Why Sony Still Can't Produce Enough PS5 Consoles

Sony aims to produce 18 million PS5 consoles this year, but it's still not enough for the projected demand. Why can't they make more consoles?

If you’re one of many gamers who’ve been hoping to get their hands on a brand-new PS5, there's still no certainty you can get one this year.

That’s because while Sony announced it would produce more units than last year, the underlying supply chain issues remain unchanged.

Sony Continues to Fall Short of Production Targets for the PS5 Console

Sony had some bittersweet news to share with PS5 lovers in its FY2021 earnings report, released on May 10, 2022.

The company reported it only sold 11.5 million PS5 consoles in that financial year, coming short of the 14.8 million units it aimed for.

However, they aim to produce 18 million PS5 consoles for this fiscal year until March 2023. Nevertheless, the company still reckons that won't be enough to meet the massive demand for the console.

And that makes sense, given that many gamers were unable to buy it since it launched two years ago.

Why Sony Is Falling Short on PS5 Production

Remember that chip shortage issue affecting industries globally? It’s still ongoing, and it continues to affect the gaming industry, including Sony. That’s because chips are one of the key components used in producing PS5 consoles.

Another reason is shipping delays which affect supply chains. This means some key components necessary for PS5 production are stuck in transit for long periods.

All of this was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected businesses and industries worldwide. While most of the world is now open, BBC reports that some cities still suffer from lockdowns, like Shanghai. This affects companies in the area which produce parts for the console.

In essence, the PlayStation 5 is one of the many casualties of the pandemic. And that's probably why it reportedly planned to produce PS4 consoles in 2022.

Will You Be Able to Buy a PS5 Console Anytime Soon?

Given Sony's production issues, we wouldn’t set our hopes on finding a PS5 console anytime soon. It doesn’t help that stores are running out of stock, too.

Unless, of course, you’re willing to buy from a reseller, which means spending a ridiculous amount of cash. Otherwise, you’ll have to stay put until something changes.