Sony’s Playstation 5 in Short Supply Due to Chip Shortage

Sony’s Playstation 5 is far and away the most sought after next-generation gaming console on the market, but the flipside to the system’s desirability is its extreme scarcity: the console typically sells out in seconds, with new supply being weeks or even months away due to chip shortages stalling production.

The Japanese technology company’s next-generation console first premiered in November 2020, but it’s still almost impossible to buy one for yourself. The company announced on Wednesday that it will increase production of its last major console, the Playstation 4, in order to offset its shortage of PS5s.

Sony has been forced to shake up its production strategy due to the effects of the global chip shortage, paired with the massive demand for the PS5. Anonymous sources told Bloomberg that the company had initially planned to stop production of the PS4 before 2022. Now the company has pivoted to adding roughly a million PS4s, depending on demand.

A representative from Sony confirmed this report, saying that the company always planned on producing new PS4s, but denied that they had planned to stop making the older generation console in 2021.

Microsoft’s $300 Xbox Series S, while being less coveted, is much more readily available, causing the console to surge in popularity with those unwilling to return to an older generation gaming system like the PS4. The shift is a dramatic result of the strain on Sony’s supply chain, as gamers are notorious for their brand loyalty.

Apple’s iPhone 13 production stunted by global chip shortage

The global chip shortage has affected the rollouts of the world’s most hotly-anticipated products, causing titans like Sony and Apple to scramble to find inventive solutions.

Chipmakers have issued stark warnings that supply will not be able to meet the demand for chips into 2022, and possibly after that.

Apple, one of the most powerful chip buyers on the planet, dictates the order of the global electronics supply chain. Despite its looming presence, the company is still falling prey to the supply chain issues that have dramatically impacted industries worldwide.

Apple sources the parts of its phones from Texas Instruments and Broadcom. A TI chip that is currently scarce is used for powering the OLED display of the new iPhone. Apple is also dealing with shortages from different suppliers as well.

The speculation surrounding the company’s production issues has caused its shares to drop by 1.6% in October, with its price reaching as low as $139.27. Its stock has since stabilized and now sits at $175.53.

The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max were released in September, but orders were not fulfilled for at least a month afterward. The new models were often marked as “currently unavailable” at many Apple stores across the country.