After months of shortages, Sony's revolutionary game console, the PlayStation 5 (PS5), is now available to everyone who wants one. Many gamers that have been tracking PS5 restock rigorously for almost two years will finally be able to get their hands on the next-gen console without any issue.
PS5 Restock Situation is Recovering as PlayStation Direct is Changing Its Invitation System
An article by Tom's Guide shares how the PS5 restock nightmare is finally over. PlayStation Direct opens itself to more buyers by removing its invitation system for buyers to order the console.
Currently, the PS5 is ready to purchase at PlayStation Direct, the official retail arm of Sony, for its standard retail price of $499. Not only is the PS5 Disc Edition up for grabs with no bundled software, but it looks like Sony is confident enough in its PS5 stock levels to offer it to anyone without any restriction or need for invitations or queues.
PS5 Digital Edition Remains Difficult to Purchase at a $399 Price Point
The PS5 Digital Edition, priced at $399, is harder to buy, though it hints at lower stock levels. Competitor retailers such as Amazon still require customers looking to purchase a PS5 to sign up for an invitation offer.
However, PlayStation Direct seemingly has enough supply to make it accessible to any interested overall. Over the last two years, getting the PS5 console has certainly been a challenge. But it's safe to say that it was all for the best.
The Global Chip Shortage Significantly Affected the PS5 Supply
The PS5 has proven to be a truly incredible bit of hardware, with its impressive load times, fresh control designs, and a growing list of games to choose from. And now buyers no longer have to worry about stock shortages.
The global chip shortage has significantly impacted the PlayStation 5 supply. The industry-wide shortage of semiconductor chips has caused delays and reduced stock levels of PlayStation 5 systems.
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Sony Manufacturing Partners Previously Struggled with the Production of Necessary PS5 Components
Sony's manufacturing partners have been unable to source the necessary DRAM, NAND Flash, and other system components needed to produce the console, as highlighted in an article by Japan Times. As a result, the system's availability has been drastically reduced compared to what Sony initially anticipated.
This has caused frustration for many people looking to purchase the next-gen console and has even caused supply issues for retailers, who have found it difficult to keep the system in stock. On top of the chip shortage, the surge of demand for the system has overwhelmed retailers and Sony, leading to issues with pre-order fulfillment and the ability to stock the console.
This has meant that the console has been increasingly difficult to find, with prices on the secondary market inflated due to the limited stock. Many have resorted to entering lotteries to have any chance of obtaining the system, with scalpers and bots exacerbating the issue.
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