As PlayStation fans are well aware, the availability of the Playstation 5 console has been incredibly limited since its release in November 2020. A combination of hardware component limitations and shipping issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic have kept the PS5 out of the hands of many a fan. This is also unlikely to change anytime soon, as many of those limitations still exist even today. But there may be an upcoming window this holiday season where more PS5s are available than usual.
Industry insider Millie A recently shared a report on Twitter about upcoming plans for the PlayStation 5. The brief update stated that Sony PS5 manufacturer Foxconn's allocation for October, November and December is "significant". In other words, PS5 availability should increase later this year, if not 2023. Millie A doesn't cite a source for this information, though, so it's worth taking it with a grain of salt. Plans are always subject to change or the information Millie A shares may not be accurate.
What exactly Millie A means by substantial production allocation is, of course, completely unclear. The PlayStation 5 is trickling into the world at a surprisingly slow pace. A substantial increase over the current allocation does not in any way imply widespread availability. It might not even be a noticeable increase for those still looking for PS5s. More context will be needed to get an accurate idea of how many more PS5s there will be than usual.
To get an idea of how limited PlayStation 5 sales have been lately, in both May and June, the Xbox series had outsold the PS5 in Japan. In May, it was the Xbox Series S that surpassed the PS5. In June it was the Xbox Series X. Xbox sales in Japan have historically been abysmal, which should give some idea of how limited PS5s are, even where PlayStation traditionally dominates the console market.
Perhaps to emphasize that Sony is making a big push this holiday season, Millie A also notes that several third-party developers have been approached about assets. This usually happens when Sony plans a new state of affairs or some other type of game showcase. Millie A goes on to mention that Sony usually does this kind of marketing when it has hardware to sell.
While it may not seem completely reliable, the situation works well for those interested in picking up a PS5. If Sony announces a PlayStation State of Play event between now and the holidays, it could mean Millie A's report is accurate and more PS5s should be available soon.
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