Sony has reportedly cut production plans for the PlayStation 5 by around one million consoles due to component shortages and logistic constraints. And with less consoles being produced, it could be harder to buy one.
A report from Bloomberg cites sources familiar with Sony’s operations. Those sources claim that Sony was originally targeting more than 16 million PS5s to have been produced in the year ending March 2022, but that figure has been cut down to about 15 million.
As noted in the report, Sony’s Chief Financial Officer, Hiroki Totoki, recently told investors that logistical issues and parts shortages have grown more severe. PS5 sales in the quarter ended September 2021 were weaker than expected, and since July sales of the console have fallen behind the pace set by its predecessor, the PlayStation 4.
The ongoing global chip shortage has not done any favours for the PS5 and many other electronic devices, and the continuing effects of the COVID pandemic has made supply unpredictable. Bloomberg’s sources note that PS5 assembly partners are in daily contact with component suppliers to try and confirm that shipments will arrive on schedule, but clearly Sony has decided that the current situation means it cannot fulfill its original aims of over 16 million constructed consoles.
In a similar situation is Valve, who recently announced that it has had to delay the release of the Steam Deck portable PC due to global supply chain issues.
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.