In a surprising, yet, not surprising move, Sony announced that it will be ceasing production on all PlayStation 4 models with the exception of the PlayStation 4 Jet Black Slim in Japan.
The reason why I stated that this was surprising is that, traditionally, a new console will launch around 7 years into the current-gen console’s life cycle. The manufacturer will usually spend the remaining 3 years to phase out the current-gen system in favor of the newer model (in this case, the PlayStation 5). Typically, a console will not begin to cease production until around the end of Year 8 or sometime in Year 9. After that, software typically follows until all support for the console has stopped in favor of the new hardware.
Yet, we are just a mere two months off of a new console launch and production is already begun to halt for PS4 models. While this is something to be expected, nobody expected it to be this soon.
So, why is this happening so soon?
Needless to say… thanks to the much-anticipated launch of the console that left store shelves and online warehouses barren (thanks botters…), Sony has decided to end production of PS4 models earlier than normal in order to focus on speeding up PlayStation 5 production, meaning that you could expect to see a bigger supply of the new console early on in the new year (at least, that’s what one would hope.)
For now, Sony has not stated when the next batch of PS5s will arrive around the world but you can take solace in knowing that the PS4 is taking one for the team to make sure you get them sooner rather than later.
