There will likely be shortages of both Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4 when the next-gen consoles launch this fall. That’s according to Colin Sebastian, analyst at wealth management firm Robert W. Baird & Co.
Speaking to GameSpot, Sebastian said that due to the complexity of coordinating console launches, it won’t be easy to find retail consoles right after the Xbox One and PS4 are released. He also went on to say that both consoles will probably also launch a couple weeks before Black Friday so manufacturers can replenish the console supply after the initial release.
“This also partly explains why the manufacturers have been somewhat judicious in allocating pre-sale units to retailers, so that there won’t be a lot of unhappy customers from day one” Sebastian said.
Launch systems are becoming scarce, with major retailers already stopping further pre-orders. Most retailers will save at least some units to have in the store for walk-in customers on launch day, but the number of those units may be extremely limited. It seems if gamers want to get their hands on a console sometime in the launch window, they will have to act soon, or prepare to camp outside their local store for a couple of days before the consoles launch.
Source: GameSpot
