PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X May Be Delayed Due to the Coronavirus

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The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are both scheduled to release sometime this holiday season, but these plans could be disrupted by the Coronavirus epidemic in China, which could end up delaying the release of both next-gen consoles. As you may know, China is the heart of console manufacturing. For example, in 2018, 96 percent of video game consoles that were imported to the United States were produced in China. And right now, China is the epicenter of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, which, unfortunately, is only getting increasingly worse.

As of right now, over 560 people have died from the virus, with 28.000 cases reported so far. And as you would expect, this is impacting commerce in China, especially the country's manufacturing sector. As we speak, manufacturing giant Foxconn is quarantining workers. Meanwhile, Nikkei Asian Review reports that at least one supply chain executive is saying that the release of the next iPhone could now be impacted by the outbreak. More specific to the gaming space, Nintendo Switch shortages are now also expected.

Now, whether this will roll over into the production of the PS5 and Xbox Series, well, only time will tell. However, right now, it's looking like it may do exactly this.

"The video game sector is currently manufacturing, or beginning to, a once-in-several-years' product generation change for the 2020 holiday season," said Jefferies Group to investors. "If [company] shutdowns exceed a month or so, game schedules will be delayed. New consoles may likewise suffer supply issues from a prolonged disruption, ahead of their Fall 2020 planned launches."



Of course, for now, all of this is conjecture, but if the Coronavirus continues to spread at the rate it is, this could spell bad news for Sony, Microsoft, and any company making games for the two consoles. While both companies have expressed interest in severing their complete reliance on China's manufacturing sector, the reality right now is that both are incredibly reliant on the country's biggest manufacturing companies.

At the moment of publishing, neither Sony nor Microsoft have commented on the issue and whether or not either console is in danger of being delayed.



Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: https://comicbook.com/gaming/2020/02/06/ps5-playstation-5-xbox-series-release-date-delayed-coronavirus/

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"PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X May Be Delayed Due to the Coronavirus" :: Login/Create an Account :: 9 comments

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ScxttPosted:

Mental how badly something can be delayed due to this, loads of stuff seems to be taking a hit at the moment

MushroomElmPosted:

OGTrey079 Once again, the world isn't going to stop if china can't produce. When money is involved another country will gladly take advantage of the situation.


You missed the entire point of my original reply. I'm not arguing other countries wouldn't love to have their chance at being the ones to be the manufacturers. I'm only pointing out that process it takes. It's not an overnight thing. Even if they could agree to it overnight, they still need workers, locations, parts, training, etc. It would still take months, thus putting a dent in production time and causing the delays.

You asked about companies moving from China because of tariffs, I gave you an answer. They planned, for months and years. Microsoft and Sony get weeks. It just can't happen at the drop of a dime. Obviously, it can happen..Over time. And we'll see how they move forward with it.

A new country could cause higher costs, there is a reason they stay in China. They might try to bite the bullet and hope this blows over and minimizes delays or when they scout new places desperation will be obvious and greed will settle in at the new country making production costs higher making our costs higher as well.

No, the world will not stop. The world of gaming just make get more expensive, though.

Baz_AccentsPosted:

True the world wont stop if the virus continues to spead more than likely will see big delays im sure everyone will be okay with that to keep safe, but hopefully with bill gates donating 100million i think it was into research for the cure, that it slows or stops the virus from being spread all around and we get next gen consoles at a closer date to the release window.

OGTrey079Posted:

MushroomElm
OGTrey079
BONDGUY8514697
OGTrey079 If it really will hurt production they'll simply move to another cheap labor country like Vietnam. You really think business would stop just because of China?


Isn't that simple unfortunately. You can't readily move all the assets required for mass production to another country and not see the delivery times be significantly delayed. Someone who knows more about manufacturing should be able to elaborate more.


Then tell me why once tariffs started to be speculated that companies were moving factories out of China. The world isn't going to stop because China can't produce goods..


Except those moves didn't happen over night. It takes months, just for planning. Getting workers, buildings, permits in the country, getting the parts in place to start working..

If the game giants have 90% of it all set in one country, it'd take almost a year alone to get a new country up to par. Especially a cheap labor company where everyone already has their sweatshop position.

Companies had YEARS once those speculations hit the ground to get everything in motion and find cheaper avenues.


Once again, the world isn't going to stop if china can't produce. When money is involved another country will gladly take advantage of the situation.

MushroomElmPosted:

OGTrey079
BONDGUY8514697
OGTrey079 If it really will hurt production they'll simply move to another cheap labor country like Vietnam. You really think business would stop just because of China?


Isn't that simple unfortunately. You can't readily move all the assets required for mass production to another country and not see the delivery times be significantly delayed. Someone who knows more about manufacturing should be able to elaborate more.


Then tell me why once tariffs started to be speculated that companies were moving factories out of China. The world isn't going to stop because China can't produce goods..


Except those moves didn't happen over night. It takes months, just for planning. Getting workers, buildings, permits in the country, getting the parts in place to start working..

If the game giants have 90% of it all set in one country, it'd take almost a year alone to get a new country up to par. Especially a cheap labor company where everyone already has their sweatshop position.

Companies had YEARS once those speculations hit the ground to get everything in motion and find cheaper avenues.

XeCookiePosted:

Good. Don't need another gen this soon anyway.

OGTrey079Posted:

BONDGUY8514697
OGTrey079 If it really will hurt production they'll simply move to another cheap labor country like Vietnam. You really think business would stop just because of China?


Isn't that simple unfortunately. You can't readily move all the assets required for mass production to another country and not see the delivery times be significantly delayed. Someone who knows more about manufacturing should be able to elaborate more.


Then tell me why once tariffs started to be speculated that companies were moving factories out of China. The world isn't going to stop because China can't produce goods..

BONDGUY8514697Posted:

OGTrey079 If it really will hurt production they'll simply move to another cheap labor country like Vietnam. You really think business would stop just because of China?


Isn't that simple unfortunately. You can't readily move all the assets required for mass production to another country and not see the delivery times be significantly delayed. Someone who knows more about manufacturing should be able to elaborate more.

OGTrey079Posted:

If it really will hurt production they'll simply move to another cheap labor country like Vietnam. You really think business would stop just because of China?


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