the blog confirms that new consoles will not be available for players in Japan “until launch at least.” Per Sony, “no new pre-orders will be accepted for now” in Japan, as the company needs to ensure they have enough consoles for the players who have already secured a pre-order. Japan is far from the only country to worry about PS5 pre-orders, however, as UK adopters of the console are fearing the COVID-19 lockdown’s effects on PS5 delivery.
Demand for the PlayStation 5 is clearly high, as polls have shown that the majority of next-gen pre-orders are for PS5 consoles. Further, controversial video game analyst Michael Pachter firmly believes that the PS5 will vastly outsell the Xbox Series X both at launch and for years to come. As such, companies have made plans to ensure the many excited fans acquire the PS5 consoles on time, with Best Buy allowing players to pick up their pre-order by appointment going forward.
Speaking of Best Buy, the company has ensured fans that the PS5 will be purchasable via Best Buy locations on Black Friday. For players desperate to secure a console on launch day, though, options are just as limited as they have ever been been before. US customers will, however, have a final chance to grab a console via Target stores on November 12. Sadly, as the PS Blog post shows, not every country is going to be as lucky.
For players in Japan who were lucky enough to secure themselves a PS5 console, they will soon be seeing everything that the PS5 can do firsthand. For those in Japan who missed out, it sadly seems like there is nothing to do but wait for more consoles to be available.
The PlayStation 5 will be available November 12 in the US.