Sony Denies Artificial Shortage Rumors

[DrRipley]

“I get asked a lot if we’ve created an artificial shortage in order to create a feeding frenzy, and the answer is no,” he explained on the PlayStation Blogcast. “We have competition out there and there are lots of things that people can spend money on. The holidays only come around once a year, so that’s when we really want to take advantage of the market opportunity."

According to Tretton, the firm made 12,000 units available to Amazon.com last week, and they all sold out within 27 minutes. “It breaks my heart if somebody’s got $400 in their hand and they want a PS4 but we can't sell them one, so we’re going to try very hard to make sure that we can,” he stressed. “I don’t have a device yet because I said to sell it.”

On any other month, I personally would have given the artificial shortage rumor a little more credence, but seeing as it's December, it just doesn't sound practical and I'd even go as far to call the rumor ludicrous. This isn't the month to play marketing games in exchange for a little extra hype. It's December, and they would make a lot more money just by selling directly instead of doing these schemes to "possibly sell more in the future". Of course, there is still the possibility, after all, they are the professionals and obviously they would know a hell of a lot more about the market than I do. Still, just in a general sense, it seems like the most reasonable perspective. Also, I think it's pretty commendable that even Jack Tretton doesn't have a unit yet, just so all the units can be sold to fans. Your thoughts, PS4Forum?

Source: PushSquare

 

[Stuck_X_Button]

I believe that in late November they were shipping a certain amount and spreading that amount thin across multiple stores, but now they're actually trying to move consoles for this month. I do find it very hard to believe that Jack Tretton doesn't have a PS4 already though. On the flipside stuff leaks so much that someone would've probably said he actually has one by now. Sooooo...30% believability there.

 

[onison]

Extremely hard to believe he doesn't have one.

 

[baracksyndel]

Okay first, I highly doubt that he doesn't have a PS4. But I'm pretty sure that they aren't creating artificial shortages. Maybe in the past but they really need to push as many consoles as they can so I doubt that their doing it know. However I wouldn't be surprised if it was revealed that they were.

 

[Tomba]

He definitely has a PS4 and most likely started playing when that interview was done. Sony simply didn't put out enough consoles.

 

[dragoonblade]

Number one it's bull that he doesn't have a PS4 and I doubt he thinks that we really believe it. However I don't think that they did it on purpose. I really believe that Sony was just to conservative with the amount of PS4's that they sent out. Maybe they were worried but I doubt that the same thing will happen this holiday season.

 

[SpaceTiger]

Tretton doesn't have a PS4? Oh please. It's like when Kamiya said he finally went and picked up the Wii U some time after saying that he wanted Platinum to become a Nintendo 2nd-party developer. He had a Wii U the whole time.

 

[Stuck_X_Button]

Forgot about both of those related to Kamiya! What is it with people saying they didn't get the console. If you work in game design/publishing putting out large games then consoles are front pocket money.

 

[Tomba]

I'd say the same if I owned a gaming company/electronics manufacturer that makes consoles. "I'm glad the RetronMania IV came out! Still waiting for mine!" ~****-eating grin~

 

[SpaceTiger]

I'd say the same if I owned a gaming company/electronics manufacturer that makes consoles. "I'm glad the RetronMania IV came out! Still waiting for mine!" ~****-eating grin~

Can I buy a RetroMania IV? Has it moved on to 64-bits yet?

 

[daimashin]

Artificial shortage? I don't think so. This could backfire as people might go and buy the Xbox One the Wii U instead if they believe they couldn't get their hands on one. Also, prices on those sold on ebay or similar sites are going to hike up, why would Sony let those guys get high profit selling off their console?

 

[Tomba]

For people who follow gaming news I doubt that would encourage them to pick up another console, but if it got out and the rumor part wasn't mentioned? Maybe.

Can I buy a RetroMania IV? Has it moved on to 64-bits yet?

It was 64-bits with RetroMania III. It now has 4 controller ports and supports CDs!

 

[SaMoRaY]

thank you man for the answer

 

[SpaceTiger]

For people who follow gaming news I doubt that would encourage them to pick up another console, but if it got out and the rumor part wasn't mentioned? Maybe.

That's true. If you regularly check news or go to forums and such, you'd know that Sony isn't intentionally cutting itself off at the knees by pulling this.

 

[Legendoflore]

Sony needs to sell as many PS4's as they possibly can so I highly doubt that they don't have any consoles available and are creating a shortage on purpose. That's incredibly short term thinking and something that I would hope that Sony would be beyond. Also it really annoys me when devs or owners come out and say that they don't own a certain console. Now if they said that they don't play the games then I would believe it. But of course they own the actual system. Iwata and Reggie own Wii Us, Tretton and Yoshida own PS4s, and whoever is running the Xbox Divsion at Microsoft owns an Xbox One.