As PS5 buyers continue to question whether Sony's new console is available in sufficient quantities, evidence is mounting that a stock shortage is likely. At least two retailers have warned customers that they may not be able to fulfill PS5 orders received a day earlier.

Amazon sent an email to customers who may have successfully pre-ordered the PS5, informing them that "due to high demand, you may not receive this product on launch day." It also informed them that it would "make every effort" to deliver the PS5 to those who ordered it "as soon as possible" once it was available.

The email gave no reason for the possible delay. And that may be unsettling for customers who believed they were lucky to be able to pre-order on Amazon. With other retail sites having problems ordering the PS5, Amazon appeared to be the easiest place to pre-order the new console.

The PS5 is supposed to ship on November 12. Amazon's email did not offer an alternate delivery date in case the order was delayed. [Amazon is not the only retailer sending similar warnings. Earlier this summer, Play-Asia.com began accepting pre-orders for the PlayStation 5 system in various regions with a $200 price increase. After a short period of time, the products listed on the site were immediately removed.

On Friday (September 18), those who pre-ordered the PlayStation 5 through Play-Asia.com received an email stating that buyers could cancel due to "production and allocation limitations from the distribution network for this game console." The email also stated that PS5 inventory was "incredibly scarce in all regions" and explained how buyers could cancel their pre-orders if they chose to do so.

Sony has denied earlier rumors that there may be a shortage of inventory. In a recent interview with the Washington Post, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO and President Jim Ryan admitted that there were distribution problems when the pandemic first broke out. However, Ryan also added that Sony is "ready to sell more PlayStation 5 units than we sold PlayStation 4 units in 2013." [However, Sony sold about 2.1 million PlayStation 4 units worldwide shortly after the PS4 launch. It is unclear what inventory will be available from the manufacturer this time around.