For those hoping that PS5 inventory might improve by the end of the year, Sony has some bad news. The highly in-demand console is currently sold out almost everywhere, and this supply shortage is expected to last until 2022.

A recent Bloomberg report cites several anonymous industry analysts, who received confirmation from Sony itself, that the technology giant is seriously struggling to keep up with the overwhelming demand for the PS5.

Hiroki Totoki, CFO of Sony Group, reportedly said in a closed-door briefing: "I don't think demand will settle down again this year, and even if we secure more devices next year and produce a lot of PlayStation 5s, supply will not be able to keep up with demand. It will not be possible."

The main cause of this inventory shortage is, as always, the ongoing global chip shortage. This shortage of core components is affecting everything from gaming consoles to medical devices and is expected to continue beyond 2021. Sony is even making noises about redesigning the PS5 to avoid this problem.

As it stands, Sony believes that demand for the PS5 will not be adversely affected by the current inventory shortage, and Totoki claims that PlayStation's "market share and reputation" will maintain high interest. Six months after its release, the PS5 remains highly sought-after, and when restocks are available, they tend to sell out within minutes.

On the flip side, the fact that the PS5 is so short of stock may in fact be enhancing the console's reputation. Products that are not easily available due to limited inventory naturally generate interest as people inquire if they are really worth the fuss; the PS5 is no different, and consumers who waited until two or three years after launch to get their hands on a console may now want one sooner! .

The PS5 has now sold about 8 million units since its November 2020 launch, and Sony's goal of selling 15 million units by April 2022 seems very achievable, given current inventory issues. However, it still has a long way to go to catch up to the PS4, which has sold about 116 million units since its launch in 2013. Sony believes that the PS5 will surpass this number by 2028.

Of course, in order to sell the PS5, customers need to actually be able to buy one, which is currently proving frustratingly difficult for thousands of gamers. So here are some hubs for purchasing a PS5. Bookmark this handy guide, as we regularly update it with the latest inventory information and buying tips from each retailer.