PS5 stock issues continue as console falls to third place in UK for May
Console sales are down 38% in the UK so far this year compared to 2021
The PS5 was the third best-selling console in the U.K. for May, as stock woes continued.
As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, Sony's PS5 was the third best-selling console throughout the U.K. during the month of May, sat behind both the Nintendo Switch and the Xbox Series X/S. This is, apparently, due primarily to stock shortages between the months of January and March, meaning it's been hard to get hold of the new-gen console near the beginning of this year.
However, there's still some positives to take away here for the PS5. Despite the shortage of stock in the UK, sales for the new-gen console were up nearly 10% in the month of May when compared to the month prior in April. This is still flagging behind the Xbox Series X/S though, which both saw a 58% monthly uptick in sales numbers over the same period.
The GamesIndustry.biz report reveals it's actually been a tough year for UK console sales so far throughout 2022. Total sales are actually down 38% compared to the first five months in the year from 2021, and with the stock shortages ongoing for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and even the Nintendo Switch, it's not hard to see why.
Elsewhere in the new report, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga maintained pole position as the best-selling game in the U.K. throughout May. This is actually the second month in a row that the title from TT Games has held the record for the best-selling game in the U.K., but the report does note that sales declined a massive 87% in May compared to April.
The PS5 might've missed its second year sales target, but Sony plans on nearly doubling the number of consoles on the market over the coming year.
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Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.