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Sony says it has secured enough ram for all the PS5s it expects to sell this year
Sony says it has secured enough memory to produce all the PlayStation 5 consoles it expects to sell during its 2026 financial year, reducing the risk that a wider RAM shortage will constrain supply. The assurance is particularly significant ahead of the expected November release of Grand Theft Auto 6, which could boost demand for the ageing console.
Sony sold 1.6 million PS5s in the first quarter, down from 2.5 million a year earlier, after price rises linked to US tariffs and as the console approaches six years on the market; total PS5 shipments have reached 95.3 million since launch. Despite weaker hardware sales, quarterly profit rose 37% to 54.1 billion yen (£337 million equivalent cited in dollars), aided by tariff refunds and exchange rates, while monthly active PlayStation users increased to 125 million.
In short
- Sony says PS5 memory supplies will meet expected annual demand.
- GTA 6 could lift PS5 sales this holiday season.
- PS5 sales fell, but Sony’s gaming profit rose.
Explained simply
The PlayStation 5 is Sony's gaming console released in 2020, now six years old with over 95 million units sold since launch. Like all computers and electronics, the PS5 requires semiconductor memory chips to function, and these components have become increasingly scarce as technology companies worldwide compete for limited supplies.
Demand for gaming consoles typically spikes when blockbuster games are released, and Grand Theft Auto 6's arrival in November is expected to drive significant interest in the PS5. However, PS5 sales have recently declined due to price increases linked to tariffs and the console's aging status, meaning strong product availability during the GTA6 launch will be commercially important.
A broader shortage of memory chips across the technology industry raises the risk that manufacturers could face production bottlenecks during periods of peak demand. Such shortages at critical moments could result in stock unavailability and unmet customer demand.