Seven years after a successful run of PlayStation (PS) 4 – the only console with over 112 million units sold worldwide – the new PS5 is now officially available in markets for sale.
The news comes days after Microsoft released its next-generation console, the Xbox Series X.
PlayStation 5 comes in two different models, one with disc compatibility which will cost $499, while the the other is a digital version that will let users buy games online and will cost $399. The digital version is slimmer in comparison to the disc compatible version.
In the wake of the ongoing pandemic, the PS5 will not be available for in-store sales and can only be purchased through online stores in western countries.
Sony is expecting a boost in sales soon as holiday season is right around the corner and also because the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for home entertainment. The Japanese conglomerate expects to sell 7.6 million PS5 units by March next year.
Analysts predict that Sony will sell 17.9 million consoles by the end of 2021 and will hit the 67 million mark by 2024.
Those in the UK wanting to get the console will have a slightly longer and frustrating wait as it launches on November 19 in UK markets.
“In a completely ideal world, we would like to launch everywhere in the world on the same day,” said Jim Ryan, the PlayStation boss. “We just needed an extra few days to get everything in order to be able to have a proper, professional, seamless PlayStation-style launch.”
