When the PS5 launches on November 12 in the U.S. and November 19 in the U.K., people may have a hard time getting their hands on one due to the sheer number of PS5 pre-orders.

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan told Reuters that people thinking of buying the PS5 on launch day may be disappointed as a result. Ryan said, "Demand was very, very high, as evidenced by the level of pre-orders. 'Not everyone who wants to buy a PS5 on launch day will be able to afford it.'

So if you haven't secured a pre-order but thought you might have luck on launch day at brick-and-mortar or online retailers, you may be in for a disappointment.

With launch games delayed, one might wonder why the PS5 is already so popular. One simple answer to that question is that Sony has a large number of PlayStation fans who will carry over from the PS4 to the next generation of consoles.

As of August 2020, the PS4 has sold 113 million units worldwide, and if even a quarter of them buy the PS5 at launch, Sony will have 25 million units to transition.Some may buy the Xbox Series X, which is more powerful than the PS5, or the cheaper $299 Xbox Series S. While some may opt for the Series S, Sony still has a huge PS4 user base and is likely considering a transition to the PS5.

And given the release of exclusive games like "Horizon Forbidden West" and "Gran Turismo 7," it is no surprise that the PS5 will be popular even among competing next-generation consoles.

We have touched the PS5 in person and rather like it, although its size and design are controversial. As for which console to choose, we will have to see how it compares to the Xbox Series X in actual daily use.