A report from Bloomberg earlier today suggested Sony would be cutting production numbers for the PlayStation 5 by 4 million units due to an issue with the custom-designed chips available in the console. This would bring the overall number of PS5 units down from 15 million to 11 million, with the news leading to shares in the company allegedly dropping as much as 3.5 percent.
However, according to the industry giant, it seems the report is inaccurate, as Sony made a statement to GamesIndustry.biz revealing that Bloomberg's report "is false." Sony said it will be putting the same amount of consoles on shelves as it originally intended when beginning production, although the company was tight-lipped regarding what that exact figure is.
The full statement reads: "While we do not release details related to manufacturing, the information provided by Bloomberg is false. We have not changed the production number for PlayStation 5 since the start of mass production." It seems the company wants to get out in front of the rumor before it spreads any further, likely in an effort to prevent any further drops in shares and ensure those financially invested in the console's launch are put at ease. Bloomberg's report cited that production shortages would hit in 2021, as Sony is looking to use air freight to meet the demands of buyers this holiday season.
It will be interesting to see if Sony addresses the topic more openly in the coming weeks, especially with the industry staple possibly unveiling the console's release date and price during tomorrow's PlayStation 5 showcase. Alongside talking more about the release, the company is rumored to be showing off games coming to the console both on release and post-launch during the broadcast. Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank, and more may appear during the show, while some are predicting there could be a few new surprises.
How the showcase and its potential price reveal will stack up against Microsoft's recent announcements will be curious to see as well, with the company unveiling the price and release date of the Xbox Series X following leaks. These same leaks also forced the company to unveil the Xbox Series S, a smaller and more affordable version of the console that offers lower resolution and no disc-tray. The news and pricing were widely embraced by Xbox fans, so many will likely be taking note of how Sony follows up.
The PlayStation 5 will be available this holiday.
Sources: GamesIndustry.biz, Bloomberg