The PlayStation 5 remains a hot commodity right now, given that its stocks are still at an all-time low. At the moment, Sony is still struggling to produce enough consoles to meet the current demand, and several retailers still have backorders of the PS5 that remain unfulfilled.
Despite the stock shortage, the PS5 proved to be a success for Sony, given how quickly it sold out shortly after its launch last November. While the company still hasn't released official figures, reports revealed that the PS5 has managed to sell 3.5 million units within its first month in the market. Now, for players who were unable to secure a console at launch, it appears that 2021 will be better in terms of the availability of the PS5, especially since Sony is expected to ramp up the production of the console this year.
PS5 Stocks Expected To Surge in 2021
A report by Digitimes claims that Sony is ramping up production of the PS5 this year, with "industry sources" expecting about 16.8 to 18 million units in 2021. Although the report did not reveal how Sony plans to distribute stocks of the PS5, the company will likely do whatever it takes to increase that total, given the record-breaking demand for the console that has since surpassed the launch numbers of any video game console in history.
Assuming that Sony will be able to produce 18 million consoles by the end of 2021, plus the 3.5 million that reports claim that Sony sold last year, then it is expected that 21.5 million PS5 units will be produced this year, which is roughly a quarter of the PS4's total sales of 113.5 million since its launch back in 2013. It is worth noting that this is just a rough estimate of the total number of units Sony could produce this year, based on reports from industry analysts. However, should the PS5 outsell the first-year sales of the PS4, then the latest console is on track to beat the record-breaking 155 million lifetime sales of the PS2, which is the best-selling console in history.
Sony Will Start Launching The PS5 in More Countries
Currently, Sony still hasn't released its official forecast for the PS5 in 2021, the company has now confirmed that the console will launch in even more countries, which is a clear indicator that Sony has already begun ramping up production of the PS5. It has also been claimed that components required to put a PS5 into production are now readily available, which means that more units are expected to reach consumers. Currently, stocks of the PS5 are mostly centered around PlayStation's key markets in North America, Japan, and Europe, but it is now confirmed that the PS5 will now be distributed in other territories.
In Asia, the PS5 launched alongside North America and Europe in Singapore, South Korea, and the console's home country of Japan. Last December, the PS5 launched in other Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with players from Indonesia expected to get their hands on the console on January 22nd. Additionally, PlayStation India just confirmed today that the PS5 would launch in the country on February 2nd, with retailers accepting pre-orders on January 12th.
When Will My Retailer Have a Restock of the PS5?
At the moment, no one knows exactly when retailers will be able to replenish stocks of the PS5. It is expected that for the first half of 2021, stocks of the PS5 will come and go, which means that players must stay vigilant to secure a unit. However, there is a glimmer of hope for those who are still unable to get one, given that the production of components for the PS5 is in full swing, which means that Sony will be able to produce more consoles at an even faster pace. Not to mention, the fact that even more countries outside of Sony's key areas are finally getting the PS5 is a clear indicator that more units are expected to be released in the market this year.