Sony is ordering at least 50 percent more PlayStation 5 consoles than it originally planned to ship this year, according to reports in the Japanese press. While the company expected to produce around six million consoles in 2020, Nikkei says the figure is now about nine million, while Bloomberg says it could reach 10 million.
Both publications lowered high expectations for increased demand for home entertainment in the coronavirus era. If Sony could sell close to that total number of PS5 consoles through the end of the year, it would mark a significant increase in its predecessor; The PS4 launched in November 2013 and sold through 4.2 million units by the end of the following month.
Facebook is also increasing production of Oculus VR headsets, according to Nikkei, with a similar goal of boosting growth to 2 million units in the second half of 2020: This is reported to represent a 50 percent increase in production for all of 2019. The company is said to begin mass production of a new headset this month though Nikkei It does not say if it is a standalone system like the Quest or a corded headset like the Rift S.
Gaming hardware has often been difficult to buy during the pandemic. Oculus has experienced severe supply limitations, with its Quest headphones frequently depleted as soon as they are resupplied. Meanwhile, Nintendo has struggled to keep up with demand for the Switch and its home fitness game. Ring Fit Adventure. With several major releases in the second half of the year, it’s no surprise that platform owners want to make sure there is enough stock for everyone.
