Sony has suggested that demand for the recently priced PS4 will likely ‘outstrip supply’ at launch, meaning many eager gamers are set to miss out in the run up to the Christmas period.
With the PS4 price having been formally unveiled as £349 earlier this week during the company’s E3 press conference, Sony has revealed that pre-orders for the next-generation PlayStation have soared since the announcement, forcing it to readdress its sales projections for the console.
With a number of retailers now suggesting the PS4 is proving more popular that the £80 more expensive Xbox One, Sony has warned that at the current rate of interest, demand for the PS3 follow-on “may well outstrip supply.”
Speaking on the eagerly awaited console, Andrew House, Sony’s Global Head of the PlayStation Business told the WSJ: “The company is shifting its internal projections for the product after favourable reaction to the company’s presentation Monday.” He reportedly added to those considering the console, “demand may well outstrip supply.”
Earlier this week Sony looked to quell concerns that launch stock for its next-generation console would be limited, with the manufacturer stating it will look to accommodate all interest ahead of release. Presently, Sony has confirmed a PS4 release date will be held during the “2013 holiday season” but no more precise details have yet been given.
Speaking during E3 2013, Fergal Gera, Head of Sony PlayStation UK told reporters, “We’ve been really pleased with the boost overnight of pre-order figures of the PS4 following our E3 press conference.
He added: “We’ll do our best to have plenty of stock for gamers in the UK.”
Further suggesting that PS4 demand could be greater than supply figures at launch, a number of retailers currently allowing for PS4 pre-orders to be made are restricting eager gamers to just one console each.
On the expected PS4 stock shortages, supermarket behemoth Tesco stated: “We allow 1 pre-order per customer and reserve the right to cancel any duplicate orders.” The retailer added: “We are expecting demand of the Sony PlayStation 4 Console to be very high and stock availability limited so pre-orders will be prioritised in the order in which they were placed.”
Read More: PS4 Pre-orders: Where you can buy it
