By Sony Corps PlayStation 5 PS5 console launched in core markets on Thursday to intense interest online, but with first day realworld sales limited to preorder pickups due to the COVID19 pandemic that has driven a boom in gaming demand.
Sony has made launch sales online only to maintain social distancing, calling for consumers to be safe, stay home, and place your order online.
The nextgeneration console, which retails for 500 or 400 without a diskdrive, was sold out on major retailing sites in Japan with some conducting lotteries to distribute limited stock.
On Japans top flea market platform from Mercari Inc, consoles were selling for more than 900.
Pentup demand for the PS5, which offers cuttingedge graphics, faster load times and a new controller with immersive feedback, has been exacerbated by the pandemic, which has seen consumers flock to gaming but has strained supply chains.
Analysts see shortages of consoles from Sony and rival Microsoft Corp, which launched Xbox devices on Tuesday, extending into 2021.
Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Christopher Cushing
Source Reuters
