Buying a PS4 isn’t much easier than a PS5, Sony

Assessing Sony’s backup option

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To make up for the lack ofPS5consoles in the wild,Sonyis reportedlycontinuing to manufacture the PlayStation 4as a backup option to keep players in the PlayStation ecosystem. Unfortunately, though, the PS4 appears to be almost as scarce as the PS5.

Multiple UK retailers like Argos and Currys are completely out of stock, with the likes ofGAMEandAmazononly offering used or refurbished consoles. According toThe Verge, the same applies to US retailers such as Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.

Even Sony’s own PlayStation Direct website is out of stock, at least in the UK. It’s available onthe US websiteat the time of writing, but it’s still being sold at the original price tag of $299.99 despite the PS4 being over four years old.

Why is this happening?

The lack of PS4s can likely be chalked up to the same reason why it’s near impossible to get aPS5 or Xbox Series X: the global chip shortage.

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, production on chips has slowed down drastically. Combine that with an increased demand for things likegame consoles, PCs, and phones, and there simply isn’t enough to go around.

There’s no sign of things picking back up soon either, withIntel’s CEOsuggesting that the shortage could last until well into 2023.

As for why anybody would get a PS4? While it may not be as shiny, new, or powerful as the PS5, it still has a library of fantastic titles, including Persona 5 Royal,The Last of Us Part 2, andGod of War.

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Sony is also continuing to release games for it. Some major upcoming PS5 releases likeGod of War: RagnarokandHorizon Forbidden Westwill come to PS4 as well, so PlayStation fans don’t need to worry about missing out on newer titles.

However, the high list price from Sony’s own store means a PS4 isn’t much cheaper than the PS5 Digital Edition – which retails for $399.99 / £359.99 / AU$599.95. And anyone holding out for a new console will be dropping several hundred pounds into a last-gen gaming machine they may want to upgrade pretty sharpish anyway.

It’s good to have the option, but, as we’ve seen above, it’s neither easy nor entirely affordable to go the PS4 route.

Michael is a freelance writer with bylines at the Metro, TechRaptor, and Game Rant. A Computer Games Design and Creative Writing graduate, he’s been passionate about video games since the Game Boy Color, particularly Nintendo games, with Xenoblade Chronicles being his favorite game ever. Despite everything, he’s still a Sonic the Hedgehog fan.

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