For a few weeks, gamers have been reporting that PS5 supply has been improving, but we haven't had any proof until now. New data shows that PS5 supply has skyrocketed over the same period last year, which will no doubt come as good news if you've been wanting to play some of the biggest PS5 releases next month.
Per analyst David Gibson on Twitter, import data shows that Sony Interactive USA imports (that is to say, PlayStation 5 console shipments) for September 2022 were up 400% compared to September last year. That's a pretty significant uptick in console supply, and it's a decent indication that nature could well be healing when it comes to being able to easily get your hands on a PS5. With the God of War Ragnarok release date looming, Gibson also points out that a significant portion of the aforementioned stock will probably go towards bundles for that game, or made available around the game's release date.
According to Gibson, Xbox shipments were up 89% year-on-year, while Nintendo's own shipments dropped 59% against last year (although Nintendo is ramping up production and Gibson's data doesn't include air freight, so the numbers might not be as bad as they look). Still, if you're hoping to get your hands on a PS5 or an Xbox Series X|S, it looks like you're in luck.
PS5 supply has been constrained since before the console was even released, with retailers struggling to fulfill pre-orders as early as September 2020. As soon as the PS5 was launched, scalpers and bots began to run rampant, snapping up the already-limited supply of consoles before regular consumers could (and necessitating changes to the PlayStation Direct queue, among other retail initiatives).
Constrained stock has been a problem for both Xbox Series X|S and PS5, with the Nintendo Switch also hit by shortages at times. An ongoing semiconductor shortage, as well as shipping issues caused by COVID-19, have meant that consoles can't be manufactured or shipped as quickly as they should be. Gibson's data seems to be suggesting that supply is improving, though, so it shouldn't be as difficult to get a current-gen console going forward.
