IT’S about to get a little bit easier to buy a PlayStation 5 in the UK.
Sony has confirmed that it plans to sell to sell the largely sold out console direct to customers in Britain for the first time by March 2022.
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Sales will take place through the PlayStation Direct store, which is launching in Europe during the next 10 months.
The company has enjoyed success with the online-only store in the US, where it opened in 2019 and sells consoles, games and accessories.
Plans to expand the marketplace to the UK and Ireland were confirmed during an investor relations event on Thursday, according to VGC.
During the presentation, PlayStation boss Jim Ryan said: “PlayStation Direct has achieved significant revenue in the US market within little more than a year of starting operations.”
“We plan for 300 percent further growth within this fiscal year, helped by our upcoming launch in Europe.”
The store is projected to open during Sony’s current business year (FY21) ending in March 2022, according to Ryan.
As well as the UK and Ireland, the store will launch in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
The launch will open up another avenue for European gamers keen to get their hands on a PS5.
Stocks of the next-gen console remain low at stores across the globe due to a worldwide shortage of the microchips used to power them.
But the expansion of PlayStation Direct into Europe far from guarantees an easy route to obtaining a new gaming machine.
In the US, gamers haven’t necessarily experienced more success getting hold of one through the official store than through third-party retailers.
Many report being stuck in online queues for hours before they’re notified that the console is out of stock.
Sony released the PlayStation 5 worldwide in November 2020.
The full PS5 costs £449/$499, while a Digital Edition without a disc tray is priced at £359/$399.
