While the PlayStation 5 released to record-breaking sales at launch, new reports suggest that the console is actually being outsold by the PlayStation 4 in some markets.According to independent video game industry analyst Benji-Sales, the numbers suggest that in spite of the PS5's hugely successful launch, the rate of sales has gradually fallen below the PS4 within the same time-span. While this is not the case in all markets, examples of its lagging sales can be identified in both the UK and Japan. Benji-Sales concluded that the rate of production by Sony doesn't quite align with its goal of the "fastest transition in history," as the company is unable to meet the enormous demand.RELATED: Black Retro-Style PS5 Orders Canceled Due to Safety Threats, Company States

He elaborated further on this point in subsequent tweets, remarking that people should not assume this means the PS5 is failing. He referred to the problem as a "production issue first and foremost," highlighting that there is no shortage in demand, only Sony's ability to meet it. It is well known that the newest generation of consoles has been infamously difficult to obtain, with many retailers reporting them out of stock within hours of the pre-orders opening. The struggle to find one before Christmas has continued into the New Year, with many stores still reporting them as unavailable. This subsequently led to a trend in PlayStation 5 scalpers who claimed all of the limited stock and then resold it at extortionate prices.

Benji-Sales explained that the full picture has not yet been made clear, as the data for every market has not been gathered, suggesting it's possible that the next-generation console is outselling its predecessor in some areas. However, the information collected so far has shown a trend to support his claims, with another tweet presenting an example of the numbers out of the UK in which the Nintendo Switch performed far better.

A number of factors have to be considered when evaluating the cause behind these results. The limited availability of the console, as well as the issue with scalpers, has discouraged many potential buyers from seeking one out. Additionally, the state of the world during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made the production of more consoles a complicated process. The impact has been particularly rough for the PS5 in Japan, with both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 selling less than 1 million consoles in the country during 2020. Many models of the PlayStation 4 were also reported to be discontinued in Japan, suggesting that 2021 could be even worse for Sony's Japanese sales unless production is accelerated as suggested by Benji-Sales.

The PlayStation 5 is now available worldwide. Its Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive retails for $499 USD, while the Digital Edition without a disc drive retails for $399.

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Source: TwitterÂ