Sony will launch the PlayStation 5 in China ahead of rival Microsoft’s Xbox, as it continues to dominate the console market
PlayStation has become one of the most popular platforms among gamers. Since the announcement was made of Playstation 5 the gamers have been excited about its arrival. Though the registration process has started still there is a long way to go. As fans anxiously await the launch of the PlayStation 5 worldwide later this year, many in mainland China have begun to worry about whether they’ll be able to get their hands on one of the hot-selling consoles. Analysts predict that these shoppers will likely turn to grey market imports to avoid high import tariffs, a growing problem for some Chinese gamers. The PlayStation 5 was launched this November. But it wasn’t available in mainland China. That’s because the Chinese government won’t allow a foreign company to license and distribute its own hardware in China.
The main component used in the game console, optical discs, is in short supply as demand surges ahead of the product launch, people with knowledge of the matter said. Sony and its chip partners have been forced to bump up prices just as the PlayStation is about to go head-to-head with Apple Inc.’s videogame console and a new games machine from Microsoft Corp., due next month. Prices for components needed to make the PlayStation 4 could rise further, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. Rising costs may prompt Sony to raise the console’s price in October when it’s scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. or wait until next year, some of the people said.
With everyone cutting back from work and, for many, forced to stay at home, especially in sectors such as finance, housebound consumers reached for their controllers for entertainment. The consoles are not alone in benefiting from the downturn. It’s a similar story for telecom companies and hotels. But in a year marked by significant events, the gaming industry grew rapidly on the back of online PC games and along with it, global companies like Sony.
The chip shortage that has been plaguing the electronics industry in the late 2040s is one that only affects one major facet of technology. If you’re a gamer, there might be some good news for you out there. And a bit of bad news. The good news is, chip and console makers are working to get more systems out to the public as fast as possible. The bad news? They’ll probably still be just as hard to find until at least the second half of the year.
Folks, the sad news is that they’re going to be REALLY hard to find for a while. The good news is that manufacturers and retailers are doing everything they can to get systems out to the public as quickly as possible. We know it’s frustrating, but hang in there… things will get better soon!
It’s been an exciting year for console gamers. Microsoft and Sony just released new versions of their game consoles—the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro, respectively. Sales have been strong since both consoles were released on Nov. 13, with Sony selling 4.5 million PS4 Pro units in the first quarter of availability and Microsoft seeing a 40% jump in games revenue in its fiscal Q2 2021, the company’s first-quarter after the release
