Phil Spencer Says Console Supply Shortages Could Still Be An Issue Going Into 2022

Both Microsoft and Sony launched their new generation consoles at the end of 2020 with the Xbox Series X/S and the PS5. But as some people know, getting a system wasn’t nearly as easy as year’s past. With the global COVID pandemic, it lead to lots of shortages and lots of people F5ing furiously on various store fronts. While stock of next gen systems have trickled slowly through 2021 and they are not exactly impossible, we’re nowhere near close to most places having enough stock for you to just walk in a store (or log onto its online storefront) and just buying one. If you’re hoping 2022 will look different, well, it seems Phil Spencer thinks you should prepare yourself.

Speaking with The Wrap, the head of Xbox talked about the potential challenges being faced that could bleed over into the next year. Spencer said it goes beyond just the chip shortage that many people know, but also other parts needed to make sure consoles can be produced.

“I think it’s probably too isolated to talk about it as just a chip problem. When I think about, what does it mean to get the parts necessary to build a console today, and then get it to the markets where the demand is, there are multiple kind of pinch points in that process. And I think regretfully it’s going to be with us for months and months, definitely through the end of this calendar year and into the next calendar year.

“The thing that’s most disappointing is just the fan disappointment. People really want this new generation of consoles—they’re good consoles, both from us and the other platform holders—and they want the new functionality. We’re working hard to bring them to market but it’s going to be a challenge that we’ll work through for quite a while.”

The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are technically available, but stock for all versions of the systems tend to fluctuate. It sounds like that probably won’t be changing anytime soon.