#Sony sees ‘very considerable’ demand for console

Sony is expecting a blockbuster debut for its PlayStation 5 next month as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to supercharge the demand for games.

The Japanese tech giant said it is seeing “very considerable” demand for pre-orders of the next-generation console, which hits stores on Nov. 12.

The PS5 moved as many pre-orders in its first 12 hours available in the US as the PlayStation 4 did in its first 12 weeks, Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan told Reuters.

“The demand as expressed by the level of pre-order has been very, very considerable,” he said.

Indeed, Sony was forced to apologize last month for its botched rollout of preorders which saw some retailers make the game console available earlier than others, frustrating eager fans hoping to guarantee a release-day delivery.

Sony has sold more than 100 million PS4s since its 2013 debut, and is hoping to convince its user base to upgrade with state-of-the-art graphics as well as a new “Spider-Man” game.

But Ryan added that the pandemic, which has kept gamers locked inside and increased the demand for the PS5, has also thrown a wrench into production plans.

“It may well be that not everybody who wants to buy a PS5 on launch day will be able to find one,” Ryan said, adding that Sony is “working as hard as we ever can” to make sure store shelves are stocked for the holiday shopping rush.

Sony this week reported a jump in quarterly profit and the PS5 expected to be the first next-generation device not to push the gaming division to an annual loss in its launch year.

Sony’s shares have gained almost 50 percent from March lows. It was up 2.3 percent Wednesday morning.

With Post wires.