PlayStation 5 Release Will Likely Not Be Staggered Like PS4's Was
It seems that the PlayStation 5 will be aiming for a simultaneous worldwide launch, and its release won't be staggered like the PlayStation 4's. PlayStation is officially the best-selling home console brand and the PlayStation 4 is a big part of the reason why, as it dominated in sales throughout its generation.
The release of the PlayStation 4 was unusual, as Sony is a Japanese company and yet it prioritized international regions when it came to shipping the system. Back in 2013, the PlayStation 4 was released in North America on November 15, followed by a European release on November 29. This was to ensure that the consoles were ready for the 2013 holiday season, but that wasn't a priority for the Japanese release, which didn't occur until February 22, 2014. It has been confirmed that the PlayStation 5 will be released during the 2020 holiday season, but that's as far as anyone knows regarding a release date.
Sony could be changing its tactic from the PlayStation 4 era. According to Bloomberg, PlayStation chief Jim Ryan is pushing for a set global release date for every region, rather than launching the PlayStation 5 in different countries at different times. The intention is for mass-production to start at the end of June. Bloomberg states:
"Suppliers have started delivering components to PS5 assemblers, who are scheduled to begin mass-producing the product by June. Sony’s PlayStation chief Jim Ryan has stressed that the machine’s launch should be simultaneous around the globe, according to people in the company’s supply chain."
It's debatable whether Sony will be able to hit its target launch window, considering the global climate regarding the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. There are already reports that the system will be hard to find at launch due to Sony releasing the PlayStation 5 in limited quantities throughout its first year. It's difficult to say whether Sony will be able to hit its original 2020 holiday season release window, despite what these reports are saying. There is a very good chance that the PlayStation 5 could be delayed and there is nothing fans can do about it, except wait until next year.
It makes sense for Sony to want the PlayStation 5 to launch at the same time in every region, as a lot of Japanese fans were displeased with having to wait several months to receive their PlayStation 4. With all of the uncertainty happening in the world at the moment, it's unclear what the future holds for the next generation of systems. It seems unlikely that Microsoft or Sony would delay the launch of their systems except through mutual agreement, which means that both companies could have a lot to lose by giving up ground during the crucial first holiday season for their systems.
The PlayStation 5 is still set to be released during the 2020 holiday season.
Source: Bloomberg