Admittedly, the situation with the recovery of PS5 stocks in the last four months has been nothing short of a disaster – and it seems that the situation will only get worse.
For those unaware, there is currently a global shortage of semiconductors that is delaying electronics production, and that chip shortage is now reaching a crisis point.
“A perfect storm of supply and demand factors is happening here. But basically, there’s a new level of demand that can’t be tracked, everyone is in crisis and getting worse, ”claims technology analyst Neil Campling (via The Guardian).
The crux of the problem is that the shortage is spreading far beyond the gaming world. It affects the production of a wide range of products, including televisions, telephones, and even vehicles. With so many sectors competing for a limited supply of chips, supply lines pose a heavy burden.
We have already seen how Samsung cancels efficiently Galaxy Note 21 this year due to a lack of chips, which really shows the scale of the problem. Companies around the world are forced to adjust their issuance plans and sales expectations in light of this worsening situation.
Sony said last month that it may not achieve the sales target it set for 2021, not because of a lack of demand, but because of a lack of supply. Similarly, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer previously suggested that Xbox Series X stock issues will continue into the second half of the year.
Don’t hold your breath to get rid of the chip shortage soon. According to Campling, “there is no sign that supply will catch up or demand will fall as prices rise across the chain.”
Campling also makes bleak predictions that this rising cost will soon be passed on to the consumer, with technology products like the iPhone 13 likely to get a price jump due to the financial burden of buying semiconductors.
We certainly wouldn’t expect Sony or Microsoft to retroactively increase the cost of the PS5 and Xbox Series X – but if you were hoping to see any sell-offs or discounts on any next-generation machine this year, be prepared for disappointment.
Although the supply lines are obviously limited and it looks like this has been the case for some time, we are still doing everything we can to make buying a PS5 as painless as possible. We have a range of tips for each retailer, as well as a special place to purchase PS5 hubs to keep up to date with the latest information as soon as we receive it.