Due to the current global supply chain disruptions (one of the impacts of the current pandemic), next-gen consoles are currently in shortage. As such, Sony is now planning to continue the production of the PS4 this year, according to a new report by Bloomberg.
1 million PS4 units are set to be manufactured this year.
This may seem odd at first glance, why not just make more PS5s then? As the Bloomberg report details, manufacturing more PS4s, which uses cheaper components and easier to make relative to the PS5, will give Sony more leverage when negotiating with manufacturing partners so they can make more PS5s.
This looks to be one of many strategy tweaks from Sony due to the impact of the pandemic. With the PS5 being in short stock, which then leads to issues of scalping, which leads to lower software sales, the company have started to embrace cross-gen with upcoming PlayStation exclusive titles like Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West and God Of War Ragnarok releasing on both PS4 and PS5.
Source: Bloomberg