It’s hard to get a PlayStation 5 console these days, even if you really wanted to. But Sony is doing everything they possibly can, and maybe this summer, things will be different.
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The Sony logo is displayed at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo on April 28, 2021.
A GameRant report may very well serve as a light at the end of the tunnel for next-gen console-starved gamers. According to Sony, they are ramping up the production of their PS5 consoles in time for the summer, which can mean that supply shortages are going to ease up a bit. It’s still not that great, but at this point, gamers will probably take whatever they can get.
The information comes directly from Sony CEO Jim Ryan, who spoke to WIRED regarding the plans for the company’s very popular next-gen console. Ryan said that as of late, 25 exclusive games are in active development for the PS5. But if Sony wants to make these games sell, they obviously need to sell more PlayStation 5 consoles.
If for some reason Sony does manage to increase supply, then the PS5 is likely to take the PS2’s crown for best-selling game console of all time, having already sold a massive 7.8 million units in six months.
Read also: Sony Admits That PS5 Restock Problems Aren’t Going Away Until Next Year
The Root of the Problem
Right now, even the most generous expert projections suggest that PlayStation 5 supplies (and by extension, semiconductor-based electronics) won’t be enough to satisfy demand anytime soon. Sony even went on record to say that PS5 restock problems won’t be going away until 2022, which is a gargantuan bummer.
If you’ve been following the news, you know the reason: there’s not enough semiconductors to go around. There is a massive drought in Taiwan right now (its worst one in over 50 years), and it’s where TSMC and a lot of big chip manufacturers are based. You might think, “what’s water got to do with tech?” Well, here’s a tidbit for you: to create any type of semiconductor, you need a steady supply of water. Water reserves over there are all but dried up, to a point that Taiwan had to start rationing to protect its tech industries.
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This photo taken on March 25, 2021 shows a factory of Taiwanese semiconductors manufacturer TSMC at Central Taiwan Science Park in Taichung.
Can They Really Improve Supply, Though?
As a result, a lot of electronics manufacturers had to devise new plans to deal with the demand. Sony, in order to try and make more consoles, is actually looking to redesign the PS5 to make it cheaper to make.
The planned redesign involves replacing the fully-custom CPU in the unit with a semi-custom one (still an AMD chip), which would be on a smaller, more efficient 6nm node. This would allow Sony to make a slightly more powerful console without the extra cost. And why is it cheaper? Well, semi-custom chips generally cost less than fully-custom ones. And if things go well, gamers can expect the upgraded PlayStation 5 units to ship out by Q2 2022.
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HONG KONG, CHINA – 2021/01/21: Japanese video gaming system brand created and owned by Sony Computer Entertainment, PlayStation 5, is seen at its official store in Hong Kong.
It’s basically hardware trickery, but Sony has to do everything it can these days to take advantage of the market. Imagine how much business they’re missing out on if they can’t satisfy the demand. Billions upon billions of lost profits, just because fans can’t get their hands on the latest gaming hardware.
Related: PS5 DualSense Now Supports iPhone, iPad, And More: How To Connect Controller With Apple Devices
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Written by RJ Pierce
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