According to Sources, Sony Plans to Make Roughly a Million PS4s
Sony, just like Xbox and Nintendo, has been feeling the pinch with the global issue. Not in their wallets though. They, like those in the personal computer industry, have not been able to make the latest of their console lines- the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and even the Nintendo Switch, due to the lack of the semiconductors needed. Sadly, it looks as the shortage will continue, with some predicting it will go through 2022, and maybe even to 2023 to catch up. But Sony has decided to do something about it- or at least, try to find a way to make up for what they can’t provide.
Instead of trying to go through paywalls, pre-orders, or the like, Sony has instead decided to go back a generation to the PlayStation 4. Sony had not scaled back production of the previous generation console- not yet- but it had been expected to scale back, now that the PlayStation 5. They had hoped to do so, with the release of the PlayStation 5, as they had with previous consoles. But sometimes, plans do not go as expected.
According to Bloomberg and confirmed by Sony, instead of scaling back on the production and discontinuation of the PlayStation 4 in 2021, roughly a million of the console is planned to be made instead. This is supposed to offset the pressure that comes from being unable to produce the evasive PS5. And, too, this should be able to make a better deal with manufacturers for the less expensive-to-make product.
With 116 million units being sold for the PS4 since its release, this isn’t a bad idea. And, too, unlike the PlayStation 3 to PlayStation 4, the PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 is mostly backward compatible. So there isn’t the same struggle that there had been back in 2013.
Still, with all of the graphic differences and more powerful console that is the PlayStation 5, while the offer to ease some of the pressure is very helpful…it still isn’t what we want. But then, this isn’t what Sony wants either. According to sources, no matter what some companies offer for components, manufactures can’t sell what they don’t have.
At least they’re trying to make the best of a bad situation.