It looks like PS5's massive footprint is impacting players in more ways than expected, as GAME earlier today announced shipment delays due to "the size of the product."
GAME, one of UK's most popular video game retailers, has issued a statement to customers who have pre-ordered PS5, informing them of the delays. It's a lengthy apology, but it all boils down to this: "Due to the volume of PlayStation 5's in the UK market and the size of the product, the launch has led to UK wide delivery challenges for all Retailers and Couriers."
Both PS5 and Series X|S are experiencing shortages around the globe, so this isn't anything unique to the region. However, this is among the first reports of PS5's bulky form-factor delaying shipments – each console takes up a good chunk of space on the delivery vans, making multiple trips a necessity. You can read the full apology below:
No matter the reason for the delay, plenty of customers who pre-ordered the console will be left out on launch. There are numerous factors at play, least of which is PS5's size – last I checked, we're still in the middle of a pandemic. Shipping delays are to be expected, especially on a product this popular, regardless of size.
If you pre-ordered a console through GAME, you should have received tracking information about your shipment, giving you updates about the status of your order. GAME said this should be updated by Friday at the latest, which will give you a good indication as to when you can expect to see your PS5.
Early comparison videos between PS5 and Series X has been surprisingly kind to Sony's console – a console which seems a bit underpowered, at least on paper. Frame rate, screen tearing, and load timings all seem to be marginally better on PS5, although we expect things to even out as more games are tested as developers become more comfortable working on the new consoles.