This article is reproduced from IT House. On February 24, although Sony’s game director insisted that the company will be able to produce a “significant number” of new game consoles in the second half of 2021, the global semiconductor shortage may remain for the rest of the year The supply of PlayStation 5 (PS5) is restricted here.
PS5 is one of the most sought after technology products in recent months. When this game console was launched in November 2020, it was immediately sold out.
The new crown pneumonia epidemic blockade has increased the demand for the latest game consoles and software from gamers, thus driving the profit of Sony's gaming division to set a new record for the fiscal year ending in March. Earlier this month, Sony raised its gaming department’s annual revenue forecast, mainly due to improved sales of gaming software, services and accessories.
But in the past year, the demand for semiconductor components from the automotive industry to smartphones has surged, and the interruption of semiconductor manufacturing caused by the epidemic has also exacerbated the supply crisis. Analysts predict that it will take several months for the chip industry to recover.
Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan (Jim Ryan) said that he expects the continued PS5 supply restrictions to be "gradually eased throughout 2021," but he can't guarantee whether the PS5 supply for this year's holiday shopping season can meet demand. .
Ryan said: "In 2021, the situation will improve over time. The speed of supply chain improvement will accelerate throughout the year. For this reason, when we enter (2021) the second half of the year, you will see good data. ."
Ryan reiterated that Sony hopes that the PS5 will sell more than its predecessor PlayStation 4 in 2021, which sold 14.9 million units in the first 12 months of its launch. Earlier this month, Sony stated that the company sold 4.5 million PS5 units in November and December 2020.
According to data from market research company Ampere Analysis, the sales of Nintendo Switch game consoles in 2020 were 26 million units, and Microsoft sold about 2.8 million newest Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S game consoles in the last two months of last year.
Ampere Analysis analyst Piers Harding-Rolls said: “Although both Sony and Microsoft are increasing console production, they both regret not being able to produce more consoles to meet strong demand.” Creative Strategy Analyst Ben Bajarin also predicts that the semiconductor industry slowdown will continue until 2022.
Ryan's comments came when Sony announced plans to launch a new virtual reality (VR) headset to connect to the PS5. The previous PS VR sold more than 5 million units. Although Sony insists that PS VR sales have exceeded its expectations, VR products are generally under-selling. Although Facebook bought Oculus VR for US$2 billion in 2014, people have high hopes for it, but the reality is disappointing.
However, the VR field seems to be showing signs of resuming growth recently. Facebook reported that its latest VR headset Oculus Quest 2 had “strong sales” during the Christmas holidays. It is said that Apple is also developing a mixed reality device, which may be released as soon as next year.
Ruian did not provide details such as the specifications or release date of the new PS VR headset, only that it will be connected to the PS5 game console via a cable. He said: "To truly provide a VR experience that satisfies PS5 users, this really requires the system to be bundled together." He hinted that this is a "high-end" system with rich graphics.
This approach is in stark contrast to Oculus, which is now focusing on developing standalone VR headsets, even if it means sacrificing graphics fidelity. Oculus ended the development of its PC-connected Rift product line last year. Ryan said: "It is clear that this technology has made great progress since the first PS VR headset came out, and we will seize this opportunity."