Finding PS5 is a little easier than in November, but not by much. Refills now last up to 10 minutes instead of about 30 seconds. Good news on one level, but still not very useful for console seekers who can't devote all day to updating their retailer's website.

However, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan does have some good news: Sony is doing everything it can to increase production of the PS5. The bad news, of course, is that the world is still in the middle of a pandemic and the supply chain will be considerably delayed.

Robert Leedham GQ conducted an extensive and wide-ranging interview with Ryan, discussing everything from the PS5 2021 lineup to the upcoming PSVR successor. Leedham's first question was about the PS5's still very limited sales.

"All I can say is that we are working as hard as we can," Ryan said. 'We're working as hard as we ever have, but we're increasing supply after Christmas with renewed vigor and energy, and that will increase with each passing month.' Supply will increase with each passing month, and hopefully things will start to turn around fairly quickly. We are relentless in our efforts to increase production and I can't say more than that."

Ryan's response does not give a definite timeline for the PS5's widespread adoption, but his statement "hopefully fairly soon" is encouraging. Historically, game consoles are very scarce immediately after their debut, but when supply and demand equalize, they become available here and there overnight. The PS4, for example, was basically unavailable around Christmas 2013, but by March 2014 it was in steady supply at most electronics retailers.

Ryan at least mentioned a reason for the PS5 supply chain's woes, which, unsurprisingly, is the global COVID-19 epidemic.

"Obviously, in a pandemic, the supply chain is a little more complicated than usual. A tangible example is the difficulties in the semiconductor market." [Whether it is automobiles, smartphones, personal computers, or gaming consoles, the problems in these sectors are widely known. We had to move to a completely online distribution model.

"And finally, the level of demand for the PlayStation 5. Considering the standard of the console's launch, there are a huge number of people who want the PS5, and they want it now. (Remember, many of those people are indoors, and gaming is both a way to pass the time and a lifeline to friends in the outside world.)

In any case, the news that "Sony is working hard to improve PS5 production" may not be shocking, but it is better news than "Sony has hit a brick wall and PS5 production will slow to a trickle." While it may seem impossible to get your hands on Sony's popular new console now, one day soon the scenario may be turned upside down and we may all wonder why we spent so much time and energy worrying about such a big white box.