A report by Bloomberg is suggesting that Sony will be limiting the number of PS5 units it will produce for launch, according to people familiar with the matter. The limited production run isn’t the result of COVID-19, however, but rather due to the high launch price.
Sony hasn’t yet revealed the final design of the PS5, let alone the initial price for the console. The report suggests its “price to be in the region of $499 to $549”, with increased components costs pushing up the price. In particular, the SSD storage used in the console will use will be one of the most expensive components.
As for the launch, the report suggests that Sony is planning to produce “5 to 6 million units of the PS5 in the fiscal year ending March 2021.” In comparison, the PS4 sold 7.5 million units in the first two quarters.
COVID-19 may still hamper the PS5’s launch efforts as social distancing measures continue across the globe. The virus has already disrupted Sony’s promotional plans and may affect Sony hosting a PS5 press conference later on this year.
The most recent update from Sony on the PS5 was the official reveal of the DualSense controller:
